Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Leonard Bernstein – conductor, composer, educator and one of the most recognisable figures in American cultural life. From his student years at Harvard and the influential friendships that helped launch his career, to his breakthrough as a young conductor and his success on Broadway, Bernstein combined a rare range of talents with a gift for public communication. His story encompasses symphonies and musicals, Hollywood and television, artistic triumphs and professional setbacks. Alongside his achievements ran a complex personal life, shaped by his marriage to Felicia Montealegre, his struggles with identity, and an enduring commitment to political and charitable causes. Through his music, we follow a figure who helped define American music in the twentieth century.

Music featured includes:
West Side Story – America
Divertimento
Anniversaries – I. For Aaron Copland
Serenade after Plato’s Symposium – IV. Agathon
Clarinet Sonata – 2nd movement
Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety" – Epilogue
On the Town – New York, New York
Symphony No. 1 "Jeremiah"
Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
Fancy Free – Finale
Slava! A Political Overture
Trouble in Tahiti – Prelude
Wonderful Town – Overture; Ballet at the Village Vortex; Wrong Note Rag
Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront
Prelude, Fugue and Riffs
Facsimile – 1st movement
West Side Story – Overture
Mass – Pax: Communion
Candide Overture
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite
Songfest
Four Anniversaries – I. For Felicia Montealegre
A Quiet Place – Postlude
West Side Story – Tonight
Concerto for Orchestra – 3rd and 4th movements
Chichester Psalms
Arias and Barcarolles – Nachtspiel (Postlude)

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002y04k.

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z.