Leonard Bernstein composing music, 1955 (Library of Congress)
Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) was an American Renaissance Man: composer, conductor, concert pianist, Broadway tunesmith, educator, humanitarian, and so much more. His was a life of fertile creativity and inspiration that could make all of the arts—but especially music—irresistible to millions of people. Like many creative artists, Bernstein’s life was not without controversy. And yet his legacy is that of a beloved icon whose superb musical performances and compositions are central to the American idiom.
In a talk highlighted by music recordings, film clips, and photographs, popular Smithsonian music lecturer Fred Plotkin, who knew the maestro for many years, explores the dimensions of Bernstein’s musical contributions—On the Waterfront, Candide, On the Town, Wonderful Town, West Side Story, Mass, and Kaddish Symphony, among others. He also discusses Bernstein’s unparalleled impact on American culture and society in the year in which the centennial of his birth is being celebrated around the world.
