"I am only going to be remembered as the man who wrote 'West Side Story.' " "You know what's made me really distraught?" Bernsteain complained toward the end of his composing life. This was typical of the opposition Bernstein faced during his composing career.Īlthough Bernstein cut a famously ebullient, self-confident public figure, the insults clearly hurt him in private. "Melodic distinction" and "concentration of thought" were missing, Thomson added. "Bernstein does not compose with either originality or much skill," wrote composer Virgil Thomson from his bully pulpit as music critic for the New York Herald Tribune. A part-time composer who hogged the spotlight as the New York Philharmonic's flamboyant conductor. A musical magpie who filched other people's ideas. It’s not the only example of this score being adapted for other works – during his lifetime, Bernstein even included part of the song ‘To Make Us Proud’ in his 1981 Olympic Hymn.As a composer, critics argued, Leonard Bernstein was a dabbler. Considered to be one of his more ‘classical’ scores for Broadway, this piece has been widely performed ever since. Despite this, the composer distanced himself from the production to such an extent that he refused the release of a cast recording because of the poor public and critical reaction.Īfter Bernstein’s death, a concert version of the score was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Kent Nagano and released under the title ‘A White House Cantata’. The script was slated by critics, but Bernstein’s score was deemed to be a success. With book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, the musical told the stories of the White House occupants from 1800 to 1900, focusing on race relations at the time. 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (1976)īernstein’s last original Broadway score was for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, a production that was considered to be a flop, only lasting for seven performances. He produced the premiere recording of the complete score in 2005 after discovering the existence of additional musical material. Peter Pan lay in obscurity until conductor Alexander Frey revisited the work in the late 1990s and early 2000s, restoring the cuts that had been made to Bernstein’s scores. In fact, the original cast recording used new music by Alec Wilder rather than Bernstein’s. 10 of the best stage musicals of all time.The best musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber.15 of the Best Film Musicals of All Time.Stephen Sondheim: the composer's best musicals.He brings together such a wide range of influences to create a musical melting pot of Puerto Rican rhythms and fifties bebop. Nicholas Kenyon referred to West Side Storyas 'a one-off example of a work of genius, halfway between musical and opera'. The films have merely helped cement the cult status of what was already a beloved score for many. The film is slated for a December 2021 release, exactly 60 years after the first film adaptation was released. In more recent years, the iconic film director Steven Spielberg has turned his hand to musicals, tackling West Side Storyfor his debut in this genre. It was adapted into a film just four years later to widespread critical acclaim, even winning ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Musical. West Side Storybrought Shakespeare into modern day New York and remains Bernstein's most recognisable musical score, landing on Broadway on 1957. London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas
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