Leonard bernstein biography orchestra seating

Leonard Bernstein was a phenomenon. He was the first superstar conductor to have been born in the USA, a gifted pianist, a fiercely intelligent broadcaster and writer, and an inspiring teacher. On top of all that, he was a composer who wrote successful works both for the concert hall and for Broadway.

Add in his complex private life and reckless appetites and it’s small wonder that at one point he famously described himself as ‘over-committed on all fronts’. Bernstein was born into a Massachusetts family of Russian Jewish origin, and studied at Harvard University and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Leonard bernstein biography orchestra seating

He also studied conducting at the Tanglewood summer school with Serge Koussevitzky, later becoming his assistant. His big break came in 1943, standing in at short notice for a New York Philharmonic broadcast concert. Later, in 1958, he became music director of the Philharmonic, the first American-born musician to hold the post.

His 11 seasons in the job transf