20th century and todayLeonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein was born in the United States.
Leonard Bernstein’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1918👶 Birth
Born in Lawrence on 25 August, son of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine
- 1928📚 Trainingage 10
Discovers the piano at 10
- 1943🎩 Careerage 25
Stands in at short notice for Bruno Walter at the New York Philharmonic — famous overnight
- 1944🎼 Workage 26
On the Town, a musical
- 1948🌍 Meanwhile
The long-playing record (LP) goes on sale
- 1956🎼 Workage 38
Candide
- 1957🎼 Workage 39
West Side Story on Broadway
- 1957🌍 Meanwhile
Sputnik, the first artificial satellite
- 1958🎩 Careerage 40
First American-born music director of the New York Philharmonic; televised Young People’s Concerts
- 1964🌍 Meanwhile
Robert Moog presents his synthesizer
- 1982🌍 Meanwhile
The compact disc (CD) is launched
- 1990🕯️ Deathage 72
Dies in New York on 14 October
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Leonard Bernstein’s music is still recent: it belongs to its creators and their families. Ask a grown-up to play it for you on the radio or at a concert!
Once upon a time…
Leonard Bernstein was born in the United States. At ten an aunt brought an old piano to his home: it was love at first sight! He became a wonderful pianist.
At twenty-five he had to replace a sick great conductor at the last minute, with no rehearsal, for a concert broadcast on radio across the country. It was a triumph: he became famous overnight!
He composed West Side Story, a Romeo-and-Juliet-style story between two rival New York gangs, with songs that dance. He also presented concerts on television to explain music to children.
In 1989, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he conducted the Ode to Joy, replacing the word “joy” with “freedom”.
Leonard Bernstein’s instruments
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