Leonard Bernstein

On 25 August 1918 at Lawrence, USA, was born Leonard Bernstein, a musician of many parts and many brilliant achievements. His influence in giving serious music a more comfortable image for people in general counterbalanced his successes as a composer and conductor. He died in New York on 14 October 1990.

A selection of articles about Leonard Bernstein

Spotlight. A Stupendous Box Set - Gerald Fenech strongly recommends Antonio Pappano's complete symphonic, concertante and sacred music recordings with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. '... music-making of exceptional passion and indescribable beauty that exalts the listener to heights of immense joy and feverish excitement.'

Ensemble. Impressively Sung - Ron Bierman listens to a song recital by Andrea Carroll and Joshua Guerrero, accompanied by Stephen Hopkins

Classical music news. Edo de Waart - The Dutch conductor retires at eighty-two

Allan Rae: 5 Concerti - Richard Meszto introduces five works, referencing, in particular, the vast landscapes of Canada

Spotlight. An Extraordinary Tribute - Gerald Fenech recommends the soundtrack album of 'Maestro', the new film about Leonard Bernstein. '... brilliant sound and attractive presentation.'

Spreading Light and Making Darkness Vanish - Luiza Catrinel Marinescu remembers her classmate, the Romanian pianist Eugen Alcalay and explores the pianist's mother's book 'Rhapsody in black and white with Leonard Bernstein'

CD Spotlight. A Bernstein No One Has Heard - John Dante Prevedini is impressed by a new release of early chamber music by Bernstein and Copland. '... thoughtfully curated and meticulously executed.'

Ensemble. Conjuring the Spirit of Bernstein - Adam J Sacks reports on two Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts at Tanglewood

Classical music news. August 2023 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our August 2023 one hour video newsletter - The Creative Spark

Classical music news. Obituary - André Watts (1946-2023)

Ensemble. An Evening of Marvelous Musical Variety - Ron Bierman listens to Pacho Flores, Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra playing music by Roberto Sierra, Bernstein and Rachmaninov

Ensemble. An Important Voice - Mike Wheeler listens to Florence Price and Dvořák

CD Spotlight. An Intriguing Snapshot - Keith Bramich listens to piano music by Robert Matthew-Walker. 'Mark Bebbington ... is exemplary here, bringing out all the contrasts and mood changes ...'

Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - A short night at the opera

Ensemble. Bright Spots to Enjoy - Mike Wheeler was at Derby Concert Orchestra's Christmas Concert

Classical music news. Bernstein's String Quartet - Two movements of an early string quartet by Leonard Bernstein are to be recorded and issued on Navona Records next year

Ensemble. The Craftsman and the Icon - John Dante Prevedini reports from Tanglewood

Ensemble. Changing Tastes - Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience for Leonard Bernstein's 'Mass'

Ensemble. Bright Spots - Mike Wheeler listens to Jess Gillam and the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell

Ensemble. Van Zweden and the Double Fifth - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to two symphonies in Rome

Profile. Behind the Words and Between the Lines - Ron Bierman talks to Canadian conductor Yves Abel

Ensemble. Hugely Enjoyable - Bernstein, Marsalis and Musorgsky from Nicola Benedetti, Cristian Măcelaru and the Hallé Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Powerful, Exhilarating Results - Mike Wheeler reports on Opera North's production of Leonard Bernstein's 'Trouble in Tahiti'

Profile. Landmark Collaborations - A personal reminiscence of British conductor Lawrence Leonard, by Keith Bramich

Classical music news - Leonard Bernstein at 102 - The Knights Orchestra celebrate with a streamed production of Bernstein's opera 'Candide'

CD Spotlight. Engrossing Memories - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to music by Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein. 'The Wolf Trap Opera National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic, conducted by James Judd, offers very professional, but not startling, performances.'

CD Spotlight. Meaning and Identity - Gerald Fenech listens to Leonard Bernstein's first two symphonies. 'A wholly impressive issue, brilliantly performed and recorded ...'

CD Spotlight. His Music Glows - Richard Meszto listens to works by Leonard Bernstein. 'Iain Sutherland leads the Hannover Philharmonic in these fine and well thought out performances.'

Profile. Prodigious appetite for repertoire - Ron Bierman talks to coloratura soprano Alisa Jordheim

Ensemble. Not Quite Christmas - Mike Wheeler listens to the Derby Concert Orchestra

Ensemble. A 'Happy' Tragedy - Leonard Bernstein's 'Trouble in Tahiti' at Rome's Nuova Consonanza Festival, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Great Impetus - J S Bach, Bernstein and Beethoven from Angela Hewitt, Yutaka Sado and the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Turning Point - Leonard Bernstein's 'West Side Story' begins Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia's season, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Is this the meaning of my Life? - In Leonard Bernstein's anniversary year, George Colerick tells the story of the opera 'Candide', one of the twentieth century's great musical satires

CD Spotlight. A Real Melange - Music for wind quintet, enjoyed by Geoff Pearce. 'The members of Ventus Machina enjoy this music, as is evident from their well-balanced and joyous playing.'

Ensemble. Wonderfully Louche - Bernstein's 'Trouble in Tahiti' and Gilbert and Sullivan's 'Trial by Jury', reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Intimately Done - Paul Sarcich was at the Echoes Festival's PanAmericana concert, which illustrated the cross-influence between North and South American music

Ensemble. Musical Values - Lara Downes plays Coleridge-Taylor, Chopin, Bloch, Bernstein transcriptions and Gershwin, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Sparkle and Affection - American and British art songs, heard by Gerald Fenech. '... a cause for constant enjoyment.'

Ensemble. Superstars - Bromley Youth Music Trust's 'West Side Story' impresses Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. An Annual Event? - Cathedral organ high jinks from Peter Gould, Tom Corfield, Christopher Johns, Sachin Gunga and Ben Bloor, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Divertingly Arranged - Music from China and the USA, heard by Howard Smith. '... less conclusive ...'

Ensemble. Wonderfully Atmospheric - Górecki, Chilcott, Thompson and Bernstein from Malcolm Goldring and the Sitwell Singers, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Hugely Enjoyable - Mike Wheeler listens to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Profile. Inner Circle - Ron Bierman concludes his conversation with Nuvi Mehta

Ensemble. Triumphant Climax - Five organists at two organs open this year's series of Derby Cathedral organ recitals, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Gloriously Provocative - Bernstein's Mass, heard by Robert Anderson. '... the scandal and much of the fun is in the "tropes".'

Ensemble. A Relaxed Evening - Bill Newman attends a 'family sing-song' event in London

CD Spotlight. Varied Repertoire - Christine Brewer and Roger Vignoles, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... a gamut of emotions which are superbly handled ...'

CD Spotlight. Beauteous Tone - Flautist Lisa Friend's debut disc, heard by Howard Smith. '... pleasing and ideally accomplished.'

Ensemble. Humour and Fizz - Eddie Daniels and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kristjan Järvi, heard by Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. Useful Spice - Giuseppe Pennisi discovers, via Bernstein's 'Candide', why we don't live in 'the best of all possible worlds'

Ensemble. To the Glory of God - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the Sagra Musicale Umbra, celebrating old and new continents

Ensemble. A Conductor's Opera - A new production of Puccini's 'La bohème' at Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Finely Balanced - Mike Wheeler listens to Derby Choral Union

Ensemble. Vigour and Brilliance - The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra plays Adams, Bernstein, Falla and Gershwin, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Excellent Performance - Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic at the Movies, seen and heard by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Family Life - A Bernstein double bill at Buxton, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Stimulating Fare - Eugene Alcalay plays Bartók, Dutilleux and Beethoven, enjoyed by Malcolm Miller

Profile. Important Skills - Maria Nockin talks to American mezzo Dolora Zajick

Ensemble. White Hot Intensity - Renée Fleming and the Russian National Orchestra at the Festival of the Arts Boca 2010, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Dual Personality? - In the 20th anniversary year of Bernstein's death, Giuseppe Pennisi writes about Italy's homage to Lenny

Ensemble. A True Dynamo - Lawrence Budmen listens to French conductor Ludovic Morlot, in concert with Jennifer Koh and the New World Symphony

Ensemble. A Class Of Its Own - Lawrence Budmen listens to the Cleveland Orchestra

Ensemble. An Impressive Showcase - Pinchas Zukerman conducts the Israel Philharmonic, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. Tonal Luxuriance - Lawrence Budmen reports from Tanglewood 2009

CD Spotlight. Highly Engaging - Emma Johnson plays Bernstein, Copland and Dankworth, recommended by Ron Bierman. '... outstanding performances ...'

Ensemble. Exciting Results - A new partnership between Charles Dutoit and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, experienced by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. A Heavenly Blend - Joshua Habermann conducts the Master Chorale of South Florida, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

CD Spotlight. A Healthy Revival - Choral music by Randall Thompson, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... performances and recording are exemplary throughout.'

Rui dos Reis - Jennifer Paull interviews and investigates the Portuguese composer-pianist

Giants? - Alistair Hinton replies to Patric Standford's latest Provocative Thoughts

Ensemble. Great music making - Cheers for a riveting Canadian dance company at Jacob's Pillow and more music from Tanglewood, reported by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. A veritable dynamo - A conversation with Paavo Järvi, and a review of his Miami concert in April, by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. A classic - 'Wonderful Town' at Grange Park Opera, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Timeless and eternal - John Neumeier expresses his admiration for Leonard Bernstein with 'Bernstein Dances', reported by Tess Crebbin

CD Spotlight - Monumental achievements. Some thoughts on Bernstein's recordings of the Mahler symphonies, by David Wilkins (concluded from yesterday)

CD Spotlight - Monumental achievements. Some thoughts on Bernstein's recordings of the Mahler symphonies, by David Wilkins (continued from yesterday)

CD Spotlight - Monumental achievements. Some thoughts on Bernstein's recordings of the Mahler symphonies, by David Wilkins (continued from yesterday)

CD Spotlight - Monumental achievements. '... stunningly committed performances ...' Some thoughts on Bernstein's recordings of the Mahler symphonies, by David Wilkins

Leonard Bernstein 1918-1990 - Lenny - 10 Years On, with David Wilkins

Randall Thompson Centenary - Peter Dickinson writes about Thompson's career