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The Leonard Bernstein Letters
Leonard Bernstein was a charismatic and versatile musician—a brilliant conductor who attained international super-star status, and a gifted composer of Broadway musicals (West Side Story), symphonies (Age of Anxiety), choral works (Chichester Psalms), film scores (On the Waterfront), and much more. Bernstein was also an enthusiastic letter writer, and this book is the first to present a wide-ranging selection of his correspondence. The letters have been selected for the insights they offer into the passions of his life—musical and personal—and the extravagant scope of his musical and extra-musical activities. Bernstein’s letters tell much about this complex man, his collaborators, his mentors, and others close to him. His galaxy of correspondents encompassed, among others, Aaron Copland,Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Thornton Wilder, Boris Pasternak, Bette Davis, Adolph Green, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and family members including his wife Felicia and his sister Shirley. The majority of these letters have never been published before. They have been carefully chosen to demonstrate the breadth of Bernstein’s musical interests, his constant struggle to find the time to compose, his turbulent and complex sexuality, his political activities, and his endless capacity for hard work. Beyond all this, these writings provide a glimpse of the man behind the legends: his humanity, warmth, volatility, intellectual brilliance, wonderful eye for descriptive detail, and humor.
606 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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990 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Bernstein
449 books90 followersLeonard Bernstein was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was the first conductor born and educated in the United States of America to receive world-wide acclaim. He is perhaps best known for his long conducting relationship with the New York Philharmonic, which included the acclaimed Young People's Concerts series, and his compositions including West Side Story, Candide, and On the Town. He is known to baby boomers primarily as the first classical music conductor to make many television appearances, all between 1954 and 1989. Additionally he had a formidable piano technique and was a highly respected composer. He is one of the most influential figures in the history of American classical music, championing the works of American composers and inspiring the careers of a generation of American musicians.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 17, 2019
This wonderful book contains the many detailed letters of the charismatic and larger than life musician and brilliant composer, Leonard Bernstein. We were lucky enough to see him conduct in New York in the 1970's and he was so engrossing to watch. He was a passionate whirlwind of energy and we had never seen a conductor work himself up this much. In the book, he writes very personal letters about his complex personality, his love for family, his complicated sexuality, his passion for education, love of fame and society, his fabulous music life and his dismay of the world. (He had no respect for critics and most people.) Letters are to: Aaron Copland, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Thornton Wilder, Boris Pasternak, Bette Davis, Adolph Green, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and family members including his long-suffering wife Felicia and his younger sister Shirley.
Leonard Bernstein wrote, “It is the artists of the world, the feelers and the thinkers who will ultimately save us; who can articulate, educate, defy, insist, sing and shout the big dreams.” And shout he did! When he was forty years old, he was the youngest musical director ever appointed by the New York Philharmonic. The drama director and critic Harold Clurman sized up the musician's future: ''Lenny is hopelessly fated for success.'' In the book, he writes letters about the state of the American musical, to which he contributed scores for ''On the Town,'' ''Wonderful Town,'' ''Candide'' and ''West Side Story. He writes; "To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.”
Leonard was born in Lawrence, Mass., on Aug. 25, 1918, the son of Samuel Joseph Bernstein and Charna “Jennie” Resnick. His father, a Jewish beauty-supplies jobber who had come to the United States from the Ukraine as a boy, wanted Leonard to take over the business when he grew up. The book-loving father resisted his son's intention to want be a musician even though he was a child prodigy. When he was 10 years old his Aunt Chaye (Clara), who was in the middle of divorce proceedings, sent her upright piano to the Bernstein home to be stored. Lenny looked at it, hit the keys and cried: ''Ma, I want lessons!''Until he was 16, he had never heard a live symphony orchestra, a late start for any musician, let alone a future musical director of the Philharmonic. He writes “I can't live one day without hearing music, playing it, studying it, or thinking about it.” He smoked like a chimney and died of a heart attack at only seventy-two. America lost one of the countries most talented, fascinating and successful musicians. I gave the book four musical stars.
Leonard Bernstein wrote, “It is the artists of the world, the feelers and the thinkers who will ultimately save us; who can articulate, educate, defy, insist, sing and shout the big dreams.” And shout he did! When he was forty years old, he was the youngest musical director ever appointed by the New York Philharmonic. The drama director and critic Harold Clurman sized up the musician's future: ''Lenny is hopelessly fated for success.'' In the book, he writes letters about the state of the American musical, to which he contributed scores for ''On the Town,'' ''Wonderful Town,'' ''Candide'' and ''West Side Story. He writes; "To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time.”
Leonard was born in Lawrence, Mass., on Aug. 25, 1918, the son of Samuel Joseph Bernstein and Charna “Jennie” Resnick. His father, a Jewish beauty-supplies jobber who had come to the United States from the Ukraine as a boy, wanted Leonard to take over the business when he grew up. The book-loving father resisted his son's intention to want be a musician even though he was a child prodigy. When he was 10 years old his Aunt Chaye (Clara), who was in the middle of divorce proceedings, sent her upright piano to the Bernstein home to be stored. Lenny looked at it, hit the keys and cried: ''Ma, I want lessons!''Until he was 16, he had never heard a live symphony orchestra, a late start for any musician, let alone a future musical director of the Philharmonic. He writes “I can't live one day without hearing music, playing it, studying it, or thinking about it.” He smoked like a chimney and died of a heart attack at only seventy-two. America lost one of the countries most talented, fascinating and successful musicians. I gave the book four musical stars.
March 18, 2017
I think if I knew more about Bernstein I would have been more involved in this book. It delved deeply into the man not the legend. I did audiobook so listening to him declare about his music development, the importance of his friendships made him vibe alive. It is rather lengthy so you haze to commit to getting to know all of him.
2017 Lenten nonfiction Buddy Reading Challenge book #37
2017 Lenten nonfiction Buddy Reading Challenge book #37
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November 16, 2013If you want to understand classical music (and maybe even musical theater) in the 20th century in America, you have to understand Leonard Bernstein, who was classical music's public face for 30 years. He was its champion and indeed without him, it's unlikely that high European culture would have had nearly the influence it did in America during my childhood. All those piano and violin lessons kids took back then (which seem to have been replaced by soccer practices since Bernstein's death) would not have been. There are no Leonard Bernsteins today. The public has lost its love and interest in complex music. For me, this is a sad state of affairs, and reading this book of letters brings to the fore the beauty of what people are missing.
Leonard Bernstein was a titan, an irrepressible charismatic figure who lived his life fully in every way. A globetrotter, a composer, a Zionist, a leftist, a musical theater creator, a performer, and, of course, a conductor, it's truly dizzying to read his letters and be confronted with the scope of his achievements, energy and intelligence straight on. He was superhuman in what he accomplished. I am in awe.
There is warmth and insight in these letters. Famous and obscure people of the late 20th century come and go through these pages. There are friendships that last decades and some that flame out. There is, not infrequently, a showbiz-I-love-you-man tone in these letters, as well. My one quibble about this collection of letters is that the less than savory and very messy parts of Leonard Bernstein's personal life have been mostly edited out. Leonard Bernstein was a genius, but he wasn't at all a saint. In many ways, he was a flawed and tragic figure and much of that is gently alluded to rather than shown on the page. That all said, this collection is a must read for anyone interested in classical music.
Leonard Bernstein was a titan, an irrepressible charismatic figure who lived his life fully in every way. A globetrotter, a composer, a Zionist, a leftist, a musical theater creator, a performer, and, of course, a conductor, it's truly dizzying to read his letters and be confronted with the scope of his achievements, energy and intelligence straight on. He was superhuman in what he accomplished. I am in awe.
There is warmth and insight in these letters. Famous and obscure people of the late 20th century come and go through these pages. There are friendships that last decades and some that flame out. There is, not infrequently, a showbiz-I-love-you-man tone in these letters, as well. My one quibble about this collection of letters is that the less than savory and very messy parts of Leonard Bernstein's personal life have been mostly edited out. Leonard Bernstein was a genius, but he wasn't at all a saint. In many ways, he was a flawed and tragic figure and much of that is gently alluded to rather than shown on the page. That all said, this collection is a must read for anyone interested in classical music.
October 23, 2013
This 600 plus page book of letters by and to American composer/conductor/pianist Leonard Bernstein is a revelation. The first thing that becomes obvious is that Bernstein is a really good letter writer. The second thing is how well structured and thought-out this epistemological work is. The editor Nigel Simeone organized the lettesr chronologically and in divisions emphasizing phases of the composer's life. Then he provides a biographical summary for each phase. There are plenty of footnotes clarifying the things and persons mentioned in the letter which are just as fascinating as the letters themselves. The result ends up almost like a autobiography in that it covers most of the important aspect of his life. This is one of the few books of letters that I read enthusiastically from cover to cover.
Leonard Bernstein was a complex individual and the letters reveal this. There is much written about his music but there is also much revealed about the man's own personality, strengths and weaknesses. The letters begin in 1932 when Bernstein was 14 and continue to his death in 1990. The first letters are interesting in that they show a young protege in transition as he converses with his family and mentors. I was amused at all the important persons in his life that urged him to specialize in one thing rather than to stretch himself thin in the areas of composing, conducting, and performing. Bernstein did not take their advice and in hindsight we can say he made the right choice. The letters become much more revealing as he develop and is considered an equal by his peers. The letters between Bernstein and Aaron Copland are especially affectionate. In some ways they are more intimate than those between his wife in later years.
Which brings up a particular issue in his life. Bernstein came out about his homosexuality in the late 70s. Yet these letters, especially the earlier ones, show a man who was at times uncomfortable with his sexuality. The letters with his partners show much affection yet the 40s and 50s were not a time to be honest and open about this issue. Not to mention that the House of Unamerican Activities had their eye on him for many of his social concerns which they deemed suspicious. Some of the letters address this including an affidavit by the composer sent to the HUA that is disturbing in that any one would be so accused and expected to defend themselves in this way just to be able to continue to make a living. Later Bernstein's sexuality and habits became aa problem his marriage and these are addressed only briefly in later letters.
There are specific areas that I especially found interesting. There is an entire chapter on West Side Story mentioning many of the aspects that were involved in bringing this work to light. Being a clarinetist, I was very intrigued in his early Clarinet Sonata and his dialogues with clarinetist David Oppenheim. The sonata was Bernstein's first published work. There is a lot of good information on Bernstein's compositions and how they came about. If you are a music fanatic who likes to analyze compositions, you will have a field day here. I also enjoyed hearing about Bernstein's Mass as I was attended the Los Angeles premiere in the 70s at the Mark Taper Forum. But there are also plenty of letters that are simply casual and gives you a look at his daily life. One of the more endearing letter is a short one by 10 year old Yo Yo Ma inviting Bernstein to his cello recital.
Nigel Simeone does a surperb job organizing these letters and placing them in a context that not only educates but entertains; not a modest feat at all. If you enoy the music of Leonard Bernstein or have a love for 20th century classical music then this book is a must.
Leonard Bernstein was a complex individual and the letters reveal this. There is much written about his music but there is also much revealed about the man's own personality, strengths and weaknesses. The letters begin in 1932 when Bernstein was 14 and continue to his death in 1990. The first letters are interesting in that they show a young protege in transition as he converses with his family and mentors. I was amused at all the important persons in his life that urged him to specialize in one thing rather than to stretch himself thin in the areas of composing, conducting, and performing. Bernstein did not take their advice and in hindsight we can say he made the right choice. The letters become much more revealing as he develop and is considered an equal by his peers. The letters between Bernstein and Aaron Copland are especially affectionate. In some ways they are more intimate than those between his wife in later years.
Which brings up a particular issue in his life. Bernstein came out about his homosexuality in the late 70s. Yet these letters, especially the earlier ones, show a man who was at times uncomfortable with his sexuality. The letters with his partners show much affection yet the 40s and 50s were not a time to be honest and open about this issue. Not to mention that the House of Unamerican Activities had their eye on him for many of his social concerns which they deemed suspicious. Some of the letters address this including an affidavit by the composer sent to the HUA that is disturbing in that any one would be so accused and expected to defend themselves in this way just to be able to continue to make a living. Later Bernstein's sexuality and habits became aa problem his marriage and these are addressed only briefly in later letters.
There are specific areas that I especially found interesting. There is an entire chapter on West Side Story mentioning many of the aspects that were involved in bringing this work to light. Being a clarinetist, I was very intrigued in his early Clarinet Sonata and his dialogues with clarinetist David Oppenheim. The sonata was Bernstein's first published work. There is a lot of good information on Bernstein's compositions and how they came about. If you are a music fanatic who likes to analyze compositions, you will have a field day here. I also enjoyed hearing about Bernstein's Mass as I was attended the Los Angeles premiere in the 70s at the Mark Taper Forum. But there are also plenty of letters that are simply casual and gives you a look at his daily life. One of the more endearing letter is a short one by 10 year old Yo Yo Ma inviting Bernstein to his cello recital.
Nigel Simeone does a surperb job organizing these letters and placing them in a context that not only educates but entertains; not a modest feat at all. If you enoy the music of Leonard Bernstein or have a love for 20th century classical music then this book is a must.
June 28, 2019
Louis Armstrong addressed Leonard as Daddy Bernstein and that was reason enough to get through 600+ pages (also the first draft for West Side Story was inspirational in how bad it was - if anything it's proof not to stop working on your ideas)
January 30, 2014
I chose to read this book thinking that it would help me learn a little bit about Leonard Bernstein. But I found that because I didn't know much about him, this book was a challenging read.
There are little blurbs about his history and the important things to know about that time period in his life, but the overall book is mainly letters. Now I normally don't have any problem reading books that are composed of letters, but this book was a real challenge for me to read. I found myself at a loss for what was occurring and who certain characters were.
This is definitely a book that should only be read if the reader already has a strong understanding of the history of Leonard Bernstein's life.
There are little blurbs about his history and the important things to know about that time period in his life, but the overall book is mainly letters. Now I normally don't have any problem reading books that are composed of letters, but this book was a real challenge for me to read. I found myself at a loss for what was occurring and who certain characters were.
This is definitely a book that should only be read if the reader already has a strong understanding of the history of Leonard Bernstein's life.
July 13, 2024
I read these 650 letters to and from Leonard Bernstein over two months, and after typing up nine pages of notes added to the audio book, I want to summarize it all.
First, the reader, George Guidall, is perfection, my favorite, the ideal person for the task.
LB himself is clearly a musician with super powers, beyond my comprehension.
From this beginning, we have letters of brilliant, but somewhat normal human beings talking amongst themselves.
It seems everyone is here, from Toscannini to Jaqueline Kennedy; Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Darius Milhaud, and Aaron Copeland. Some of the most impressive letters are from Martha Gellhorn. There’s a letter from Felicia Bernstein to her husband that is simply heartbreaking: I’m a little startled that it’s even included.
The writers console each other, bemoan their personal situations, as well as the global situation with the hydrogen bomb emerging the discussion. In August, 1953 LB wrote, “I sometimes tremble for my country,” and “it makes all planning seem a little bit ridiculous.” I find reading these sentiments to be comforting now, over 70 years later.
The musical moments are wonderful. One example: LB reports working with the costuming staff at La Scala as they discussed for an hour the color of the cuff of a sleeve for one chorus lady.
I lived a while in New York City, crossing paths three times with the man. Those encounters were not privileged in any way (passing on the sidewalk, for example), but these letters add profound depth to each one.
These days, I love text messages, email and social media, but these handwritten letters are a joy. The arts of the blurted-out opening, the courtesy, the reassurances, the postscripts often being the best part, word play, family nicknames: it’s all pretty wonderful. This is a treasure.
First, the reader, George Guidall, is perfection, my favorite, the ideal person for the task.
LB himself is clearly a musician with super powers, beyond my comprehension.
From this beginning, we have letters of brilliant, but somewhat normal human beings talking amongst themselves.
It seems everyone is here, from Toscannini to Jaqueline Kennedy; Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Darius Milhaud, and Aaron Copeland. Some of the most impressive letters are from Martha Gellhorn. There’s a letter from Felicia Bernstein to her husband that is simply heartbreaking: I’m a little startled that it’s even included.
The writers console each other, bemoan their personal situations, as well as the global situation with the hydrogen bomb emerging the discussion. In August, 1953 LB wrote, “I sometimes tremble for my country,” and “it makes all planning seem a little bit ridiculous.” I find reading these sentiments to be comforting now, over 70 years later.
The musical moments are wonderful. One example: LB reports working with the costuming staff at La Scala as they discussed for an hour the color of the cuff of a sleeve for one chorus lady.
I lived a while in New York City, crossing paths three times with the man. Those encounters were not privileged in any way (passing on the sidewalk, for example), but these letters add profound depth to each one.
These days, I love text messages, email and social media, but these handwritten letters are a joy. The arts of the blurted-out opening, the courtesy, the reassurances, the postscripts often being the best part, word play, family nicknames: it’s all pretty wonderful. This is a treasure.
March 20, 2025
The Bernstein Letters are not for the faint of heart. They are interesting and often fascinating but reading through 650 letters is also quite a challenge and some can be quite tedious, especially for those who are not musicians. I read through this book over the course of 20 days but it's one of those books where reading a letter or two a day (taking a year to get through) might make for a far more more enjoyable experience. Being a musician I expected many letters from collegues and family but there were lots of surprises from authors like Aldous Huxley, actresses like Bette Davis, first lady Jackie Kennedy and even President Regan. Definitely recommended for Bernstein or Biography fans but I would recommend picking it up and reading a few letters here rather than doing what I did and trying to blow through it like your favorite novel.
June 29, 2018
Fascinating book. It really gives a unique insight into the life of Leonard Bernstein and also of many working artists, especially through the 40s to the 60s. I especially liked the correspondence between Bernstein and Walter Hussey which showed the genesis of the Chichester Psalms as well as experiencing the long standing friendship he had with Aaron Copland. The letters between the team that put together West Side Story are also highlights in this collection. If you are interested in Bernstein and other 20th century artists (American composers and instrumentalists especially) this book is for you.
June 27, 2025
Oh, for those long forgotten days of receiving letters in the mail. How refreshing to read how these music artists and icons stayed in touch with friends and colleagues. Each letter brings us inside their unending conversations. The perspectives of practice, performance, composing, and conducting are deeply connected. I love reading how this distinguished community shared their intimate support, admiration, and ambition for each other. Even a little disdain… I especially was interested in the sustained friendship between Bernstein and Aaron Copland. I knew nothing of their rich and complicated private lives. Now i’m feeling quite naive about the impressions I developed over the years while they enriched our lives with their glorious virtuous and heartfelt music.
January 18, 2019
There was once upon a time a civilized world in which snail mail letters were sent, responded to, received. Fortunately for Bernstein fans, these letters were culled together by carbon copies from Bernstein’s writings and responses filed by his first piano teacher/secretary. From the years just prior to Harvard and Curtis, his compositions, the conducting, The NY Philharmonic,the travels, the various correspondence to and from fellow musicians and historical figures...his relationship with his beloved family...this book was a fascinating read.
September 30, 2020
A far more complicated man than even someone appreciating his muscial genius could have imagined. One finds him more calculating in his ambition and less sympathetic in his personal life and loyalties than the charmer who delighted a generation of young classical music-loving children in the Young People's Concerts of yore. But he was one of the greats, no doubt.
August 18, 2018
Clearly only meant for Bernstein scholars; much more editing would have needed to make this accessible for the casually interested reader (or listener, in my case - I could never have gotten to the halfway mark, where I abandoned the audiobook, if I had been reading!).
October 7, 2024
Bernstein was one of my musical heroes when I was growing up, and has remained so since. His letters are a fascinating insight into his art, his person and his complicated life. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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January 1, 2024Love love love these letters, and will read them many times. Anyone interested in 20th Century music will feel the same.
March 19, 2025
Very insightful and inspiring, but can get a bit boring at times in a text book-y kind of way.
July 18, 2021
THIS BOOK.
Oh my goodness.
READ THIS BOOK.
I cannot eloquently express how beautiful this book is, you just have to read it.
Thanks and goodnight.
Oh my goodness.
READ THIS BOOK.
I cannot eloquently express how beautiful this book is, you just have to read it.
Thanks and goodnight.
June 30, 2014
If you were fortunate to have music instruction in school, attended the symphony, or agree that 'West Side Story' is a classic even if you don't care for musical theater - credit is due to Leonard Bernstein. He profoundly changed American culture, and reading his correspondence over his life left me duly impressed by how much he accomplished - when starting out there was so much against him. Art was dominated by Europeans and his father did not think a Jewish kid from Boston could accomplish much in a musical career. Europeans tried to discourage him from composing and resist the draw of Broadway/Hollywood, to play the pantheon and the new, modernist music(that they were writing, such as Koussouvitsky. If you find it difficult to decide whether Aaron Copland or Leonard Bernstein was the greatest composer from the U.S. it is because they drew inspiration from one another as is evidenced here in their life-long correspondence. Copland was Bernstein's mentor and champion, and a central friendship in his life.
This is a well-curated collection that divides the letters into his early life, 'West Side Story,' as music director of the New York Philharmonic, and his later life. It is noted that the letters drop off after the 1980s and it is thought that one factor is the increase in telephone communication - one wonders what biography and collections of electronic communication will survive.
I enjoy reading books of correspondence. These are particularly colorful and descriptive, and filled with accounts of performances and globe-trotting. What I particularly liked is that the editor has selected correspondence to Bernstein, such as the Aaron Copland letters, his family, many composers and collaborators in the music world and Hollywood, as well as one-offs from authors, actors, and political figures.
This is a well-curated collection that divides the letters into his early life, 'West Side Story,' as music director of the New York Philharmonic, and his later life. It is noted that the letters drop off after the 1980s and it is thought that one factor is the increase in telephone communication - one wonders what biography and collections of electronic communication will survive.
I enjoy reading books of correspondence. These are particularly colorful and descriptive, and filled with accounts of performances and globe-trotting. What I particularly liked is that the editor has selected correspondence to Bernstein, such as the Aaron Copland letters, his family, many composers and collaborators in the music world and Hollywood, as well as one-offs from authors, actors, and political figures.
March 12, 2014
I read a good part of this, most of what interested me. Much of this could have been edited down a bit a I found bits to be redundant, however what comes across brilliantly is Bernstein's ability to communicate, whether by correspondence or through his music.
I knew him personally as his wife Felicia and my mother went to school together and in the 60's lived close by. His kids and I shared the same piano teacher and at one time we had a piano recital in his home. I was playing a piece by Bartok when Bernstein walked in the room - I got distracted and missed a note but recovered nicely and went on to play my other two pieces without a mishap. When I was done, Bernstein stood up, clapped heartily and said "Bravo!" as I curtsied. I was 10 years old and that was the highlight of my youth.
I knew him personally as his wife Felicia and my mother went to school together and in the 60's lived close by. His kids and I shared the same piano teacher and at one time we had a piano recital in his home. I was playing a piece by Bartok when Bernstein walked in the room - I got distracted and missed a note but recovered nicely and went on to play my other two pieces without a mishap. When I was done, Bernstein stood up, clapped heartily and said "Bravo!" as I curtsied. I was 10 years old and that was the highlight of my youth.
August 6, 2014
Just wonderful stuff to wallow in for days and days and days, and like many collections of letters, easy for quick, short reads on the run. The footnotes are in themselves among a history of the period, with mini-biographies of all the musicians, conductors, choreographers and managers close to the Maestro. Equally interesting are the intimate letters that illustrate the extraordinary love Bernstein shared with his wife, the actress Felicia who married him, after some years of his tortured indecision over his homosexual past. It came back to bite him in the end, and it broke her heart, but that was after a very long, and seemingly happy family life that produced three children who carry on his tradition via a foundation today.
Highly recommended to melomanes and anyone interested in the cultural life of the late 40-60's, including the McCarthy period and the Kennedy years.
Highly recommended to melomanes and anyone interested in the cultural life of the late 40-60's, including the McCarthy period and the Kennedy years.
November 12, 2013
Leonard Bernstein was the culture god/stud of my 50’s/60’s suburban Jewish household. So brilliant! So handsome! So romantic! Now his letters have been published – real letters, that he sat down to write -- and he comes across as someone you wish you knew, envying his lifelong correspondents Aaron Copland, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, his wife Felicia, Stephen Sondheim … on and on, as tireless and inspired in his letter-writing as he was in life, burning the candle at all three ends as he wrestled with his music, his sexuality, and his almost laughably abundant gifts.
July 28, 2014
A breathtaking range of correspondents over six decades of letters. So much history and so much music, and Bernstein the man is everywhere in evidence. There are letters to and from everyone from Serge Koussevitsky to Judy Holliday, Stephen Sondheim to Jackie Kennedy, Georg Solti to two 16 year-olds: Janis Ian and Yo Yo Ma. It takes some time to assimilate the wealth of information here, which is in chronological, not topical order. Best to take that time and let it all sink in. It is well worth the effort.
December 14, 2014
Bernstein was pure Americana. In editing this collection, I would have cut some of the chaff fan letters from this or that violinist or singer he worked with once or twice, and included a little bit more of the business correspondence to give insight into the practical workings of his staggering success.
November 18, 2013
Loved this book! It really captures Bernstein. The edits give enough of the personal and professional and give great insight into one of the most iconic men of the 20th century. You feel as if you could call him Lenny!
January 25, 2014
Wonderful book, very well done!
Would recommend.
Would recommend.
September 22, 2014
Bit of a slog, but completely and totally worth it - this is why I write letters, there is no better glimpse into a person's life.
February 4, 2014
Fascinating.
March 22, 2015
Incredibly fascinating, incredibly insightful.
December 2, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads First-reads program.
August 23, 2016
What a genius.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews