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Leonard Bernstein
Composer

Biography

Leonard Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, pianist, music educator, author, and lifelong humanitarian. He was one of the most significant American cultural personalities of the 20th century. According to music critic Donal Henahan, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history".

As a composer he wrote in many styles, including symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and works for the piano. His best-known work is the Broadway musical West Side Story, which continues to be regularly performed worldwide, and was made into an Academy Award-winning feature film. His works include three symphonies, Chichester Psalms, Serenade after Plato's "Symposium", the original score for the film On the Waterfront, and theater works including On the Town, Wonderful Town, Candide, and his MASS.

Bernstein was the first American-born conductor to lead an American orchestra. He was music director of the New York Philharmonic and conducted the world's major orchestras, generating a significant legacy of audio and video recordings. He was also a critical figure in the modern revival of the music of Gustav Mahler, a composer in whose music he was most passionately interested. A skilled pianist, he often conducted piano concertos from the keyboard.

Bernstein was the first conductor to share and explore music on television with a mass audience. Through dozens of national and international broadcasts, including the Emmy Award-winning Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic, he made even the most rigorous elements of classical music an adventure in which everyone could join. Through his educational efforts, including several books and the creation of two major international music festivals, he influenced several generations of young musicians.

A lifelong humanitarian, Bernstein worked in support of Civil Rights; protested the Vietnam War; advocated for nuclear disarmament; raised money for HIV/AIDS research and awareness; and engaged in multiple international initiatives for human rights and world peace. Near the end of his life, he conducted a historic performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Berlin to celebrate the Fall of the Berlin Wall. The concert was televised live, worldwide, on Christmas Day, 1989.

Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including eleven Emmy Awards, one Tony Award, seventeen Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement, and the Kennedy Center Honor.


Productions
Click company name to view productions details.
COMPANYTITLEDATES
Madison OperaCandide4/26/2024 - 4/28/2024
Minnesota OperaTrouble in Tahiti3/9/2024 - 3/23/2024
Glimmerglass FestivalCandide7/8/2023 - 8/20/2023
Lyric Opera of ChicagoWest Side Story6/2/2023 - 6/25/2023
Atlanta OperaCandide3/4/2023 - 3/12/2023
Madison OperaTrouble in Tahiti2/3/2023 - 2/5/2023
Opera Las VegasTrouble in Tahiti4/22/2022 - 4/24/2022
Opera San JoséWest Side Story4/16/2022 - 5/1/2022
Opera NaplesOn the Town3/14/2022 - 3/14/2022
Fargo-Moorhead OperaTrouble in Tahiti3/11/2022 - 3/12/2022
Opera Company of MiddleburyCandide1/29/2022 - 3/1/2022
Opera Fort CollinsTrouble in Tahiti6/5/2021 - 6/6/2021
Pacific Opera ProjectTrouble in Tahiti4/24/2021 - 4/25/2021
Union Avenue OperaCandide7/5/2019 - 7/13/2019
Des Moines Metro OperaCandide6/29/2019 - 7/20/2019
El Paso OperaTrouble in Tahiti6/1/2019 - 6/1/2019
Lyric Opera of ChicagoWest Side Story5/3/2019 - 6/2/2019
Indiana University Opera and Ballet TheaterMass4/5/2019 - 4/13/2019
Detroit OperaCandide3/9/2019 - 3/9/2019
Painted Sky OperaTrouble in Tahiti1/25/2019 - 1/27/2019
Utah Symphony | Utah OperaCandide11/9/2018 - 11/10/2018
Shreveport OperaWest Side Story11/9/2018 - 11/9/2018
Atlanta OperaWest Side Story11/3/2018 - 11/11/2018
Lyric Opera of Kansas CityWest Side Story9/22/2018 - 9/30/2018
Opera IdahoWest Side Story9/15/2018 - 9/16/2018
Chautauqua OperaCandide7/27/2018 - 7/30/2018
Glimmerglass FestivalWest Side Story7/7/2018 - 8/24/2018
Seagle FestivalCandide7/5/2018 - 7/7/2018
Santa Fe OperaCandide6/29/2018 - 8/25/2018
Boston Lyric OperaTrouble in Tahiti5/11/2018 - 5/20/2018
Washington National OperaCandide5/5/2018 - 5/26/2018
Houston Grand OperaWest Side Story4/20/2018 - 5/6/2018
Opera in the HeightsCandide4/13/2018 - 4/21/2018
Anchorage OperaCandide4/7/2018 - 4/8/2018
Palm Beach OperaCandide2/23/2018 - 2/25/2018
Opera ParallèleTrouble in Tahiti2/15/2018 - 2/18/2018
Arizona OperaCandide1/27/2018 - 2/4/2018
Los Angeles OperaCandide1/27/2018 - 2/18/2018
Heartland Opera TheatreTrouble in Tahiti11/10/2017 - 11/12/2017
Tri-Cities OperaTrouble in Tahiti2/18/2016 - 2/21/2016
Long Beach OperaCandide1/23/2016 - 1/30/2016
Resonance WorksTrouble in Tahiti10/3/2015 - 10/4/2015
Glimmerglass FestivalCandide7/19/2015 - 8/21/2015
Asheville Lyric OperaWest Side Story4/24/2015 - 4/26/2015
Central City OperaTrouble in Tahiti7/7/2014 - 7/23/2014
St. Petersburg Opera CompanyWest Side Story6/27/2014 - 7/6/2014
Opera IdahoTrouble in Tahiti4/11/2014 - 4/13/2014
Opera OrlandoTrouble in Tahiti4/4/2014 - 4/6/2014
Opera ParallèleTrouble in Tahiti4/13/2013 - 4/13/2013
Amarillo OperaCandide4/4/2013 - 4/7/2013
Portland OperaCandide5/5/2012 - 5/19/2012
Vancouver OperaWest Side Story10/10/2011 - 10/28/2011
LOOK Musical TheatreTrouble in Tahiti7/5/2011 - 7/5/2011
Mercury Opera RochesterCandide4/4/2011 - 4/17/2011
New York City OperaA Quiet Place10/10/2010 - 11/20/2010
Mobile OperaCandide10/10/2010 - 10/23/2010
Portland OperaTrouble in Tahiti3/3/2010 - 4/4/2010
Seagle FestivalCandide8/8/2009 - 8/15/2009
Greensboro OperaTrouble in Tahiti5/3/2009 - 5/3/2009
Manitoba OperaCandide2/28/2009 - 2/28/2009
Lyric Opera San DiegoCandide9/9/2008 - 10/10/2008
LOOK Musical TheatreCandide6/6/2008 - 7/11/2008
New York City OperaCandide4/4/2008 - 4/12/2008
New Orleans Opera AssociationWest Side Story4/4/2008 - 4/20/2008
Boheme Opera New JerseyWest Side Story4/4/2008 - 4/13/2008
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of MusicWonderful Town11/11/2007 - 11/15/2007
Living OperaTrouble in Tahiti3/3/2007 - 3/31/2007
Charlottesville OperaWest Side Story7/7/2006 - 8/13/2006
Curtis Institute of MusicTrouble in Tahiti2/2/2006 - 2/19/2006
Curtis Institute of MusicTrouble in Tahiti2/1/2006 - 2/19/2006
Festival OperaCandide8/1/2005 - 8/21/2005
New York City OperaCandide3/1/2005 - 3/19/2005
Illinois Opera TheaterCandide2/1/2005 - 2/24/2005
Opera SaratogaCandide7/1/2004 - 7/11/2004
Berkshire Opera CompanyTrouble in Tahiti7/1/2004 - 7/31/2004
Opera PacificCandide3/3/2004 - 3/7/2004
Des Moines Metro OperaCandide6/29/2002 - 7/12/2002
Portland OperaCandide5/5/2002 - 5/18/2002
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Candide4/4/2002 - 4/4/2002
Fort Worth OperaCandide9/9/2001 - 9/9/2001
Opera ModestoCandide4/28/2001 - 5/6/2001
Augusta OperaCandide3/3/2001 - 3/24/2001
Virginia OperaWest Side Story11/11/2000 - 12/12/2000
Lyric Opera San DiegoCandide9/9/2000 - 9/24/2000
Central City OperaCandide7/5/2000 - 8/12/2000
Austin OperaCandide1/1/2000 - 1/17/2000
Wichita State University Opera TheatreCandide2/2/1999 - 2/7/1999
Manhattan School of MusicTrouble in Tahiti12/10/1998 - 12/12/1998
Nashville OperaTrouble in Tahiti6/1/1998 - 6/15/1998
Opera IllinoisWest Side Story1/1/1998 - 1/24/1998
Opera CarolinaTrouble in Tahiti6/6/1997 - 6/29/1997
Light Opera of New YorkWonderful Town12/1/1996 - 12/30/1996
Connecticut Grand Opera and OrchestraWest Side Story10/25/1996 - 10/25/1996
Opera RoanokeCandide6/1/1996 - 6/21/1996
Vancouver New MusicCandide6/1/1996 - 6/23/1996
State Opera of South AustraliaTrouble in Tahiti3/3/1996 - 3/17/1996
McGill University West Side Story1/1/1996 - 1/22/1996
Opera CarolinaCandide11/11/1995 - 11/17/1995
Orlando OperaTrouble in Tahiti10/7/1995 - 10/14/1995
Tulsa OperaTrouble in Tahiti10/1/1995 - 10/13/1995
Ryan Opera CenterTrouble in Tahiti5/1/1995 - 5/7/1995
Boston Lyric OperaCandide3/1/1995 - 3/19/1995
Peabody Opera at Johns Hopkins UniversityCandide3/1/1995 - 3/12/1995
Lyric Opera of ChicagoCandide11/3/1994 - 12/21/1994
New York City OperaWonderful Town11/1/1994 - 11/19/1994
Augusta OperaWest Side Story9/1/1994 - 9/17/1994
Virginia OperaWest Side Story4/1/1994 - 4/15/1994
Opera AustraliaWest Side Story2/1/1994 - 2/19/1994
Madison OperaCandide11/1/1993 - 11/20/1993
Orlando OperaCandide5/1/1992 - 5/3/1992
Skylight Music TheatreCandide5/1/1992 - 5/31/1992
Anchorage OperaCandide4/1/1992 - 4/11/1992
Eugene OperaCandide1/1/1992 - 12/31/1991
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance Candide12/1/1991 - 12/9/1991
Detroit OperaCandide11/1/1991 - 11/9/1991
Knoxville OperaWest Side Story7/1/1991 - 7/21/1991


Artist Information

All information is derived from OPERA America's Season Schedule of Performances and titles databases which date back to 1991. OPERA America is constantly updating this data. If you feel that a work or an artist has been omitted or that information is incorrect, please use the linked forms below.
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