American conductor, composer, pianist, and author Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 - October 14, 1990) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts to parents who were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine. He was the music director of the New York Philharmonic for years, and for his compositions such as the score for “West Side Story.” His list of works include ballet, opera, film scores, chamber music, musicals, and piano music. Despite suspicions that he was gay, Bernstein married a Chilean actress, and they had three children, and though he left her in 1978 to live with a man, but came back when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, caring for her two years until her death. He himself died of a heart attack.
Recommended Resources
Arias and Barcarolles: Leonard Bernstein Pages
Features the biography, chronology, music, and details about the teaching and theater appearances of the composer, conductor, teacher, concert pianist, and author.
http://www.spingal.plus.com/
Carnegie Hall: Leonard Bernstein
Carnegie Hall’s 2008 section devoted to Mr. Bernstein, with details about him as well as his conducting, teaching, stage and film appearances, and social activism.
http://www.carnegiehall.org/bernstein/
The Leonard Bernstein Collection
The United States Library of Congress memorializes Leonard Bernstein on their website, offering a timeline, photo gallery, essay, and a huge collection of scripts and correspondence.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/bernstein/
