Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein (1918-90), creator of the Broadway classic, West Side Story, was the most beloved and successful conductor of his era. He pioneered as the first American to lead a major U.S. orchestra and conquer Europe. This biography explores Bernstein's entire career, from his meteoric rise as a conductor to his fame as a composer, including musicals and the On the Waterfront score. It delves into the complexities of a man who was brilliant, eloquent, and charismatic, yet could also be self-absorbed and demanding.