Bernstein, Leonard (1918-1990)

US composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, 1945. Bernstein became a conducting sensation overnight in 1943 at the age of 25, when he stepped in for the New York Philharmonic's guest conductor Bruno Walter. He was musical director of the Philharmonic from 1958 to 1969.

US composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. One of Bernstein's greatest achievements was his series of Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic, televised programs that introduced a whole generation to classical music. He conducted these concerts from 1958 to 1972, and referred to them as being ‘among my favourite, most highly prized activities of my life’.

US composer, conductor, and pianist. He was one of the most energetic and versatile 20th-century US musicians. His works, which established a vogue for realistic, contemporary themes, include symphonies such as The Age of Anxiety (1949), ballets such as Fancy Free (1944), and scores for musicals, including Wonderful Town (1953), West Side Story (1957), and Mass (1971) in memory of President J F Kennedy.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he was educated at Harvard University and the Curtis Institute of Music. In 1943 he made his debut as a conductor, beginning a highly successful international career. From 1958 to 1970 he was musical director of the New York Philharmonic. Among his other works are Jeremiah (1944), Facsimile (1946), Candide (1956), and the Chichester Psalms (1965).