Bernstein, Leonard

(born Aug. 25, 1918, Lawrence, Mass., U.S.—died Oct. 14, 1990, New York, N.Y.) U.S. conductor, composer, and writer. He resolved on a music career only after graduating from Harvard University. He studied conducting at the Curtis Institute of Music with Fritz Reiner and then at Tanglewood (in Lenox, Mass.), where he met Aaron Copland and became Serge Koussevitzky's assistant. Fame came abruptly in 1943 when he substituted on short notice for the conductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra and was praised for his technical self-assurance and interpretive excellence. In 1944 he triumphed with his music for Jerome Robbins's ballet and the Broadway show . As a composer he made use of diverse elements ranging from biblical themes to jazz rhythms. His best-known composition was the score for the hit musical (1957); other works include the musicals (1952) and (1956), three symphonies, the (1965), and the theatrical (1971). Well known as a television lecturer, he was also a prominent political activist.

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