The Pin-Up Boy of the Symphony: St. Louis and the Rise of Leonard
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The Pin-Up Boy of the Symphony St. Louis and the Rise of Leonard Bernstein BY KENNETH H. WINN 34 | The Confluence | Fall/Winter 2018/2019 In May 1944 25-year-old publicized story from a New Leonard Bernstein, riding a York high school newspaper, had tidal wave of national publicity, bobbysoxers sighing over him as was invited to serve as a guest the “pin-up boy of the symphony.” conductor of the St. Louis They, however, advised him to get The Pin-Up Boy 3 Symphony Orchestra for its a crew cut. 1944–1945 season. The orchestra For some of Bernstein’s of the Symphony and Bernstein later revealed that elders, it was too much, too they had also struck a deal with fast. Many music critics were St. Louis and the RCA’s Victor Records to make his skeptical, put off by the torrent first classical record, a symphony of praise. “Glamourpuss,” they Rise of Leonard Bernstein of his own composition, entitled called him, the “Wunderkind Jeremiah. Little more than a year of the Western World.”4 They BY KENNETH H. WINN earlier, the New York Philharmonic suspected Bernstein’s performance music director Artur Rodziński Jeremiah was the first of Leonard Bernstein’s was simply a flash-in-the-pan. had hired Bernstein on his 24th symphonies recorded by the St. Louis Symphony The young conductor was riding birthday as an assistant conductor, Orchestra in the spring of 1944. (Image: Washing- a wave of luck rather than a wave a position of honor, but one known ton University Libraries, Gaylord Music Library) of talent. For years his age would, mostly for its menial work. His in effect, serve as his last name, St. Louis invitation and the record as in “Leonard Bernstein, 25, will agreement came in the wake of his . .” One of the most suspicious brilliant service on May 13, 1943, of his talent was St. Louis Post- as a last-minute stand in for the internationally known Dispatch music columnist Thomas B. Sherman who, conductor Bruno Walter, who was scheduled to substitute upon learning of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s for the vacationing Rodziński. When Walter suddenly invitation to Bernstein, dwelt on Bernstein’s “luck” and fell ill, Bernstein, the orchestra’s water boy, became the good “fortune,” noting that events had proven “favorable.” Philharmonic’s maestro. His electric performance inspired He acknowledged that Bernstein seemed to have the skill the New York Times to run two stories, one of them on the to “take up where his luck left off.” He also conceded front page, and then a highly flattering editorial on the Bernstein was a “gifted” and a “good-looking young following day. His triumph was even sweeter for having man,” if “thoroughly pleased with himself.” Bernstein’s been carried on national radio in that pre-television era.1 unexpected rise, the columnist concluded, had come in “the His spectacular rise had just begun. During the two best traditions of romantic fiction,” but if the young man weeks after his conducting debut he was interviewed by seemed to have taken “both the public and the critics by magazines such as Life, Time, Newsweek, Look, Harper’s storm,” it was still to be seen if it really was a storm or just Bazaar, The New Yorker, and virtually every New York a drizzle.5 newspaper, including the Times, Herald-Tribune, Post,and Now, in the hundredth anniversary of Bernstein’s birth, Daily News. Time compared him to another “boy genius,” things are much clearer. Bernstein went on to become Orson Welles, who had recently released his masterpiece, the most important American conductor of the twentieth Citizen Kane. The miracle year continued into 1944 when century. Within 15 years of his accidental Philharmonic the ballet he scored with choreographer Jerome Robbins, debut he had become, at age 40, the youngest permanent Fancy Free, received warm reviews. (Robbins would later conductor in the New York Philharmonic’s history. Now, serve as his collaborator on the musical West Side Story). more than a quarter of a century after his death, most of Fancy Free soon spun off a successful Broadway musical, his musical interpretations still retain their power. He On the Town. Achievements led to celebrity. He appeared loved music and the adulation of his audiences, and his on the radio as a panelist on the quiz show Information voluminous recordings far outnumber those made by his Please, and newspapers chronicled his comings and goings peers. His prancing, his dancing, and his showmanship on their society pages.2 Topping Bernstein’s rise were his on the podium are still enjoyable to watch, as if every romantic good looks, star-power charm, and flamboyant symphonic note moved him to ecstasy.6 conducting style. He quietly liked his association with But Bernstein was more than a conductor. His Welles, but balked at his bandied comparison to the remarkable work with choreographer Jerome Robbins, from languid crooner, Frank Sinatra. This demur aside, a widely Fancy Free to West Side Story, made him the composer of enduring musicals. His more formal classical works, particularly those he wrote from Jeremiah in 1943 to his (Left) Bernstein rehearsing before the February 11 performance of Jeremiah at Kiel Auditorium. One review the next day noted Ber- Chichester Psalms in 1965, are remarkable compositions. nstein’s “conquests of Broadway and Carnegie Hall.” (Image: St. His best classical work has been absorbed into the canon Louis Mercantile Library Association at the University of Missouri-St. of regularly performed American pieces. He was also an Louis) exceptional educator, demonstrated by his television series of Young People’s Concerts (1958–1972). His educational work also included college lectures. He wrote several well-received books on music that remain in print. He Fall/Winter 2018/2019 | The Confluence | 35 5 Z3 Published Evertj Da in the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATC- H PART FOUR was a pianist of unusual ST. LOUIS, admirers.FRIDAY, FEBR UASomeRY 9, 1945people thought he should conduct PAGES 1 4D Lenny Bernstein AStalent.on He mightN. MA have CmadeAG a STlessHUi and compose'S classical musicLIB more,ER AandTE someD' MANILA Success Has Not memorable career simply as of his highbrow mentors, like Boston’s music Turned His Head a performer. He often played director Serge Koussevitzky, were not shy about piano solos while conducting expressing their displeasure. Feeling the heat, By Arthur W. Hepner T 26, Leonard Bernstein has a wide collection the orchestra from the piano Bernstein said during his 1945 stay in St. Louis, A of friends who can say, with justification "I knew him when." They include fellows bench, just as he did in his “I am probably through with musical comedy. I with whom he traveled in Harvard Yard; music Students at Curtis Institute of Music St. Louis 1945 concerts. For have done that now. I like to do everything once, where he studied 9 conducting or tha all of these skills and his just to see what it feels like.” Others said he could v Berkshire Music-Festival- ; 'Mi-- ' and the musical coteries of achievements, his admirers have been the savior of the popular musical in an both Fifty-sevent- h street and Tin Pan have frequently touted him age in which it was in decline. Instead of being Alley. After his phe- nomenal success as the Renaissance Man of a Renaissance Man, his critics claimed he spread last year, some of 7 them . turned sour Sr-- American music. himself out so thin he could never realize his y?' and said unkind ' LEONARD BERNSTEIN . ' things about him. -- up'-v- i rr-f-" 0 ;, The blame, however, must be placed on their ratf" r feo ) own heads, for the young conductor and com- His significance as a full musical potential. Bernstein wearied of this poser is concerned, rather than arrogant, over his rapid accomplishments. My own recollections go back almost 10 conductor also lay in its criticism, which dogged his entire career. Writing in years A of and to a series of violent arguments and experiences group Japanese prisoners Filipino collaborationists, caught by the swift involving him; then a Harvard undergraduate. thrsymbolicust of the Yanks into value.Manila, being Untilmarched through the streets tothea stockNewade, York Times he said: “I don’t want to spend There was one warm evening when we added to under guard of American soldiers. the temperature with a passionate debate on our own esthetic doxies his being heterodox, Bernstein’s rise, many my life, asSm Toscaniniil did, studying and restudying Geh. D my being orthodox, as I saw it while walking ougla the distance from Symphony Hall in Boston to Arthur's liberatinq forces that drove into the Philippine capital Saturday night and now are mopping up remnants ot tha Harvard Square. He made good sense and knew Americans felt insecure the same 50Japa nepiecesse garrison. ofI his p music.hoto and others . ot. .the Itser iewoulds are the tir sr. to. De. rboreeceivea irom ins nueraieu ui what he was talking about. y. THEN 1 REMEMBER a spring afternoon about the country’s ability to me to death. I want to conduct. I want to play the when a group of enthusiastic young men and women leaned on an old upright, out-of-tu- ne piano in an apartment overlooking Harvard produce high-caliber classical piano. I want to write for Hollywood. I want to Yard with Bernstein at the keyboard whipping into shape a performance of Marc Blitzstein'3 play-oper- a, "The Cradle Will Rock." Blitzstein, music conductors of the write symphonic music.