Letters Shed New Light on Bernstein Era by Mark Horowitz
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News for Friends of Leonard Bernstein Fall/ Winter 2011/2012 Letters Shed New Light on Bernstein Era by Mark Horowitz lmost as soon as the bulk of the Leonard Bernstein Collection began arriving in the Music Division at the Library of Congress Ain 1993, the collection became among our most heavily used. Estimated to contain close to 400,000 items, we believe it to be the Music Division’s largest collection of the papers of an individual (as opposed to a music publisher or an organization such as the Federal Theater Project). One of the things that makes the collection so useful and important is its breadth and range. Bernstein’s meteoric success starting at such a young age, quickly followed by his hiring of Helen Coates as a secretary and assistant, with her talents as a meticulous archivist and keeper of the flame, makes the collection one of rare completeness. And because the substance comes from Bernstein himself—through a life filled with creativity, passion, events and interests that extended widely in music, the arts, culture, politics, family, friendships, and social causes—the subjects reflected in the collection are as wide-ranging as the man. While one might assume that the music manuscripts form the heart of the collection—and they are certainly a treasured and oft-consulted part—it turns out that many of the other series have become the focus of much interest and research. Among those series are photographs, scrapbooks, business papers, fan mail, writings, and the personal correspondence. It’s that correspondence I want to focus on here. Until recently, that personal correspondence numbered something over 15,500 letters, postcards and telegrams. They come from family, colleagues, collaborators, friends and acquaintances. Some (continued on page 2) Letter from artist Jossi Stern 5 Artful Learning 7 Remembering 12 Candide in Boston Inside... 6 MASS Turns 40 MASS 13 Some Performances 8 In the News permanently changed by their letters beyond extraordinary is in the fact that he saved some Letters Shed New Light on contents. the depth of their confession. of these letters at all, even after Typically, we try to avoid There are dozens if not hundreds their authors asked that they be Bernstein Era, continued reading correspondence as we where the letter-writers express destroyed. process it, and though I tried with their innermost thoughts, feelings, Perhaps the most shocking, these, too often a phrase would fears and hopes. More than moving and revealing aspect of (continued from page 1) wife, Helen Coates, and Aaron catch my eye and I would become biographical events, they are the letters are the many that deal Copland. Other favorites not immersed in these other worlds interior landscapes, where the with homosexuality. There is of it is mundane and of little online include: the nine page and lives. The letters come from writers do that rarest of things— surprising forthrightness on the import individually—birthday or letter Bernstein wrote to his about 170 different people. A the hard work of trying to be as subject from both Bernstein’s wife holiday wishes, congratulations mother during a 1948 trip handful are identified only by first honest with and about themselves (including from before they were on broadcasts or shows—but to Israel, each page heavily names. Several of them are from as possible. married) and his sister. It’s also a a surprising amount is full of illustrated with vibrant people who are both famous and As is often the case with topic both directly and obliquely e are simply astonished to wonderful insights, details, watercolors by the artist Jossi unexpected, including Bette Davis, correspondence, its import may among friends including Copland discover that Prelude, Fugue W thoughts, opinions, suggestions, Stern, and clearly meant to Farley Granger, Arthur Miller have little or nothing to do with and Diamond, and even from two & Riffs has entered its 20th year updates, confidences and notions. reassure her about his safety; the and Eleanor Roosevelt. In the recipient of the letter. Anyone of Bernstein’s psychiatrists. of publication. Clearly, we've all Some letters are witty, some are 75 letters from Martha Gellhorn, many cases there’s But it’s the letters from been too busy keeping track of the laugh-out-loud funny, some are dripping with wit, insight and no obvious male lovers (and ubiquity of Leonard Bernstein's rich deeply touching. startling turns of phrase; the would-be legacy to notice the time whizzing by. letter from Adolph Green for lovers) Twenty years later, we are still barely Bernstein’s 50th birthday, a able to keep up with the worldwide ...a sea-change has just stream-of-consciousness sprawl performances of his concert and in green ink that recounts the theater works; the lovingly produced occurred that will, I history of their friendship; reissues of his audio recordings and think, change forever the Lillian Hellman’s biting attacks videos; the enthusiastically observed on the Hal Prince production anniversaries of his works, from balance and weight of of Candide (including the West Side Story to MASS; and the one where she writes that continuing high level of interest in the Bernstein personal this will be her last comment all things Bernstein. Meanwhile, on the subject, and a clearly his educational legacy grows ever correspondence. exasperated Bernstein pencils brighter through the Artful Learning “Thank God!” in the margin); model, which continues to add new While most of the letters are the painfully honest and heartfelt schools to its roster every year. to Bernstein, a surprising number letter from Jacqueline Kennedy And just when we thought we had are also from him. These include Onassis, thanking Bernstein matters well in hand, along comes letters to his parents, his wife, for conducting the music at the a brand new trove of letters to and his sister, Helen Coates, and memorial service for Robert F. from Bernstein, now available for photocopies of others requested Kennedy, whom she describes as study at the Library of Congress. by the estate from some of his “my Kaledeiscope [sic] brother These documents reveal not only the closest friends and colleagues in law”; and two letters from many facets of Bernstein's life, but after he passed away. Some Stephen Sondheim, one for the also provide a fascinating glimpse letters include hand-written opening night of West Side Story, into the complex world he lived in. responses drafted on the backs the other from shortly thereafter We're sorry Leonard Bernstein or margins indicating what his reporting on the recording didn't get a chance to participate in outgoing letters must have said. session and other doings with today's social media, but his presence In addition, the Music Division’s the show—the first, touching on the internet and Facebook is that haunt holdings include several other with rare sentiment, the second reason why palpable nonetheless. We can only most deeply. collections that include significant devilish in its details. they would have ever wonder what media await him—and These are mostly from correspondence from Bernstein, But a sea-change has just been sealed as there is nothing researching Martha Gellhorn us—in another twenty years. the 1940s—from before he particularly among the papers occurred that will, I think, provocative or extraordinary would find her letters to Bernstein married—and the 1980s—after of Aaron Copland, David change forever the balance and in the contents. Several sets to be invaluable though there Felicia had passed away. Many J.B. ■ Diamond, Irving Fine, and weight of the Bernstein personal of letters complete significant were never any joint projects Prelude, Fugue & Riff Prelude, Prelude, Fugue & Riff Prelude, can best be described simply as Serge Koussevitzky. correspondence. In June of this correspondence that had already between the two. In fact, reading love letters—as passionate, needy Over 1,000 letters from the year the Bernstein estate made an been well represented in the many of these letters Bernstein and intense as anything I’ve read. Bernstein Collection have been extraordinary additional gift to existing collection—79 from himself almost disappears, even But many are also a window into scanned and made available the Library. But the gift is really Felicia Bernstein, 101 from when he is clearly central to the various aspects of gay history. online as part of our Bernstein to scholars and researchers now Shirley Bernstein, 37 from Helen people writing him. Sometimes One, somewhat older lover to web presentation at this link: and in the future. With great Coates, 39 from Aaron Copland, he seems reminiscent of Bobby a young Bernstein tries to guide s s Fall/Winter 2011/2012 Fall/Winter 2011/2012 http://memory.loc.gov/ courage and generosity they have 155 from David Diamond, 67 in Company, the confidant and him through how best to handle ammem/collections/bernstein/ donated an additional 1,800 from Martha Gellhorn. Some object of desire of everyone the necessary (at the time) secrecy But these are from a fairly letters that had been sealed until letters are still to be sealed until around him, but seemingly of their relationship. A letter narrow universe: letters between now. It has been my privilege to their authors have passed away. unconfiding or desiring himself. Bernstein and his parents, his process these letters, and I feel What makes so many of these Though there’s something telling (continued on page 4) 2 3 permanently changed by their letters beyond extraordinary is in the fact that he saved some Letters Shed New Light on contents. the depth of their confession. of these letters at all, even after Typically, we try to avoid There are dozens if not hundreds their authors asked that they be Bernstein Era, continued reading correspondence as we where the letter-writers express destroyed.