Unlike Mahler, however, Bernstein was also a composer of music intended for popular consumption, such as his Broadway musical West Side Story. As a conductor and composer of serious art music, an obvious parallel can be drawn between Bernstein’s career and that of Gustav Mahler-a comparison Bernstein personally enjoyed. His place in history will most likely be ensured due to his unique and multifaceted career. Attempts to draw comparisons between his life and works and those of his predecessors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries often lead to failure.
It is certainly too early to objectively evaluate Leonard Bernstein’s contributions as a creative artist.
First performance: December 1, 1956, New York.
