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How Does Leonard Bernstein Create A Challenging The Gap Between Opera And Classical Music?

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Leonard Bernstein once said, “Music. can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.” Leonard Bernstein was an American classical music conductor, composer and activist. As a conductor, Leonard Bernstein is known for his passionate conducting style as he led the world’s major orchestras. As a composer, he bridged the gap between opera and classical music. As an activist, Bernstein fought for changes in causes he believed in, like civil rights and HIV/AIDS research. Leonard Bernstein was an innovative conductor, composer and activist that left a lasting impact on classical music as a whole. Leonard Bernstein was appointed assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic in September of 1943, making him the first American and the youngest …show more content…

In “Maria” Tony sings an ascending tritone, which is then resolved up to a perfect fifth, creating a sense of hopefulness, unlike the tritones previously referenced in the prologue (Bernstein 138). This runs parallel to the plot of West Side Story, where Tony sings to Maria, for her love. Bernstein’s other works, while not as mainstream as West Side Story, are special in their own way. Bernstein used musical composition to express feelings about his personal life, evident in his three symphonies, and the other musical and opera works that he has composed. Leonard Bernstein is also known for both his flamboyance and his brash personality. In an interview, Richard Kogan said, “He was born with what mental health professionals call a hyperthymic temperament -- exuberant, energetic, extroverted, indefatigably sociable. This temperament was a blessing in his musical career. As a conductor, it was an asset: He could reliably access ecstatic states whenever he performed, and his personal magnetism was thrilling to

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