London area (Reuters) – It can be one of many saddest but the majority enjoying characters written by a female so you’re able to men – Chilean celebrity Felicia Montealegre telling the girl husband to be, conductor and you may composer Leonard Bernstein, she knows he’s gay but desires to marry your in any event.
The fresh page, in which Montealegre states “you’re a homosexual while ong multiple when you look at the a recently available regularity “The Characters of Leonard Bernstein” edited because of the English songs student Nigel Simeone, which in past times typed a text throughout the Bernstein’s famed Broadway songs “West Top Story”.
Bernstein in characters – gifted, homosexual and you can well-liked 
by his girlfriend
Towards level of letters, 650 of them when you look at the a book from almost many pages, Simeone said he previously sifted courtesy some 10,one hundred thousand regarding the U.S. Library out of Congress published by brand new prolific Bernstein, that have missives matchmaking off his childhood up until their demise from inside the October 1990, and you may regarding their correspondents.
“We produced three hemorrhoids and then experience the brand new pile away from ‘need certainly to haves’ and you will make the grade of the about 50 %,” Simeone told Reuters. “We were left with what i think got one thing to say on the him, throughout the their tunes otherwise his field otherwise his family members that were of interest.”
The ensuing frequency includes characters both to and from many of the larger names inside the tunes of history 100 years, including the author Aaron Copland, who was an early on determine, conductor Serge Koussevitsky, whom aided promote him a start because the an excellent conductor, in addition to composer David Diamond, who was a close friend.
Most other music brands may include soprano Maria Callas, who noticed Bernstein early because a large ability and got him so you’re able to conduct on her on Los angeles Scala opera family for the Milan, to help you Pierre Boulez, Nadia Boulanger, Charles Chew up and Dmitri Mitropolous.
The majority of these will be primarily of interest for the music industry, however have become coming in contact with, such as the of them from Montealegre, otherwise throw a unique white to your historic events.
Among the many latter is the one of You.S. President John F. Kennedy’s widow Jacqueline, creating during the 1968 after Bernstein had developed a monument performance to have JFK’s assassinated brother Robert. They starts: “It’s cuatro:00 was – next much time, long day”.
It goes on to give thanks to your to own cutting right through the brand new church bureaucracy to arrange to own Mahler and Verdi played from the Robert Kennedy’s art gallery Size.
“I imagined they the most beautiful songs I experienced heard,” Jacqueline Kennedy produces. “I’m very pleased I did not know it – it actually was that it unusual tunes of all of the gods who have been whining.”
Simeone told you he was delighted when Caroline Kennedy, the newest girl out-of JFK and you can Jackie, decided to assist him make use of it.
“Anyone believed to myself it is good but there’s no way inside the hell you will get to use it. I want to features trapped the girl with the a great date because the I would not had a nicer answer of Caroline saying, ‘What a lovely page, obviously you need to use it’.”
Sharing Correspondence
One of Bernstein’s very revealing items of communications has been Copland, the latest author of voice of American western in the ballets “Rodeo” and you may “Billy a child”, so you’re able to which the younger man inside the 1940 shown his frustrations, asking: “As to the reasons routine Chopin mazurkas? As to why behavior perhaps the Copland differences?”
To which Copland sagely replied: “Just what frightening letters you write: complement this new flames is exactly what he could be. Think of exactly how much you would have to spend so you can access such as for example a page 40 years out-of today while you are conductor of your (Ny) Philharmonic” – which Bernstein were to feel 18 many years after.
The fresh letter out of Montealegre, composed, the book says, in both late 1951 otherwise very early 1952, need certainly to rating in the event among the most considerate and you can holding “prenuptial plans” with the number:
“First: We’re not committed to a lives phrase – there is nothing really irrevocable, not really relationship (no matter if I regularly think so),” Montealegre wrote.
“Second: you’re a gay and can even never alter – you never accept into the possibility of a double lifetime, yet, if your peace of mind, your quality of life, the entire nervous system confidence a specific intimate development, so what can you do?
“Third: I’m willing to take on your because you are, without getting an effective martyr or losing me on L.B. altar. (We affect like you considerably – it a condition of course, if it’s exactly what greatest treat?)”
Even with their with went which have sight available into the a married relationship one to put a couple people and you can and this afterwards emails inform you was greatly fulfilling and enjoyable, Montealegre you’ll have never predicted the newest awful comeuppance she got whenever she set-up malignant tumors and you may Bernstein quit their to own a masculine mate.
Whilst pair had been reconciled soon prior to Felicia’s demise during the 1978, Simeone notices it a low point in Bernstein’s if not distinguished career and you may motivating lifestyle.
“About he’d experience when individuals told you, ‘For Christ’s purpose, type it out’, he’d the sense commit moving back again to Felicia.