Leonard Bernstein: Notes from a Friend

A conversational, intimate memoir of a friendship between the great maestro and a noted music scholar. This is not a dry and academic biography, but an informal portrait of a musical genius--with warm, personal glimpses of the human side of Bernstein, what he was like to work with and live with.

Here is the story of a friendship, a remarkable friendship between a great maestro and an administrative colleague who became his trusted confidante. This is not a biography of Leonard Bernstein but an informal portrait - a warm, personal glimpse of "Lenny" at the peak of his achievements and into his later years, when, even in declining health, he enthusiastically pursued dozens of projects. For over thirty years, as colleague and adviser, Schuyler Chapin was part of the whirlwind of Bernstein activity that resulted in unforgettable recordings, television performances, operas, festivals, and theater events that will never be equaled. All of this brought frustrations, exhaustion, and moments of laughter and tears - as well as triumphs - as Mr. Chapin reveals. The friendship of Bernstein and Chapin lasted through many journeys and adventures. The two men traveled the world together making Bernstein's artistic dreams become realities, and their adventures make fascinating reading. This is a behind-the-scenes look at a great man who was a good friend and always fun to be around. Rich in vignettes and anecdotes to be treasured, this book shows the human side of Bernstein. With great charm, Chapin tells what an interesting friend and colleague he indeed was.

Publishers Weekly

Chapin knew the late conductor for more than 30 years, first as head of Columbia Records' classical music division and later as general manager of the Metropolitan Opera. These positions gave him vantage points from which he could observe the effervescent composer-conductor in action, in his typical combination of lovability and impossibility. We see Bernstein in London, New York City, Israel and Vienna, filming TV movies, making his famous Omnibus appearances, molding sometimes recalcitrant orchestras into star ensembles--and always partying through the night. Chapin has written a warm, engaging and modest memoir, with plenty of anecdotes; he doesn't tell us much we didn't already know about Lenny, but he gives a solid sense of the demanding hard work and dedication that went into creating the music, and the educational ventures, that brought the popular musician and maestro so much adulation. The major book on Bernstein has yet to be written, but in the meantime this is a valuable series of footnotes to an extraordinary life. (Oct.)