Leonard Bernstein

West Side Story

(Leonard Bernstein; Stephen Sondheim; Arthur Laurents; 1957). Riff and Bernardo lead two rival gangs: the blue-collar Jets and the Sharks from Puerto Rico. Tony, a former Jet, falls in love with the Bernardo's sister Maria and vows to stop the fighting, but he kills Bernardo after Bernardo kills Riff in a "rumble." Maria's suitor Chino shoots Tony, and the two gangs come together. Notable songs include "America," "Tonight," "Somewhere," "I Feel Pretty," "Cool," "Something's Coming" and "Gee, Officer Krupke." Adapted from Romeo and Juliet, it was made into an Academy Award-winning 1961 film starring Natalie Wood.

On the Town

Bernstein musical containing the song, "New York, New York"

Jeremiah Symphony

Bernstein work

Candide

Bernstein, Musical

The Unanswered Question

Compares music to language in this work; this work consists of lectures on music conducted at Harvard University, and is named for a Charles Ives work

Leonard Bernstein

Longtime conductor of the New York Philharmonic who conducted a series of "Young People's Concerts"

Kaddish Symphony

Uses the text of the titular Jewish prayer read at services for the dead