From the Archives: My Father’s Best Friend, Leonard Bernstein
The release of Bradley Cooper’s Maestro last fall signaled the start of a kind of Bernsteinmania, with interest in the life and work of Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918—October 14, 1990) reaching a fever pitch. Fifteen years ago, in the February 2009 issue of Vogue, Adam Green paid moving tribute to the American conductor and composer, whom he’d known since birth: Bernstein (or “Goddaddy Lenny”) and Green’s father, the lyricist and playwright Adolph Green, had been best friends since meeting at a Massachusetts summer camp in 1937. Ahead of the Academy Awards next month—where Maestro is up for seven, including best actor (for Cooper), best actress (for Carey Mulligan, who plays Bernstein’s wife, Felicia), best original screenplay, and best picture—revisit Green’s essay below.
Early Memories
- Attending Broadway matinees and art-history lessons with his father
- Frequent visits to Lincoln Center to hear the New York Philharmonic led by Leonard Bernstein
- Backstage encounters with Bernstein
The Beginnings of Friendship
The friendship between Adolph Green and Leonard Bernstein started in the summer of 1937 at Camp Onota in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Bernstein, the music counselor, and Green, the Pirate King in a camp production, bonded over music and shared interests.
Collaborations and Memories
- Collaboration on “On the Town” and other projects
- Weathering challenges and personal struggles
- Personal anecdotes and moments shared with Bernstein
Legacy and Reflection
The enduring friendship between Green and Bernstein left a lasting impact on both their lives. From shared creative endeavors to personal moments, their bond transcended time and left a legacy of friendship and mutual respect.