West Side Story at 50: The Mind and Music of Leonard Bernstein

Composer, conductor, educator and pianist Leonard Bernstein was one of the most brilliantly gifted and charismatic figures in all of classical music. And yet, in spite of his dazzling achievement – the compser of West Side Story, Mass, The Age of Anxiety and other masterpieces, was never fully satisfied with his accomplishments. How did Bernstein’s complex inner- and outer-life affect his work as a composer? In this discussion and concert, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of West Side Story, Dr. Richard Kogan, leading Harvard trained psychiatrist and Julliard trained classical pianist, will examine Bernstein’s genius, giving a psychiatrist’s perspective and multidimensional profile on Bernstein’s often-conflicted personality and creative output. Illustrating his insights, Kogan will perform some of Bernstein’s greatest music.