Ebook On the Road and off the Record with Leonard Bernstein My Years with the Exasperating Genius Audible Audio Edition Charlie Harmon Harold Prince foreword William Dufris Tantor Audio Books
Ebook On the Road and off the Record with Leonard Bernstein My Years with the Exasperating Genius Audible Audio Edition Charlie Harmon Harold Prince foreword William Dufris Tantor Audio Books
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On the Road and off the Record with Leonard Bernstein My Years with the Exasperating Genius Audible Audio Edition Charlie Harmon Harold Prince foreword William Dufris Tantor Audio Books Reviews
- I strongly recommend this book as either a first-time introduction to Leonard Bernstein, or a refreshingly engaging "must read" supplement for those who have read more scholarly earlier biographies. It is an intimate portrait, of the multitudinous vexations and myriad joys of working for a workaholic musical genius international celebrity. This memoir is a respectful and candid vision of Leonard Bernstein's latter years, where his fame now preceded him, and was beginining to eclipse him. The poignant loss of his wife Felicia, leads to an ever-increasing reliance on nicotine, caffeine, dexedrine and alcohol, at the same that his undoubted celebrity as America's premier composer-conductor is driving him into a frenzied lifestyle that would ultimately kill him. It would have been all too easy to write a notoriety-seeking expose, or a slavish hero worshipping "ode", but Charlies Harmon, who was Bernstein's tireless assistant during these climactic years, provides an apptreciative yet candid portrayal of a man who drove himself and his entourage at fever pitch. The by-line "on the road and off the record" is an apt description of this book. It is filled with affectionate cameos of major personalities in the international music and arts scene. The insights and anecdotes of this intimate memoir weave into a balanced and accurate portrayal of a genius. The book modestly limits itself to an in-depth description of the private life of Leonard Bernstein. And for that rreason it would be an excellent selection for anyone who wishes an intimate portrait of Bernstein at the height of his fame. But it is also an excellent cnoice for those who have read previous Bernstein biographies, because Charlie Harmon knew the Maestro continuously, hour to hour, day to day, engagement to engagement, country to country, better than any biographer could ever hope.
- A salacious. but I believe, accurate portrait of Bernstein in his final years - a man who smelled (4 packs of cigarettes a day), over-deodorized, foul -mouthed, incredibly arrogant, randy, but still, at the end of the day, he was Leonard Bernstein, amazingly 100 years old this year. How the old man survived his schedule is remarkable - I think his ego kept him alive. I have two questions that weren't answered why did he agree to his mind-boggling conducting, recording, and teaching schedule? Did he need the money? And why did he destroy his son, Alexander, 30th birthday "Big Mac" birthday cake? A very worthwhile read.
- Yet one more great view of the greatest American musician of the 20th century. It offers insights into Bernstein the man—up close and personal from someone who was at his side. Uncensored.
- Does awareness of the behind-the-scenes Leonard Bernstein diminish his status as one of the most gifted humans ever to walk the earth? In my opinion, no. It just makes him a bit more human.
I will always be grateful to LB for encouraging me to love music. - After 50-60 pages of watching luggage, I longed for some real drama. And yes, there were some diva and memorable moments. They were sprinkled in haphazardly to keep you reading and awake. And yes there were enough of those things to make me glad I read it. But I really had to work for those golden nuggets.
- ENJOYED REMEMBERING A RENAISSANCE MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AND INFLUENCE ALSO MANY
ENTERTAINING MOMENTS. - Watch your head! Names are dropping!
Seriously, though, this is a great glimpse into 4 years of Leonard Bernstein's life and almost more interestingly, 4 years in the life of Bernstein's assistant. I was somewhat familiar with Bernstein before reading this book (West Side Story, Overture to Candide) but really unaware of what a cultural icon and overall big deal he was. I found the book interesting on multiple levels, but the thing that I really just couldn't get over is what an insane schedule this man had, even in his 60s. Reading about each tour overseas, each gig in America, writing an opera, writing a book, conducting various orchestras (and I never realized how aerobic conducting could be), I kept thinking, Why won't they give this poor man a break? He needs to rest!
As I said, I enjoyed the book and Harmon clearly maintains a great respect and love for Bernstein. I was wondering where this story would end up, especially as Harmon is getting more and more stressed out in his position and it seems like machinations were afoot to oust him from his job. I don't want to spoil the book, so I won't get into the details, but there is no big finale to Harmon's time as an assistant. He just quits and really moves into a different position with Bernstein. The book is really a collection of stories. There isn't much of a narrative arc or plot. Harmon is just describing his life working for and with LB. On the one hand, I liked that the chapters were short and easy to breeze through, but the book didn't have that page turning quality about it for me. There isn't a ton of character development apart from Bernstein. All the other people are just... there. That's fine as Harmon is recounting these events, he's not doing character analyses. It can just be a little flat at times.
I have to say, given the characterization of LB as an "exasperating genius" and given the general way biographies by assistants are written, I expected this to be a bit more critical of Bernstein or at least emphasizing his negative traits. To be sure, Harmon does recount several drunken episodes and other inappropriate behavior but a lot of the "juicier" or "seemier" stuff, Harmon sort of glances over. He just mentions is offhandedly like that's just the way it was, No Big Deal. The things that stand out the most are Bernstein's Dexetrine addiction and his various sexual liaisons with men. Harmon does express times when the Dexetrine use was getting out of control, but given Bernstein's insane schedule taking speed seems like a sensible way to get everything done. There is no focus on the drug negatively affecting his life, not like one would expect in a biography. He does discuss Bernstein going through withdrawal once and being very melancholy and unable to get out of bed but then a couple chapters later when the schedule is nuts again, he is back to taking it and like, I said, who can blame the guy given the crazy schedules they put him through?
I thought the dalliances with various men was very interesting because they are not anything besides passing asides. These are the details a Kitty Kelly biography would be wallowing in, but Harmon barely talks about them, except to mention when they happen on occasion. These relationships, coupled with Bernstein's rather skeevy enjoyment of tightly hugging large chested women because he likes to feel their breasts on his chest, and his deep mourning for his wife Felicia who died not too long before Harmon started working with him did make me wonder about Bernstein's sexuality. Harmon notes in the epilogue that people often ask him if Bernstein was gay. I really like that he does not answer his question and leaves it all pretty ambiguous because, really none of that is the point. I really just couldn't get over how different that made this biography from so many other biographies out there that really like to focus on these personal details.
As much as Harmon talks about Bernstein's occasional tantrums or drunken episodes or diva-esque behavior, overall, he portrays a man who loves music and loves teaching. He talks often about Bernstein working with students and enjoying it, turning so many interactions with other musicians or students into "teachable moments". I found that very touching from a man of Bernstein's caliber. Even his discussions with Harmon and asking him to help with music tasks occasionally, listening and respecting Harmon's opinion, though always able to defend his own musical choices. I guess he was an exasperating genius, but reading it, I felt he was often like "Crazy Uncle" exasperating more than raging, entitled jerk exasperating.
To conclude, it's a good book. I think Bernstein fans will like to see this new take on his life. For people unfamiliar with Bernstein, this is an interesting but easy to read look into a short period of his life. It helps if you understand music because Harmon talks about a lot of different pieces, but when talking about concepts and theory, I think he simplifies it enough. It certainly makes me want to go out and by a Bernstein compilation set. - it read more like the diary of the author with information about the maestro interspersed - i gave up about 3/4 of the way in
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