Audio is actually Bernstein’s most readily useful and most constant passions. However, his love lifetime is an important part out-of their generate-up, and his characters allow us to setting a larger picture of an emotional lives which was laden up with twists and you will converts – perfectly sum: “Demonstrably, he was comfortable with getting sexual in many different suggests and yet , the guy desired a timeless life, which have a wife and children in order to which he had been loyal. He was a complicated, state-of-the-art people, and you will complex people have advanced private life.” step 1 Interesting because emails are from men and women (constantly guys) with who Bernstein had relationship within the 1940s, I have chose rather to focus on Bernstein’s very own feelings to his sexuality, and its implications getting his field. Into the interaction that have Copland and you will David Oppenheim particularly, and also in certain characters to his brother Shirley and Diamond, he examines their sexual label, tend to revealing a state regarding frustration and you can interior disagreement. To the one-hand, his background inculcated conventional philosophy and you will relationships – sooner or later wedding; on the other, his preferences from the 1940s have been usually for men. Shortly after their school studies was in fact over, he first started a method away from notice-mining into the psychoanalyst the guy known as “Frau” – Marketa Morris. Even as we are able to see from their characters, the guy common the same specialist having Oppenheim (that have whom Bernstein got a virtually, surely close matchmaking in the early 1940s; its relationship is actually lifelong).
Immediately after a shaky initiate (mainly due to Bernstein’s initially habit of respect marriage because the a good variety of check out), the partnership of Leonard and Felicia blossomed – such immediately following Jamie, the first of their students, was born in 1952
It’s no surprise one Bernstein remained quiet on the subject of their sexuality during the characters so you’re able to Koussevitzky – until, which is, the guy with pride launched his first engagement so you’re able to Felicia from inside the December 1946, recommending a picture of their sexuality which had been at the best unfinished. Bernstein himself try stressed one to their sex lifetime could have a beneficial destroying affect his employment prospects, dreading he could struggle shopping for work as the a conductor if it became understood he try gay.
It’s worth pausing for a moment to adopt new social and personal context you to definitely provided Bernstein such concern about exactly how someone else you will evaluate his sexuality. Of several American psychoanalysts about 1930s and you will 1940s sensed homosexuality so you can end up being a mental disease that’ll address “treatment”. The study because of the Alfred Kinsey and others composed inside 1948 just like the Sexual Conclusion from the Individual Men (the initial “Kinsey Statement”) attempted to codify amounts of homosexual, heterosexual, and you may asexual decisions from inside the guys on “Kinsey Size”, looking to demonstrate that guys failed to match neat and personal classes. 2
There was an effective predictably criminal a reaction to Kinsey’s findings: among others, J. Edgar Hoover, manager of the FBI, are short to denounce the newest conclusions about profiles of Reader’s Digest: “Mans feeling of decency declares what is normal and you will what exactly is perhaps not. If the Western some body, younger or old, reach believe that there’s no such as for instance topic while the correct or completely wrong, typical otherwise unpredictable, those who carry out destroy civilization tend to applaud a primary earn more our life style.” step 3 Simply put, homosexuality, particularly communism, try “Un-American”. A couple of years later on, from inside the ed Senate Committee towards the Expenditures regarding the Exec Divisions awarded a breakdown of the newest “A position regarding Homosexuals or other Sex Perverts in the Regulators,” going to your own hair-elevating completion that “homosexuals or other sex perverts are not correct people become working in Bodies for a couple of explanations; first, they are often unsuitable, and second, they comprise coverage threats.” 4
Bernstein wasn’t, without a doubt, seeking work throughout the government, but the guy craved anticipate. You will find nothing strong facts to point one to conductors weren’t designated to specific ranking due to their homosexuality regarding the 1940s and you can 1950s, in the event Dimitri Mitropoulos apparently thought he was victimized. However, several of the most highly rated data in the arts had been homosexuals, perhaps not the very least Aaron Copland, that has, by the middle-1940s, get to be the preferred and you can distinctive voice from inside the American ancient tunes. Bernstein, yet not, aspired becoming the music director out-of a major American band and you may sensed– rightly or incorrectly – which he necessary to have shown he had been a conventional zaЕЎto Kolumbijska Еѕene Еѕele napustiti Kolumbija, old-fashioned family members guy. Even with Bernstein’s repeated protestations he craved the greater private existence from a composer (where his sexuality do not have started a problem), he may do not allow wade out-of performing as a significant part out-of his community.
Just what he failed to need to worry about as frequently try the newest you’ll be able to effect their sexuality may have on his relationships – at the very least never as far since the his selected partner, Felicia Montealegre, is worried. She know what she try committing by herself so you’re able to: immediately following they hitched, she composed: “you’re a homosexual and you may happy to undertake your as you was, without being an effective martyr otherwise sacrificing myself into L.B. altar (Letter 320).”
A really brilliant child, it is clear off Bernstein’s letters household how much cash he liked her. A similar like shines using from inside the Bernstein’s statements with the all their pupils (Jamie, Alexander, and you may Nina); with his absolute determination to Felicia is actually obvious in several characters on the very early 1950s through to the mid-seventies. It was a romance that had the rocky times, but just with this new crisis away from 1976 as well as their “demonstration breakup” achieved it jeopardize to fall apart. After his lifestyle, Bernstein joked so you can Jonathan Cott that “you desire love, which explains why We have ten thousand romantic family unit members that’s unjust on it just like the I am unable to promote any of all of them everything”. 5 But for one fourth regarding a beneficial century, Felicia was this new different: she try certainly the very best passion for their lifestyle.
step one. Dougary, Ginny (2010): “Leonard Bernstein: Magnetic, Arrogant – and a good Dad,” The changing times (London), thirteen March. On line version on , accessed .
Martin (1948): Sexual Behavior regarding the Human Men
4. This declaration are reprinted when you look at the Promote, Thomas An excellent., ed. (2013): Recording Intimate Issues: Prierica. Chicago: College regarding Chi town Press, pp. 144–eight. Based on an editorial mention (p. 144): “Far more homosexuals than communists was indeed fired regarding federal work inside period [the fresh new 1950s].”
On the Leonard Bernstein Emails of the Leonard Bernstein, modified because of the Nigel Simeone. Authored by Yale College or university Press when you look at the 2014. Recreated which have permission.
Nigel Simeone is well known since the an author and you may presenter toward sounds and that is the author of a lot guides and Leonard Bernstein: West Front Tale. The guy lives in Northamptonshire, Uk.
