Maestro: Bradley Cooper's conducting, reviewed by an orchestra conductor
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ธ.ค. 2023
- Is Bradley Cooper really conducting Mahler's Second Symphony in Maestro? Is the conducting in Maestro any good? As an orchestra conductor I am always happy to see conducting in the spotlight of movies and tv shows so I had a look at Maestro to share from my - very specific- perspective how the conducting went and what I thought was missing in the movie.
01:18 Does the conducting in Maestro look legitimate?
04:00 Does Bradley Cooper look like Bernstein?
05:20 Mahler's second symphony challenges
07:49 Is Bradley Cooper really conducting the orchestra in Maestro?
10:55 What was missing in Maestro
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You aren't wrong. This wasn't your standard glamorous Hollywood biopic. It wasn't about conducting. It wasn't about Mahler's 2nd. It wasn't a documentary about LB's contribution to musical education. It was simply a movie about the dichotomy between a very complicated, tortured, unhappy man who became one of the greatest musicians of our time and his unrestrained need for love and fame. I was somewhat surprised the family approved and give Cooper a lot of credit for going there.
Fantastic take! Just like how Whiplash and La La Land aren't about jazz. Though at least those titles are more honest; I think "Maestro" wasn't a good choice... But I do think Cooper's conducting deserves some credit, especially compared to how it's usually portrayed in Hollywood.
@@booshongRight. Good points.
This movie was apparently based on his daughter's autobiography, and Cooper consulted with all of Bernstein's children throughout the process. So this was in fact the movie that they wanted the world to see.
His children have betrayed their beloved father by approving of the superficial script that Hollywood filled with social drama in order to attract people from all walks of life for BOX OFFICE
So what's the point of doing a biopic about such an important conductor? Go on and make it about a fictional character, then...
Clearly the director and productors of Maestro just didn't knew what to do with such an alien topic to them such as the universe of classical music doing and appreciation.
This is a very eloquent, thoughtful, and respectful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses in the movie, Maestro. You nailed it in every point you made. Brava!
I've studied Mahler's 2nd for 30 years now. I've studied Bernstein's baton techniques for about as long. So I am familiar with both the score and Bernstein's conducting. A friend who got his master's in music told me he could see Bernstein's sub-beats in my own baton technique. So naturally I was curious how Cooper would have handled Bernstein's technique.
When Maestro went on Netflix I forwarded to the Mahler section just to see how he managed. I saw many mistakes, extra beats and confusing upbeats that has 2 upbeats, and gestures that didn't corresponds to the context of the music at that moment. But the orchestra followed him very tightly and cleanly, not due to literally following Cooper, because Cooper's beats are not clean and not even at times. Frankly there are beats he made that is confusing. The orchestra was still together only because the orchestra had to be well prepared that Bradley Cooper was not a conductor and to forgive any beats that are added or not added, and to even out any rhythmic inconsistencies......which was to be expected.
Even the best conductors miss rhythmic inconsistencies on a regular basis, which a great orchestra smooths out without even thinking about it.
Professional orchestras more often than not, instantly corrects mistakes made by even the best conductors. They don't need the 2nd beat to be to the left or the 3rd to the right. A lot of great conductors don't even beat the typical count, just the pulse is all the orchestra needs. The London Symphony, like many world class orchestras can follow just with only a look. If they need clarity, they know to look at the concert master's bow.
Thanks for that clarification. Some of those musicians said filming on day 2 was magical. But it looked glorious! And introduced me to a new composer I'm now learning about.
but then, is all the mythical star status of a conductor deserved? if the orchestra can just smooth out inconsistecies? could an orchestra play without a conductor? just asking.
the conductor introduces and rehearses “interpretations” A really good example being Mahler’s tempo notations which are very open to interpretation.
I think the credit for the LSO playing so well should partially go to Maestro YNS, despite all the problems pointed out in the video.
@monicad99 yes, they can. But that is not the main purpose of having a conductor. The conductor provides the orchestra with his view and his intention for a particular piece. That is why the same piece may sound completely different conducted by two different individuals. The conductor is a musician whose instrument is the whole orchestra, each one plays it differently. Then comes the role of keeping all together, and there's when the orchestra may actively help them ignoring mistakes or whatever.
What a great overview and analysis - thank you.
Thank you for your analysis of the conducting in the movie. I watched a video of Betstein and watched the movie and was very curious what an expert might think, really interesting. And I completely agree about being disappointed that there was not more content about Berstein's unique gifts and influence related to music. I know a movie is not a biography, but it would have rounded out his character that much more.
You have put into words what I wished, but could not say. Thank you for bringing my thoughts to the point!!!! 🎯
I believe that bank of electronics at 11:50 might be one of the early Moog Synthesizer configurations (as in "Switched-On Bach," by Wendy Carlos from circa 1966 to 1968)
I wonder if Cate Blanchett's conducting in Tar is worth analyzing since it's another movie revolving a (fictional) conductor? I would love to see your insight on it!
Cate Blanchett's conducting was even worse!!!! coming from a musician.
I watched both of these too, and thought, as the classically trained professional bassoonist I am, that Bernstein understands how to truly connect with the musicians. Bradley Cooper wasn't doing that at all. If you're sitting in the orchestra, Cooper never connected with individual soloists or with sections when he was supposed to bring them in. Then, if you watch Bernstein, it's like he sees your soul and is conducting just for you.
Exactly, he was a very sensible and human director. @@natbb9
What he said!!!
loved the video as always! there needs to be more conducting stuff on youtube... Happy new year
thank you and happy new year to you as well!
Thank you for your insight and yet kindness to the film.
Total non-professional here, but I remember watching Bernstein on TV as a kid and loved him! I appreciate the insights, and I'm sure I will enjoy watching Maestro even more after watching your commentary! Thanks!
When I was 19 and taking music in Israel, we studied a bit of conducting and I still remember the basics of the arm positions: mata, pnima, chutza, mala - down, in, out, up. Exactly as she says. That is the basic square.
I remember my first orchestra conducting class too, at 17. It was liberating and wonderful. Great professor, who thought all Music Majors should know how to conduct, no matter their instrument( including voice). As a Pianist/ Organist, it made great sense to me...
Thank you for your very engaging and interesting video. Your presentation is first rate.
You nailed it! Perfect! Thank you!
I agree with you on all points you’ve made. I was sadly disappointed that this was not about Bernstein‘s accomplishments, but the autopsy of a marriage, which really, I don’t have any interest for, that’s personal.
Well said. It was tragic for his wife. Triumphant for him! They should have divorced perhaps but stayed together for the kids. 😭
Is there a biopic about a famous person that focus on there accomplishment and not on there personal life? I think It's usually the boring one because for a scripted movie you need interaction between people. Even documentary talk at length about their romantic life.
@@richardlehoux Yes! Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould. How ironic!
@@benjamMin278 I will have to rewatch this one. I guess making a movie about a pianist famous for being a loner, reclusive and maybe asexual would force you into a movie that is almost a documentary, very dry and intellectual. But it’s a great exception. Thank you!
@@richardlehoux Definitely. As will I! 💯
I'm alone now, my wife (56 yrs!) having died during the summer, and I'm not sure that I'll get around to seeing the film. Also, I have a large, mostly-classical library of CDs and LPs, and -- TBH -- I don't reach for Bernstein's recordings very often. Not even his Mahler recordings. However -- I saw the "Young Peoples' Concerts" during the early years of my personal discovery of classical music. They made a big impression on me. Classical music on prime-time TV! I remember him talking about the Eroica symphony (still my favorite piece of music), talking about Carmen, and I remember him introducing André Watts. I remember him conducting a late-night concert of Mahler 2 in honor of JFK. Bernstein's deep love of music, all kinds of music, was genuine and infective. Years later I learned that he was actually a late starter in music. He wasn't an infant prodigy. He started piano when he was 14 (IIRC). Yet, he became a very good pianist. From everything I've heard, he had an incredible memory of music he never conducted and didn't even like. At a party he sat down at the piano and played substantial parts of Bruckner's Eighth Symphony, explaining to everyone within earshot -- while he played -- what an awful piece of music it was. He knew the music thoroughly, even though he clearly had no intention of ever conducting it. To anyone who's waved their arms in front of their stereo, he was an inspiration.
thank you for your comment! I agree, his talking about music and outreach work made more of an impact in me than his recordings and is so valuable.
Actually LB began piano age 10, not 14.
I knew someone would have his correct age :)
@@Twentythousandlps
EXCELLENT video!!! I really respect your insigths and viewpoints. You are a great communicator....much like Lenny himself!!! Personally I think the movie is spot-on, not wanting to press too hard a point on his merits, but rather trying to convey how much of a "Heart-person" he was and how full circle his warmth and genious were. Like so many others of his era he had to compromise on showing who he really was, but I think this is a very important point of the movie.... Still, he managed to express an enourmous ability to feel and show love.... to music, the arts....and humanity itself...
thank you for your comment, I am glad you enjoyed the video and the movie as well!
A superb analysis!
I think, to be fair, the whole thrust of the movie was to show the complexity and nuance of his marriage and family life. As the reviewer has stated. I understand her point and as a classical/opera singer that I would have wished there was much more focus on his music but has Cooper has stated, he is neither conductor nor a musician. So to have included more about Bernstein's music (young peoples concerts, seminars, etc.) would have thrown Cooper into already unknown waters and left him further exposed. Yes, I agree that the conducting was not the greatest but to have tackled a beast like the Mahler 2nd is to me a baller move and I admire his obsessive research and dedication to learning as much as possible. For me, the best thing about the music is that it opens people up to a world that they might never have realized and expanded their taste and perhaps, even ignited a new interested in Classical music. And for that, I am enormously grateful. I applaud this movie, Bradley's monumental effort and a brilliant, stellar class of actors: Mulligan, Bomer, Silverman, et. al. So he wasn't Bernstein like in his conducting, so what? I commend everyone in this movie to make something out of genuine respect, commitment and love in service of Bernstein's genius.
thank you for your comment; I agree, I think all the intentions and effort were in the right place and this is like I said the most important thing to me in general.
Good points
I appreciate everything you've said, especially interesting hearing your technical expertise and analysis. As a layperson, I absolutely enjoyed the movie and music and learning more about Bernstein, immensely, and it made me want to go deeper and listen to and learn about Bernstein, Mahler, conducting, etc. I agree with your ideas about what the point of the movie was. Very well and kindly done! Thank you!
I appreciate your perspective.
Your respectful and appreciative critique of the film captures exactly how I felt about the movie. Thank you for stating it so clearly.
Thank you for your comment; it was important to me to keep it respectful and appreciate the work put in by everyone, so I am glad this came across :)
Please tell why the commentary doesn't flow and keeps on " stuttering "...
Fascinating ❤ I would love to hear your thoughts on Tár.
I’m a contemporary musician who studied piano & percussion at the Royal Academy in London. A lot of classical musicians seem to be expecting a documentary or something along those lines. This is a movie about Bernstein the man and the most significant relationship he had in his life. For Cooper to get his performance to a level of believability is a major achievement but to analyse his conducting in a technical way is really missing the point imo.
Well done and spot on!
I feel like for me, I already know so much about him as a conductor and as a public figure, that I really wanted to know more about the person behind the persona that was presented to the public. This movie did that for me, and i loved it. I feel like there is enough mentioned in the movie to make people who haven't heard of him curious. There are so many free videos online of the things you mentioned you felt were missing that I feel in the bigger picture for me would have felt redundant. Love your review and your channel. Keep up the great work! Happy New Year 🎉
Many of us who watch this movie would not have watched videos on TH-cam of Bernstein’s conducting. Cooper’s movie had the opportunity to take us behind the scenes of the great works of the incomparable Bernstein - conductor, composer, teacher, inspirer, musician. Instead, the movie’s energy focussed on the (open) secret of Bernstein’s double-life. That kind of ‘behind the scenes’ is necessary but not sufficient in a movie’s look at the unique Bernstein.
@bbpyb I again, disagree, there are countless videos you can already watch online about that sort of thing. This movie takes a unique look at a side of Bernstein's life not often presented. 🥺
On the one hand, they titled this movie Maestro, but as you and others have said, this movie is NOT about Bernstein's life as a musician... and on the other hand, the majority of people could care less about his musical accomplishments. I thought the movie lagged at times, but on the whole a fairly interesting portrayal of the tortured artist. And not only about his sexual preferences, but how he struggled between his composer persona v conducting persona. I really liked the portrayal of Bernstein the father and husband. You do get a sense how much he loved his wife and kids. Bottom line, there are countless recordings, youtube videos, documentaries and biographies that tell us more about the musical aspects of his life than a relatively short movie can ever hope to portray.
i thought the movie was terrible from the first 5 minutes
!
New subscriber here!
Very worthwhile “review”. As an American, I suppose I have more than the average admiration of Bernstein, but it is clear you have huge admiration. So nice to see!! I remember reading an autobiography of a retired French Horn player from the L.A. Philharmonic, when he had the occasion to meet Leonard Bernstein, and his reaction to just meeting him. It was inspirational to just read about his experience.
Will I go see this movie? Probably will just wait until it is available at home. Would prefer to support my local orchestra in Las Vegas (2024 is our conductors 10th year, and his last). Only live music I have been to in Germany is at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, but it was chamber music (and really fun). Where are your concerts?
Bradley Cooper is working really hard not to become irrelevant in Hollywood. He learned to sing in 'a Star is Born,' learned to conduct and play piano for 'Maestro', and is currently starting on his next project, 'The Fred Astaire Story.'
Really? Fred Astaire? I am buying my ticket NOW! You comment is on the mark. Because he is so very handsome, he probably has had to battle what beautiful women have had to do forever in the industry which is make people understand he and they are more than just physical looks. Good on him. Thanks for the information. I can’t believe how the prosthetics were incredibly perfect. At the end when they included real footage of LB, I had to examine it closely to determine that it was not BC but the real LB.
I agree with your review. The movie gave scant attention to Walter and Rodzinski's role in his career, glossed over Koussevitsky's importance, and where was Mitropoulos? I f not for the unfortunate premature death of Cantelli, would there even be a Bernstein as we know him today?
The movie is about Bernstein.
Bernstein does some very interesting things when conducting. I think he was the only student in Fritz Reiner's conducting class who got perfect marks. He extends his arms and hands towards the woodwind to make phrasing with the strings very clear. He will also turn towards first violins and almost mimic expressive bowing and expressive vibrato. The huge gestures and leaps are reserved for tuttis and climaxes, obviously, as they can't be repeated without losing emphasis. Working with the VPO towards the end of his career his mastery in piling orchestral colour on top of orchestral colour with first class ensemble reached overwhelming levels. Listen to the end of the Sibelius 1st Symphony with the VPO. Nobody comes close to the sound Bernstein extracts for the gorgeous melody at the end, it starts like the earth trembling with the doublebasses and cellos and develops into a threnody of terrifying power and eye-watering intensity. Nobody but a musical genius could extract playing like this from normal mortals. Good luck Mr. Cooper in even attempting to look halfway right!
Very impressive, vinylisland6386!!!! You had me at "threnody". Who are you and when can we meet for coffee?!
The Maestra is correct about many things here. Yannick walks on water. Also a good conductor tells the musicians what you are playing and what comes next, and you can see how Bernstein does that. Also, Cooper says this is a love story, and Carey Mulligan gets first billing in the credits. This is a movie about Felicia, so criticizing the film for omissions of his life misses the point. As an aside, the reason the boys were wearing ties is because in the 60s and 70s, it was customary to get dressed up to go to Lincoln Center, even on a Saturday afternoon, and even children. My father worked at the Met for 41 years, and I loved getting dressed up to go to the opera. I hope that makes a comeback!
I agree! I'm horrified how poorly people - adults let alone kids - dress for performances in the great concert halls. Wearing jeans to the Met is a gross insult to the work of the performers.
Thank you for this very thoughtful critique: your splendid balance of noting errors and offering appreciation is lovely. Enhorabuena! I have happily subscribed.
As a lifelong "mélomane", it is a real pleasure to hear your insights! And yes, Cooper does exaggerate Lenny's conducting a bit too much, but still brilliant.
I can't help but mention the incredible excerpt that Alondra de la Parra posted on IG of her *Sacre du printemps* with Milano last year: a thrilling moment that recalls the incandescence of the great Lenny, who planted the seed of devotion to music when I watched him as a child every week, in black & white...
Love this channel! Would you do a video on Muti?
I really like your analysis. I agree. I wonder if Yannick could have just stood in for Cooper in the Mahler scene because he was close enough to Maestro Bernstein in height. Probably closer than Cooper who is 6’1 actually. Cooper is very talented, and the acting in the movie is very good. I would have liked to have seen Young People’s Concerts replicated. Bernstein was so good at those concerts.
i loved this clip - thank you! you pointed out good things and errors but gave context that makes the errors somewhat unimportant
I would love to hear your opinion of Tar.
13:43 it absolutely is a biopic! I think you’re being unnecessarily diplomatic; every criticism you make (his timing is so off that the first violin is forced to take over; he can’t keep the “4” shareholding mind when moving the baton bc he’s too focussed on looking theatrical, etc.) is accurate and you have nothing to lose by trashing this film. If it had been a run of the mill Netflix cancer-diagnosis melodrama unconnected to the Bernstein estate called The Conductor’s Wife, no one would be talking about it at all-certainly not seriously considering its awards potential, Cooper directing or no.
Cooper himself said it is NOT a biopic. Watch the interview with him and Spielberg.
Nice job. I know nothing reallyy about conducting, but learned a bit more from watching your video. I'm glad you clarified that although his conducting wasn't perfect, as far as what we'd expect from an actual conductor, for an actor and director and not a conductor, they did a good job in general portraying this. And you also clarified that although you would have liked the film to cover more of his musical life, it was their decision to base the movie more on his personal life and relation with his wife and family and also his sexual life and relationships. Guess they thought if might be too long to cover all of those different aspects of his life. I do know my own knowledge of him came from watching the different TV specials for children when I was one, and also watching specials talking about current popular music as you mentioned. I remember him talking about the Rolling Stones and also Janice Ian. :) Haven't watched the movie yet, but it's on my list and will watch it shortly. Thanks.
it is a great pleasure for me to watch your very intelligent and inspiring video s! Is there also a video I may watch you conducting! And a special request: could you make an analyses of conducting the Johann Strauss waltzes with the New Year Concerto s of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra?
I think our love will go to Carlos Kleiber!!!
I am not a musician but I highly appreciate your videos explaining conducting techniques. As to your comment about LSO depending on the rehearsal, there had been comments about Stokowski depending on the rehearsals, and often following the orchestra by hand gestures, rather than leading the orchestra. It seems to me he was more interested in setting the mood rather than directing every note during his performances. Perhaps you could make a video on a Stokowski performance.
Also, I'd read an interesting story, Furtwangler arriving late to a live performance, he wondered why the orchestra had not
started without him. As I understand it, in the old days they used to do six or more rehearsals, thus they'd be more prepared.
It seems the "machine" you mention -11:50 - was a Moog (rhymes with Vogue) Synthesizer, made very famous by Walter (later Wendy) Carlos' "Switched-On Bach" album of 1968. John Barry used it in several film scores, "invisibly" in *The Lion in Winter*, and obviously in *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* and TV themes.
Wonderful!
Oh, how nice: just noticed one of the pictures on the wall is the Wiwilíbrücke (Wiwilí Bridge) in Freiburg (Germany). Sorry for being totally off-topic.
The machine is the Moog Synthesizer, which was used to create "Switched On Bach". The album was a huge sensation in 1968. Watch the you-tube vid "Wendy Carlos demonstrates her Moog Synthesizer in 1970". Also check out the album "Tomita, Snowflakes are Dancing", which features Debussy done with synthesized sounds. While the movie didn't highlight his conducting the NY Phil, it did expose me to some of his music I haven't heard before. I've been listening to his "Age of Anxiety" symphony, that sounds like the piano solo in "The Batman" credits.
The “huge machine” Lenny brought out on stage was the legendary Moog synth.
Would love to hear your thoughts on Cate Blanchett's conducting in Tar. I thought it was really terrible but I'm very very much a non-expert
I very much enjoyed the film and applaud Mr Cooper for his accurate, insightful portrait of Lenny, a man who was and always will be a legend to those of us who love music [all genres of music]. Born in 1943, I watched many of his TV programmes, all of which were not only informative but also very entertaining. In passing, I should note that unlike fellow cricket tragic, Neville Cardus, I absolutely loathe Mahler's music. I wouldn't conduct his second symphony for all 'the tea in China'.
Excellent review. As for the things that are missing about LB’s career, I would hope that many people who see the movie would be inspired to learn more about Bernstein and his music and career, perhaps by watching videos such as these. So in that sense, the movie doesn’t have to include everything in Bernstein’s life. Doing that would take a series lasting many hours, as Leonard Slatkin said in another review.
Love the Carlos Kleiber photo in the background. I conducted for years. He's my favorite ever!
thank you, mine too :)
did he do a good Mahler 2?
Enjoyed your piece. I came to the film with personal experience of growing up with the Young Peoples Concerts. Adored his interpretations with NY Phil, had a long career in classical music that put me in a few situations to work under his baton or observe his creativity (watched a rehearsal at the Kennedy Center before it's opening while Mass was being developed), was at Tanglewood one summer when he conducted the Fellowship Orchestra. Agree that coming to the film with that acquaintance with his life and career was a big benefit. I loved every minute of it. In tears just listening to the Mahler. But thought, all things considered, that he looked about as much as LB AND an actual conductor as possible. Have seen loads of conductors, many of whom were not exactly on the beat ot clear about even downbeats! Again, really enjoyed your video.
fascinating. am here for the nitpicky stuff so pls do as much as you like!
thank you as always for watching ;)
I like the movie overall! The cinematography, makeup and wardrobe was excellent. Locations and Set Dec was awesome as well! I had already liked Leonard because he gave so much gusto to each piece! Like he wanted to explain the music to the orchestra for the original Composer! I did not know about his personal life so was a bit surprised but that did not matter to me. I agree that they should have made it a three hour movie and added music attributes into it. It would have made for a more well rounded movie feature! Good Luck with your conducting! Thank you for explaining the 1 to 4 during conducting! I am interested in how this all translates!!!!
Ver y well, respectfully put. Particularly helpful for me. I do not have any musical education but love classical música and Bernstein. It was killing me that I did not know why Cooper seemed to be acting, not conducting, which I found distracting. I now understand. Also agree that the most interesting things Bernstein did are not there. Thanks so much for your insightful, clear comments.
Lenny was magical. He was also the definition of "extra". If more people come to great music, all mistakes are forgiven. Lenny brought millions to classical music. Fave? Beethoven Op 131 Quartet arranged for orchestra. Reduces me to tears.
Exactly right. Bravo!
On a tangential note, I’m interested in what you might think about those rare actors who are not professional musicians but nevertheless seem to have an intuitive conductor’s instinct (Danny Kaye and David Ogden Stiers quickly come to mind.) What do you think gave those “non-conductors” the ability to actually conduct quite well (in my humble but certainly debatable opinion)? Are any of you out there interested in seeing someone you know like them in an acting role as a conductor?
Thanks for reading.😊
Kaye was amazing as a conductor. Far more gifted in this realm than Cooper. I attended a fundraiser of the Boston Symphony where he conducted. I knew a few of the orch. members who said he had amazing gifts in this cosmos.. and I agreed..
It's sad that they made Bernstein's private life the main topic of the movie. The most important part is the music. He was a brilliant conductor, a decent composer and even performed as a soloist in piano concertos. He was also a likeable character, compelling as a TV figure and supposedly, appreciated by orchestra musicians. A man of many talents. An interesting analysis, I thought that they would add sound from an off-camera recording to the image to make it easier for the orchestra and the choir, but they actually made an effort to have the actor conduct a demanding excerpt. I wonder what you think about the movie Copying Beethoven, conducting plays a bigger part in that story.
I really liked the film MAESTRO but yeah the personal story kind of ruined the Persona of Leonard Bernstein for me. And I really appreciate his musical education and his book The Joy of Music! I agree that The Chichester Psalms is a brilliant homogenous piece and a crowning achievement for him. Interesting Commentary! 8:41
I disagree. His professional life is so well documented on film and tv that it is not necessarry to write a movie script that just rehashes these points. Want to learn about him as a musician? Watch his concerts, his lectures and his documentaries.
What I personally thought was missing, was the movie showing us how he went and recorded the Mozart Requiem 10 years after her death and dedicated the recording to her memory, even going so far of having a photograph of her on the cover instead of anything that has to do with the music. That would have been a great bookend to show how much he still remembered her and would have maybe even made a great juxtaposition to the club scene where he went dancing and flirting with one of his male students.
@@QuotenwagnerianerGood point. I just think his professional life is almost maligned by this film but it is a good film. I just think the ending where he is in like a nightclub at Tanglewood is not as satisfying if it didn’t really happen lol!
I disagree. A movie on his music or his conducting skills I don’t think there would have been a story line. The movie Brassed Off was based on Grimethorpe Colliery Band and when they won the national brass band championships of Great Britain. However the back story was about the coal mines closing. Pete Postlethwaite looked like a MD and acted like one. However it was the back story that made the movie story line and the music made it a gem of a music based movie. I’m sure any brass band enthusiasts will agree national final test pieces are not William Tell overture type of pieces. They are called test pieces for a reason. However the movie fan wouldn’t have appreciated the band playing Mr Wilbys New Jerusalem test piece.
Back to maestro the back story is his relationship with Mrs B, the music adds to the movie.
Think you are being too harsh on Bradley Cooper. He did a bloody good job. Mahler’s 2nd symphony finale is a difficult piece of
Music to get right and it ticks all the boxes. Every MD is unique, they have unique styles. he/She has to score read, find musical nuances within the score. He/She must decide whether to put their own mark on it or conduct it like Mahler wanted. Finally he looks like LB and his mannerisms are LB. He should win the awards in 2024. Golden Globe, BAFTA & the other main one the academy award. He should win these big 3 awards
@@Kittenwhisperer24 I disagree. Silver Linings Playbook is a better movie IMO. LOL. More heart warming! Bradley Cooper should play characters more in line with historical figures like Albert Einstein or someone like that. Eg. He would have been great in Oppenheimer as Prof. Robert Oppenheimer. I think he is just as good an actor as Joaquin Phoenix or Robert Downey Jr. But somebody give this guy a break and make him into Russell Crowe_Oh yeah, now there's an idea!! Glad-2💡😂💡
Hi: I have left you a comment that also has relationship with this video, into one published 2 years ago, comparing Kleiber with Bernstein, performing Brahms fourth symphony. I think you will find it interesting. Best regards from Argentina.
"the actual things that Leonard Bernstein did; the things that made him Leonard Bernstein . . ." Indeed, the movie showed very little of this.
You said it! I recommend Lauren Bacall's narrated The Gift of Music (1993) Gives all the details re: Bernstein and more.. It's on You Tube.
Just saw the movie...couldn't agree more with you!
I performed Brahms Symphony No 1 with Lenny as the principle first horn. He and I connected and as a young artist, he called me out. I know the actual Lenny.
Cooper rocked this. Six years of study is insufficient to model the master. I really respect the analysis on the second beat going out with Cooper - indeed, that's not Lenny. It's a natural expression to push outward, especially on Mahler - you want to expand and consume space, but we have this tradition of how beats are conducted. "It's a very natural thing to land and want to go to the side." Absolutely!
Thank you for a precise analysis here. Cooper couldn't know many of these things even with 6 years of study. I have incredible respect for him channeling and bringing Lenny back to us. I miss him dearly and was grateful for this memory.
Te iba a escribir en inglés al ver Mafalda detrás tuyo, pero después vi la foto de Les Luthiers también así que cambié al castellano. Tu video es muy interesante e ilustrativo, y las observaciones muy exactas. Tengo entendido que la película estaba se filmó hace ya varios años, aunque no se había estrenado: tal vez Tar tuvo que ver en eso? Demasiadas películas sobre directores de orquesta al mismo tiempo?
hola! si, muy bien observadas las imágenes del fondo :) .Gracias por tu comentario; no se esto que comentas respecto a que este filmada hace mucho, voy a leer al respecto a ver. Definitivamente hay un boom de interés de "Hollywood" sobre tópicos de la musica clásica, parece que se viene una película sobre Maria Callas...
No podía ser de otra manera, Callas es muy filmable. Creo que hay una de Zeffirelli, no?
What’d you think of TAR?
I would love to talk about this - movie was marvelous for so many reasons but missed out on many influential parts of his life.
How about reviewing different interpretations of Mahler 2?
I suggest you watch the interview with Cooper and Spielberg. Cooper explains and discusses the Mahler scene. Yes, he was really conducting. And there were no digital or editing tricks.
Yannick Nezet-Seguin is a legend here in Quebec!🤩
I just saw another video about the film and it showed a very special aspect that most people (and you too) seem not to realize. When the word MAESTRO pops up, you only see Bernstein's wife. What if the maestro is HER, the very special wife behind the successful man? If the film is more an homage to Bernstein's wife and her qualities? (This is not about making Lenny smaller than he is. I love him and he is my spiritual and musical father, I wept for one hour when they said in the news that he had passed away.) But this film is perhaps more about the strong woman behind the genius. So, no real need to deepen the genius aspects of Lenny, his way to transport music, his life for Mahler and Musicals, his dilemma between conductor, classical composer and musical composer. That might become another film...
Whats missing from the movie? A good script and an an actor with the gravitas to play the title character.
You nailed it!
Your comments make me want to see Maestro. I only heard about it from Stephen Colbert's show and they have the background knowledge of which you speak. I do not know anything about LB.
My Father loved classical music and took me to the (dress rehearsal) opera as a child. So at a young age, I was exposed to classical music. Since my late twenties when my dad died, I have only listened to music in my car in memory of my Father. To respect him and remember him.
Thank you
Everyone is entitled to have and express thoughts and desires about Maestro, especially if it did not meet the expectations. However, Leonard Bernstein, as a musician, composer and conductor, is the one person whose life has been more documented than any other in human history through his own writings, books, compositions, recordings, lectures, videos, broadcasts, biographies, documentaries, and first hand comments from his fellow musicians, students and his own children. Why would anyone want to watch a movie about such a person to see the already known first-hand musical facts by someone who is not a musician? In my case, a professional musician, I had the privilege to see him in person, leading a rehearsal back in 1979. As a conductor, he was magnificent, but as a person ... I was terribly puzzled to see a hunched-over man pulling an oxygen tank connected to a mask covering his face entering the stage as hundreds of people clapped to welcome him. Once he took off the mask and stepped on the podium, a magical transformation took place even though he could not change the sound of his cavernous voice. Reading his books, watching his videos, listening to and playing his works did not solve that puzzle until I watched Maestro.
About the 'levare' moment - I see exactly where the 1 tactus hits....
thanks for your comment! I "see" it hit, but imo the preparation is too uncertain and hard to predict when exactly it will hit, and always the preparation is more important than the actual landing; you can actually hear that the chorus and the orchestra arrive at different times.. But like I said it's details and for an actor it is quite good! Mahler is hard for most trained conductors.
I am perplexed about how a channel focused on classical music doesn't have a single feature on the prodigy composer Alma Deutscher. She composed both classical(style) orchestral music and operas before the age of 10 and that was 8 years ago. Her music and operas have been played all over during this time, most notably in Vienna and Carnegie Hall.
Criticizing conducting and timing in particular: some of that has to fall in the lap of the editor, not just the actor. No matter how much work the actor puts in, if the editor flails around with not understanding how the visual patterns vs. the sound need to coordinate, it make the actor look wrong.
interesting point! would be curious to know how much of that was involved in the final product we saw.
@@howimettheopera an editor can only work with what was shot and if Bradley didn’t get the conducting right there is nothing to work with filming is expensive and he insisted on 35 mm film.
Weird because I have family members who are music theory professors and conductors and they both thought he was incredible. I wouldn’t have known the difference but my Dad said “he’s not faking this”. We would love to see you do it live with the same orchestra and same venue.
Also it’s IMPOSSIBLE to do it EXACTLY like Bernstein did. The fact that Bradley Cooper studied for SIX years for ONE role and did it better than most professional conductors could have in two takes is INCREDIBLE!
My question to you would be, "did the character appear to enjoy or suffer while he conducted as LB would while conducting?"
Exactly right assessment and so interesting and correct especially from a classical music conductor, at the risk of sounding hi brow I really think that if you are really musical and live for the classics the flaws in this "Maestro" conducting presentation and so much missed out about this fabulous Maestro Bernstein made it seem shallow and pretentious in parts.
I just watched this the other day and am so glad I came across your video. I think Bradley did as good as he could…but he definitely wasn’t conducting that orchestra (former music education major here) and I think they deserve so much credit for making that scene what it was.
Not once did I see you introduce yourself by name. Please provide a bio in the intro section.
Great Analysis of the movie production.
As a lifelong fiddler, no one you've ever heard of, I've rehearsed and performed with dozens of conductors -- some well known, but most merely Excellent but NOT well known. A fine conductor may not become known until that person has a chance to conduct a major orchestra. But the key really is the interpretation of symphonic compositions --> that is, conveying some consistent and compelling treatment of the well-known compositions of a composer for audiences to hear those works as they have not heard them before.
What you see as a musician in the orchestra, is that by the time you have all learned your parts, and heard the instructions from the conductor over weeks of rehearsal, that conductor, like the director of a play, has done the serious work. By the performance, the orchestra should know what the conductor wants from the music, even if that conductor were sitting in the audience.
Of course, any orchestra player likely knows this (though they may not agree with me); I'm trying to explain it for folks who haven't had much exposure to the mechanics of orchestra rehearsals.
So, for some audiences, a film like this offers a chance to appreciate the portrayal of Bernstein by a fine actor. For musicians, it offers the hope of insight into an iconic genius of the music world.
I’m an African-American male. Born in 1990. Grew up heavily influenced by hip hop and resonate with R&B music. I’ve always enjoyed the live instrumentation of alternative music and classical music used in a pop sense. The movie and being introduced to Leonard Bernstein truly peaked my curiosity. It sent me down a rabbit whole of classical music. And being that I am a business owner and leader, it gave me a new found respect for conductors and the role they play.
So glad you enjoyed Bernstein's amazing music. Check out the many videos of the real LB on TH-cam. Check out the overture to "Candide". So much beautiful music. (May I respectfully make a tiny grammatical correction in your post - it's "piqued" my curiosity not "peaked"
As a symphony musician with over four decades of experience, and who participated in the filming of Maestro, I find this video frankly irritating. To have a young, aspiring conductor pick apart an actor's conducting technique is in my view pretty silly. Cooper is of course not a professional conductor, but for the purposes of this film he was about as convincing as anyone I've ever seen on the big screen. (BTW Cate Blanchett in Tar was also good.) When the 1943 Carnegie Hall debut orchestra filmed with Cooper, every colleague I spoke with was similarly impressed.
Regarding this video's general criticism of the movie. With respect, Maestro was never billed or advertised as a biopic or documentary: but as a story of the relationship between Bernstein and Montealegre-Cohn, of course set in the context of Bernstein's other relationships, and his musical career. Anyone disappointed with the film's lack of scope has brought in false expectations. I found the film to be well-made and well-acted; I also may be biased because I performed as a symphony musician in the movie. Besides that, my seeing Bernstein conduct the NY Phil's Young Peoples' Concerts on CBS television, beginning at age 5, kindled my fascination with classical music, to study the violin and viola, and later enjoy a career as an orchestral musician. I eventually got to meet my inspiration at a concert performed by my orchestra at Carnegie Hall to celebrate his 70th birthday, with Bernstein in attendance. After the concert, he met backstage with the musicians; I was finally able to see him face-to-face, and tell him of my gratitude for his profound influence on my life. Long live the memory of Leonard Bernstein.
I watched both of these too, and thought, as the classically trained professional bassoonist I am, that Bernstein understands how to truly connect with the musicians. Bradley Cooper wasn't doing that at all. If you're sitting in the orchestra, Cooper never connected with individual soloists or with sections when he was supposed to bring them in. Then, if you watch Bernstein, it's like he sees your soul and is conducting just for you.
IMO almost every movie I’ve ever seen set in the classical music world is cringeworthy and embarrassing to say the least. Not the way it really is so I’m reluctant to go see them. Ironically, Amadeus is a rare exception (has real reverence for the music and music process) and that’s a work of fiction. 🤓
Thanks for your explanation but this movie is not about how close to Bernstein techniques as a director Bradley Cooper was able to reproduce, but about a love story that trascends reasonable limits, difficult moments and his wonderful talent, generosity and how approchable he was to teach and explain about music. For the aspects you talk about there are plenty information and recorded events. For me Cooper's performance of The Maestro is super. He even was instructed by Gustavo Dudamel, the actual venezuelian conductor of the Ducth Philarmonic. You can not expect for an actor to become a musician and a director for a movie. Thanks Bradley to bring us again the unforgetable Bernstein. No need to add how difficult is Mahlers 2nd. Symphonie, and how it adds profoundness and sensibility to his character.
I agree--in this respect, this movie is like Amadeus--more of a riff on the man and his relationships and passions than a full portrait, and not focusing on the public persona who influenced a generation. But if it gets people to be curious about music--considering that a fraction of the American population even listens to classical music at all--then that is a win. Thank you for your insights.
The reason children wore a suit and tie is because this was the 1950s. It was Carnegie Hall. Adults and children would never go there in street clothes. My mother and other women would get dressed up to go shopping, even if there were traveling on a city bus. It was the 1950s!
I think the beginning of the mistake was the election of the piece. There's a lot of repertoire Mr. Bernstein did, like Beethoven Piano concertos, small works like Ave Verum by Mozart. Even, the movie would improve if Cooper talked about Bernstein's success, and his temper with his musicians. However, Bradley did an excellent production, and there's a lot of effort, and soundtrack behind.
The machine at 11:50 is a Moog Synthesizer in its earlier stages, these were the years of "Switched on Bach" by Walter Carlos later on Wendy Carlos which great success approached J.S. Bach to the wide public. The Moog developed later to smaller versions known as "mini moogs" much like modern keyboards of which is the precursor. There is a 1977 documentary, marvelous but nowadays relatively unknown; "The Joy of Bach" where the mini moog appears briefly at the beginning, and later on Mrs. Rosalyn Tureck a legendary piano and harpsichord virtuoso played delighted comparing Bach along five different keyboards which ends on a mini moog. Yo can see "The Joy of Bach" here: th-cam.com/video/R365zD9Rgto/w-d-xo.html
Hi Ana, What is the difference between Mexican Ranchera songs that have (the first, the second and the third mode) compared to American music that only have (first and second mode) there is even American music that only have (the first mode ) and nothing else, in South America they call the music with (first and second) musica plana. and they call the American music with only (the first) musica lineal, What are the correct musical terms to name or explain this types of music. The composer of "Deep Breakfast" went to Europe to learn how to compose music using first, second, and third mode, when he came back to US he came out with DEEP BREAKFAST >> Deep Breakfast is Ray Lynch's third studio album, released on December 12, 1984. Vivaldi even uses 5 modes in his Four Seasons Work, oh That is Superb!!
You may conduct it at my funeral!
Saw the movie yesterday, and I fully agree with you! It is not about music at all, really..... and when you don't know of Bernstein some facts of his life, many things are not clear, and we have to guess where we are in his life. Nevertheless, a great performance from Cooper, but I was still more impressed by Carey Mulligan !
Perfect. I didn't learn anything about Bernstein from the movie and Cooper "conducting" the Mahler was an unnecessary vanity project.
Because Bradley most likely didn't take his time to know the Mahler piece like how Cate Blanchett did with Mahler's 5th on TAR.
This is another video about Bernstein and the movie: th-cam.com/video/0UYY97ZX8bo/w-d-xo.html
I knew I wouldn't need to watch that movie. I don't need to see it. I grew up with Leonard Bernstein - it is enough. Thank you.
Many of us who watch this movie would not have watched videos on TH-cam of Bernstein’s conducting. Cooper’s movie had the opportunity to take us behind the scenes of the great and diverse works of the incomparable Bernstein - conductor, composer, teacher, inspirer, musician. Instead, the movie’s energy focussed on the (open) secret of Bernstein’s double-life. That kind of ‘behind the scenes’ is necessary - but not sufficient - in a movie’s look at the unique Bernstein.
It's like making a movie about Churchill or Hitler and entirely focusing on their private lives.
Bravo!
That was literally the point though. Cooper said in interviews that LB was so well-documented there was no point in doing another biopic. This was the story of his marriage.
@@vjhreeves There must have been literally thousands, if not millions of marriages going through similar sort of development in the history of the world. So why not use an anonymous name for a work of fiction? The obvious answer is of course Berstein was not just a normal person, and not because of his marriage/family experiences.
@@tt-ew7rx Take it up with the star/director. I am just telling you what HE said.
@@vjhreeves I see. That's what my original comment was directed at, i.e. the movie.
THE MOVIE WAS A MUSICAL FIASCO. Musically, it had nothing to do with music making or Bernstein.
Thank you!!
A dear Hallo to all....I have not seen the movie and I have no Intention to see it... I am a professional musician and it pains me to see the Trailer for this movie...my interest in Mr. Bernstein is his legacy not his private life...Mr. Bernstein was indeed a genius and a blessing for us all ...sometimes it is better to let sleeping dogs lie, let us celebrate all brilliant conductors and performers and remember what and how they Revolutionized classical music for all to enjoy🎉😊