Actually, I just learned from reading his 1990 obituary in the New York Times that Leonard Bernstein got irritated when people who didn't know him well called him "Lenny." No disrespect intended, Maestro Bernstein. He was born 90 years ago today.
The obituary gives a rounded portrait of this remarkable (and indefatiguable) American "hopelessly fated for success." For example, who knew he once sang the title role in Carmen in his teens? Or that he came this close to being a movie star, too? Read the whole thing here.
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