A Legend: Property from the Estate of Leonard Bernstein Sotheby’s December 1997 Catalog.

[BERNSTEIN, Leonard; Jack Gottlieb].

$400.00

Item Number: 135684

New York: Sotheby's, Inc, 1997.

Leonard Bernstein’s assistant and editor Jack Gottlieb’s personal copy of the December 1997 Sotheby’s auction catalog of the estate of Leonard Bernstein. Quarto, original pictorial wrappers. With Gottlieb’s notes throughout including the hammer price for each lot that sold in the auction. He has also marked the page that has a lengthy quote from him describing a French provincial walnut style folding table in the catalog, “In the inner sanctum – the staging area for super-human accomplishment – stood that table, where the Maestro marked up his performing scores in crystal-clear intricate detail, like a a fine jeweler polishing precious stones… The telephone with its numerous intercom and outreach buttons, was always blinking, blinking. All around were tchotchkes galore: cigarette paraphernalia, a hotel bell, music boxes, kaleidoscopes, gadgets. Photos of family in silver frames… I had never noticed that the table had “cabriole legs.” – Jack Gottlieb.” Gottlieb worked for Bernstein for more that thirty years, first as his assistant and later as his editor, preparing for publication Bernstein’s books, scores, catalogues, programs and jackets. In his memoir “Working with Bernstein”, Gottlieb relayed, “Close to my heart were the editing jobs I did on three of Bernstein’s popular books. First was ‘The Joy of Music,’ on which I had the pleasure of working with the genial Henry Simon of Simon and Schuster. The next two books, also S&S publications, were co-edited with gentlemen who have since become distinguished men of letters: Michael Korda on ‘Young People’s Concerts for Reading and Listening’ and Robert Gottlieb (no relation) on ‘The Infinite Variety of Music’ (pp. 22-23). In addition to managing negotiations with Bernstein’s publishers, Gottlieb managed Bernstein’s over-booked professional schedule and shared the unique experience of navigating the 20th century American landscape of conducting and composition as a relative minority of Jewish faith and ancestry. In near fine condition. A unique and revealing piece of Bernstein’s legacy.

American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian Leonard Bernstein is widely considered one of the most important conductors of his time and was the first American conductor to receive international acclaim. According to music critic Donal Henahan, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history". Bernstein was the recipient of many honors, including seven Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards,sixteen Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement, and the Kennedy Center Honor. As a composer he wrote in many genres, including symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and works for the piano. His best-known work is the Broadway musical West Side Story, which continues to be regularly performed worldwide, and has been adapted into two (1961 and 2021) feature films.