The Leonard Bernstein Letters (79 page)

Dear Lenny,

After much discussion with Bob Wise, it was decided that the opening of the picture would be handled in the following manner: the helicopter shots would be kept the way they are now except for the “motto” whistles which will precede the long orchestral note. Also, we
will
add the finger-snaps during the long note. The general feeling here is that the helicopter shots are very unusual and dramatic, and not at all travelogue-y. It is felt that they do progress the audience to the locale of the picture in a most effective manner. In any event, the opening will be kept this way for the preview. If, at that time, anyone feels that the high shots slow the opening of the picture, or interfere with the dramatic content of the “Prologue”, the proper changes will be made.

Your recital of Jerry's report to you concerning the picture has been on my mind constantly. He has, conveniently, omitted a significant amount of information in his usual vaguely dishonest manner.
⁸²
Isn't it interesting that he didn't think it important to mention various large mistakes in the numbers he shot? Isn't it curious that he didn't mention that the Jets are out of sync during a section of “The Jet Song”; or that there's half a bar of music missing during the fugue of “Cool”; or how I pleaded with him to just “try” the faster version of “Cool” and how he refused; or how several sections of “America” and “I Feel Pretty” wouldn't cut together except through Bob Wise's ingenuity; or how he staged “One Hand” and was always aware that we were going to use just one chorus and had no
objection
whatever? I could further mention how he kept encouraging Natalie Wood to sing her own track so that as late as last Friday I was still having trouble from that quarter. I could go on endlessly reciting blunders, which he neglected to mention to you. But, I assure you, we've corrected, and are correcting, all of his mistakes without talking about them. I hope on the other hand, he mentioned how exciting the “Quintet” turned out; or how wonderful the “Taunting” is; or how touching “Somewhere” is; or many other facets of the picture which, I'm sure, slipped his mind since we managed to muddle through without him.

The reason for this diatribe is quite simple: the fact that Jerry is going to derogate all of us concerns me not at all; the fact that many people will believe what he tells them, since it's fashionable to regard us all out here as sun-loving, bungling, no-talents, also doesn't concern me. What
you
believe, however, concerns me deeply. I can only reiterate that never in my experience has so much money and care been expended in the making of a movie. If it is not perfect in every detail, my only answer is – what is? It isn't because we didn't try like Hell. Jerry, of course, is wildly talented. He is also wildly destructive of people and relationships. For me, one doesn't compensate for the other. He is easily the most reprehensible person I've ever known. And so, when the golden day dawns when I will, at last, be freed from
West Side Story
, I will make it a life's work never again to mention his name or think of him. That, indeed, will be a time for wild celebration.

I'm sorry to have kept you this long at a time when I know how busy you are. I wish you great success with your tour and I'm sure you'll have much better luck with Alaska than I did. (Remember
Bonanza Bound
?).
⁸³

Love and sholom,

Sol

Darling,

How can I describe the last two days? Paradise. At last, really Japan – once we got out of mad gay Tokyo. About 16 of us were put up at that famous Japanese inn called Minaguchi-ya, where I think I had the most beautiful day and night anyone has ever had. The gardens – the beauty – the sea – the quiet – the deep charm of Japanese rooms, the smell of new tatami (the straw mats used for carpeting) – the elegance of simple flower arrangements – the marvelous food – and oh, the girls. We were welcomed in a way that made me feel I'd never been really welcomed before. The girls crowd around, laughing, attending, bubbling, dressing & undressing you, preparing your kimono, your bath (oh that wonderful bath of old scoured wood) – and with none of the artificial gaiety of the Geisha (who embarrass the wits out of me) but with a natural spontaneous joie de vivre & delight in making you happy. I had the Emperor's suite, mind you, & slept in his bed, & had his breakfast (about 17 courses) and it was coincidentally the Emperor's birthday, so Lennuhtt was the Emperor (which is
Tenno
in Japanese, so now you can call me Tennuhtt). The morning after we visited the famous nearby temple Shuken-ji, a terribly moving Zen sanctuary with the most overwhelming gardens I have ever seen. The entire side of a mountain covered in every green imaginable, spotted with huge red azalea, & pierced by a long, narrow graceful waterfall from top to bottom. I shall never forget the sound of that silence, or the odors, the color, the peace.

All this is really to say that in two days you would change your whole mind about things Japanese. I know you would. You would adore the food (most of it anyway), the sense of beauty, the natural grace of people and houses. You'd even change your mind about paper windows & walls & screens & doors & mats & sitting on the floor. It is the way to live. I insist on bringing you here some time, without the orchestra and la Belle and Tourel.

Now today that Paradise is all over, as we've moved into another noisy characterless big city, which doesn't even have the fun of Tokyo, but only the ugliness. But from here on it gets good again – more Japanese style inns, & Kyoto, which I can't wait to see, & Kobe, &
pearls
. I bought me two black kimonos today – one silk, one wool: something for you, don't dare really. Bought Axel a great boy-doll in honor of Boys' Day which is the big festival tomorrow. It's a Samurai-boy on a horse, in a glass case, & featuring a huge phallus, which I don't know how I'll explain to him. Then visited Nagoya Castle, a breathtaking piece of architecture, and a museum reminiscent of the Hermitage in terms of costumes, prints, & paintings. Now sleep. Then a koto-player is coming for to play the koto. Then sleep. Day off. Thank God. My big nose is still sick, & needs a big rest. All else is great, concerts et al. are smashes. Minimum of Saudeks [Robert and Elizabeth], etc. All under control. Only I miss you terribly.

My love, my little maid of Orleans, my swan, I miss you. My dearest love to the littles.

L

O, that inn! I had always thought the idea that Japanese made men happy was a commercial notion from Brando movies: but it's true!

Ha-ha Rennuhtt (or is it Chi-Chi),

Hip! Hip! Your letter arrived and not so chop-chop either – but then who can figure it out? I feel I cannot waste a minute if this is to reach you at all.

It was so wonderful to hear from you – sort of unbelievable since I confess that I still have the childish notion that the Orient is never-never land – it's hard to picture you all there. I mean like Helen Coates painted on a kaki-mono or Jack Fishburg
⁸⁴
meditating at a Buddhist Temple, or you for that matter being fed by some dainty geisha – anyway Tokyo sounds disastrous and shatters all my childhood dreams.

New York, however, is exactly the same as you left it – the same set, the same cast of characters. There is
nothing
new on
any
front. Alexander is in bed with a cough (not serious). Henry is fine and looks beautiful. He was not allowed by the doctor to go to the country since he's still convalescing – so I took BB & Ellen instead. I've been with the “liver pip” for about a week so I was afraid to go by myself. It was to
die
there – no dogwood yet, but forsythia, daffodils, jonquils, pinks, blues – dreamy! I can't bear that you're missing it – still, I guess you're
getting spring in spades there! But somehow it's not the same when it doesn't belong to you.

I'm off to Rochester in a few days – I've worked hard and feel secure – I wonder if they are?

Don't buy me a “simple” pearl – I've decided I don't want rings any more!

Kiss you long with all my love,

F

Dear Lenny,

Just receive[d] the score of
West Side Story
“at the request of the composer”. Well – it sounds rather miraculous as I had just ordered it! Too beautiful – not to be true!

Merci
– I am enchanted by its dazzling nature – perhaps facility is a danger, but it is enough to be aware of that and follow it.

Until soon. I often think of you, of the problems and temptations that your gifts give you – divergent and convergent.

With my greatest affection to all of you.

NB
⁸⁵

My darling,

Your wonderful beautiful letter from Nagoya followed me to Rochester – it arrived just in time for the concert and inspired me to new heights – in other words it went tickety-boo to the races! Hollenbach
⁸⁶
turned out to be a jolly good conductor, the chorus was wonderful and your old Maid of Orleans did you proud. And here I am back at the store covered with laurels, my ego in top form for at least six months!

We are all counting the days to your arrival – such an enormity of events have taken place since you left that I feel it should all somehow quiet down once you are home safe and sound – so did it!

Love to all – kisses to you from the littles – I love you,

F

J olt of rightness: himself a puzzle, self devised, self-soluble.

Leonard Bernstein

July 5, 1961
⁸⁷

Dear Arthur,

I've been meaning to tell you, ever since I saw the
W
[
est
]
S
[
ide
]
S
[
tory
] film,
⁸⁸
that I had never realized until that moment how much I admired and, yes, even revered your work on the show, and how much we all owe to you. It becomes all too painfully obvious as one sees the line-by-shot destruction of the book by the H'wood exegists (there's no such word!), and the clearest of all is the line, however fine, between whatever art is, and non-art. I just wanted to say a personal Thank you.

Lenny

Dear Bernstein,

Great news!! The
Répons des Ténèbres
are finished. I hope that you will like them. It's very simple (because of the children) but also, I believe, very moving, with nothing decorative like the
Gloria
and completely internal. It's penitence, but “poverty is not a vice” as Markevitch put it in his
Rebus.
For a long time I've wanted to tell you that I went
twice in five days
to see
West Side Story
in Paris. I was
fascinated
, that's the exact word, by everything that you have expressed and suggested. For someone who loves the interval of a sixth

you'll know how much I liked the big love duet. Bravo!

The boys have told me that they played the Double Concerto, and recorded it, with you. What a joy! I cannot wait to hear it.

Thank you for remaining a faithful friend.

I embrace you, dear Bernstein

Fr. Poulenc
⁸⁹

Dear Maître,

It is our pleasure to hope to make a double celebration of your coming birthday. First we want to devote a special Pension Fund program to your works; this would
occur on the 21st of March and be a gala celebration. Then, on the following Saturday, the 24th, we are planning to play another program of your music for a Young People's Concert, and this one would be nationally televised a month or so later.

Remembering your charming cooperation with us on a previous television program, and recalling your kind telegram last season after our
Oedipus Rex
program, I am encouraged to ask you again if you would not join us on this television show as well. Perhaps you could say a word of greeting to the young people (who, as you have said, understand your music better than anyone!) – and then, if you wish, conduct the orchestra in some final work, like part of
Petrouchka
, or whatever you would like.

I don't have to tell you what an honor it would be for us all to have you present (at both occasions, preferably, since they are so close together), besides helping us, reciprocally, to honor you in the way we would like to. To say nothing of my personal delight.

Yours always,

LB
⁹¹