"Photographing Lenny was always an event. There was always a buzz in the air, an excitement, an anticipation. When Lenny was in the house, something was going to happen. We didn’t know what, but we were on the edges of our chairs waiting to find out. I say we, as if I were one of the musicians. But I was also on stage (or hovering close by), and I found myself equally compelled to rise above my limits, and break through my upper expectations... And that was good. I was never able to let my guard down for a second – my concentration had to be complete if I wanted to follow where he was going – his energy could burst forth suddenly, his body leaping high off the podium, his arms flying in the air, eyes blazing, mouth agape… and then receding just as quickly, and barely moving, conducting with only his shoulders or eyebrows, eyes closed, deep inside the soul of the conductor…. Whatever it was, it was total immersion in the music, and the results are legendary. That night in March 1990, there was no way to know that Leonard Bernstein was struggling or that these would be the last photographs I would ever take of The Maestro. These performances were vintage Bernstein; he was as powerful and vital as ever, and it was thrilling. Yet, some point during the concert, it began to dawn on me that something was off, something was wrong. Not that it showed to the audience, but I was seeing something in him I had never before seen. His usual joy and light had somehow dimmed, and he had a gentle but profound sadness in his eyes, a deeper melancholy than I had ever before seen……Lenny died 7 and a half months later. Years after, as I was looking through these photos, I could not deny what I was seeing, so I emailed his daughter Jamie and asked if he knew at that time that he was dying. She emailed back: “I don’t know the answer to the question. But he knew ‘something wasn't right’ as far back as that January. I think maybe he had a feeling...”
~ Steve J. Sherman
ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS WORK
Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 at Carnegie Hall in 1990. These concerts would become Bernstein’s last performances at Carnegie Hall, and indeed his very last in New York. We are so grateful to Steve for this beautiful portrait of Lenny, as an old master of his craft still captivating the audience with his genius.
Treat yourself to go see “Maestro” and get lost in the life and world of a genius of creativity and passion. Beautifully executed and portrayed by Bradley Cooper who dedicated many years of his life to bring this story to fruition. It’s not just a film but a symphony of heartfelt emotion.
For any questions or inquiries please email peter@peterfetterman.com