This year, the music world is marking the centenary of Leonard Bernstein. I’ve written a “Bernstein at 100” piece for The New Criterion, here. Perhaps inevitably, it is personal. As I say in my piece, “Our opinions of Bernstein probably say as much about us as about him.”

Thinking about Bernstein, I thought of WFB. What did they have in common, besides huge talent, intelligence, and flair? Let me offer some paragraphs, here in the Corner:

Bernstein wrote classical music and Broadway music. He played the piano and conducted. He gave lectures and wrote — wrote prose, I mean. Donal Henahan, the late critic, once spoke of Bernstein’s “bewildering versatility.” …
Throughout Bernstein’s life, there was a debate: Should he narrow down and do less, so that he could do one or two things better, or even better? Should he write classical music, only? Musical theater, only? Should he concentrate on conducting? Should he throw himself into piano playing, and be an actual concert pianist? I am one of those who believe that he needed to do it all. That he needed the blizzard of activity. I’m not sure he would have done any one thing better, had he focused on just that.
Bernstein reminds me of William F. Buckley Jr., different as they were in their politics. Buckley edited a magazine, wrote a syndicated column, hosted a television show, lectured widely, wrote spy novels, etc. When will he knuckle down and write a serious book? many said. Why do we need another sailing journal or a hundred more columns on the news of the day when he could give us some summa? I believe that Buckley needed his blizzard of activity, needed outlets for his various talents, needed to scratch a variety of itches. Both Buckley and Bernstein were dedicated workers. They got a lot done. Each worked until his final breath (and kept going, I bet).