Maestro (soundtrack)

Maestro (Original Soundtrack)
Maestro (Original Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by Leonard Bernstein, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper and the London Symphony Orchestra
Released	November 10, 2023 (digital); December 1, 2023 (physical)
Recorded	2021–2023
Studio	AIR Studios, London
Genre	Classical; orchestral;
Length	62:59
Label	Deutsche Grammophon
Producer	Bradley Cooper; Leonard Bernstein;

Maestro (Original Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2023 film Maestro that is centered around the life of composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre. Directed by Bradley Cooper, and starring himself as Bernstein with Carey Mulligan as Montealegre, the film's soundtrack features Bernstein's works from musicals and operas as well as compositions from Gustav Mahler and Ludwig van Beethoven, amongst others. All of Bernstein's compositions were arranged and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. The soundtrack was released by the Deutsche Grammophon label digitally on November 10, 2023 and in physical formats on December 1.

Background

The soundtrack consisted of compositions from Bernstein's musicals and operettas such as West Side Story, Candide, On the Town, Mass, Chichester Psalms and Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3, which were handpicked by Cooper. Apart from that it also featured works from Gustav Mahler, Ludwig van Beethoven, W. C. Handy, Robert Schumann and William Walton that were used to illustrate key moments in Bernstein's career and marriage.^[1]

All of Bernstein's compositions were performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of pianist-conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who also served as Cooper's conducting coach and trained him for six years to perform the orchestral conducting live on sets.^[2]^[3] Though Nézet-Séguin never met Bernstein in his life (he was 15 when Bernstein died in 1990) he cites him as the biggest inspiration "how emotional he was on the podium and how he was unashamed of being very physical when he conducted".^[3] While simultaneously conducting the orchestra, Nézet-Séguin would rehearse thoroughly with the members and interpret them and guide Cooper while filming on sets.^[3]^[4]^[2]

In the final act of the film, the 1987 single "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" from the American rock band R.E.M. is heard when Bernstein teaches young students on conducting. Given that the song's release was three years before his death, it signifies on how Bernstein enjoys his final years in his life as he is seen dancing with the young male student in a club as the credits near.^[5] Time-critic Olivia B. Waxman described its appearance "a cheeky, self-aware nod to Bernstein's legacy and his influence on musicians of all genres" but also its placement being timely due to the song's resurgence of popularity in March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic.^[5]

Release

On October 19, 2023, Deutsche Grammophon announced the release of the soundtrack album set for November 10 in digital streaming platforms and physically on December 1, in CD and vinyl formats.^[6] An excerpt from the finale of Mahler's Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" was released as a single on October 20. It was performed by soprano vocalist Rosa Feola, mezza-soprano vocalist Isabel Leonard, the London symphony chorus and orchestra conducted by Cooper.^[7]^[8]

Deutsche Grammophon president Clemens Trautmann said that the album "reflects our ongoing passion for collaborating with film-makers and bringing the worlds of cinema and classical music together". The company which re-issued several of Bernstein's compositions, had produced a 10-CD box set Digital Library A–Z that presented complete recordings of Bernstein's works encompass over 260 hours that were remastered in Dolby Atmos and released in conjuction with Decca Records during October and November 2023.^[7]

As a "Deutsche Grammophon" store exclusive, the physical editions consisted of CDs and 180-gram double LP variants of black colored, and crystal clear grey colored CD packaging that includes a photobook regarding the music production process. The prices range from €18.99–57.99 (US$20.74–63.33).^[9]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)/Conductor(s)	Length
1.	"Bernstein: Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront / Manfred, Op. 115: Overture / Fancy Free: Var. 1 (Galop)"	Leonard Bernstein Robert Schumann	London Symphony Orchestra Yannick Nézet-Séguin Victoria Ruggiero	5:16
2.	"On the Town: Lonely Town. Pas de deux"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	2:24
3.	"I Get Carried Away / You've Got That Look (That Leaves Me Weak)"	Bernstein	Nick Blaemire Mallory Portnoy Kate Eastman	3:38
4.	"Trouble in Tahiti: Interlude"	Bernstein	Antonia Butler Michael Clarke Mark Brown London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	0:32
5.	"Candide: Paris Waltz"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	0:53
6.	"Facsimile: Molto adagio"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	1:12
7.	"Fancy Free: Enter Three Sailors / Fancy Free: Var. 3 (Danzon) / On the Town: New York, New York"	Bernstein	Tony Yazbeck Clyde Alves Jay Armstrong Johnson Ruth Mense Dicky Tarrach Thissy Thiers London Symphony Nézet-Séguin New York Philharmonic Bernstein	3:34
8.	"Anniversaries for Orchestra: X. For Felicia Montealegre / Interview (Dialogue) / Songfest: To What You Said"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	6:07
9.	"St. Louis Blues (Concerto Grosso) / Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, Pt. 3: Adagietto"	W. C. Handy Gustav Mahler	Louis Armstrong Quintet Lewisohn Stadium Symphony Orchestra Vienna Philharmonic Bernstein	3:50
10.	"Candide: Make Our Garden Grow"	Bernstein	Bradley Cooper Alex Lacamoire Philadelphia Symphonic Choir Nézet-Séguin	2:09
11.	"West Side Story: Prologue"	Bernstein	London Symphony Nézet-Séguin	1:25
12.	"Mass: XVII. Pax Communion"	Bernstein	Ann De Renais Philip John Sheffield Samuel Oladeinde London Symphony Chorus London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	7:24
13.	"Façade – An Entertainment: Sir Beelzebub"	William Walton	Carey Mulligan Zachary Booth	0:33
14.	"Symphony No. 2 in C minor "Resurrection": V. Finale. In Tempo des Scherzos"	Mahler	Cooper Rosa Feola Isabel Leonard London Symphony Chorus London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	6:16
15.	"Symphony No. 2 "The Age of Anxiety", Pt. 1. A. The Prologue"	Bernstein	New York Philharmonic Bernstein	0:58
16.	"The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)"	Lincoln Chase	Shirley Ellis	1:13
17.	"A Quiet Place: Postlude"	Bernstein	Victoria Ruggiero	2:00
18.	"Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93"	Ludwig van Beethoven	Cooper The Orchestra Now Nézet-Séguin	3:03
19.	"Chichester Psalms: Psalm 23"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra London Symphony Chorus Nézet-Séguin	4:59
20.	"Candide: Overture"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra Nézet-Séguin	4:36
21.	"Symphony No. 3 "Kaddish": II. Din-Torah"	Bernstein	London Symphony Orchestra Anne De Renais Nézet-Séguin	0:57
Total length:				62:59

^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]

Chart performance

Chart performance for *Maestro (Original Soundtrack)*
Chart (2023)	Peak position
US Traditional Classical Albums (Billboard)^[15]	5

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label	Ref.
Various	November 10, 2023	Digital download streaming	Deutsche Grammophon	^[7] ^[16]
	December 1, 2023	CD		^[9]
	December 1, 2023	Vinyl		^[9]

References

^ Tilden, Imogen (November 13, 2023). "Wigs, kisses and the pope's jumpsuit: can Maestro reveal the real Bernstein?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "How Bradley Cooper Nailed the Conducting Scene at the Heart of Maestro". GQ. November 27, 2023. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Lenker, Mauren Lee (November 20, 2023). "Watch Bradley Cooper recreates Leonard Bernstein's conducting in Maestro". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ Sharf, Zack (November 15, 2023). "Bradley Cooper Spent Six Years Learning to Conduct Six Minutes of Music So He Could Film It Live on Maestro Set: 'I Was Absolutely Terrified'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "About That R.E.M. Needle Drop in Maestro". TIME. November 22, 2023. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ "'Maestro (Original Soundtrack)': Deutsch Grammophone's Soundtrack For Bradley Cooper's Biopic Releases Digitally On November 10 [Exclusive]". The Playlist. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Maestro (Original Soundtrack)". Deutsche Grammophon. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ Hernández, Javier C. (September 30, 2023). "Conducting Lessons: How Bradley Cooper Became Leonard Bernstein". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ ^a ^b
Maestro (Original Soundtrack) – Deutsche Grammophon Store exclusives:
- "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – CD". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – 2 Vinyl". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – Exclusive Limited Crystal Clear 2 Vinyl". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – CD + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – 2 Vinyl + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – Exclusive Limited Crystal Clear 2 Vinyl + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (Original Soundtrack) by London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Bradley Cooper on Apple Music, November 17, 2023, retrieved January 4, 2024
^ Jetzt anhören - Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (Original Soundtrack) von London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper (in German), retrieved January 4, 2024
^ "YouTube Music". YouTube Music. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^ "Maestro". www.amazon.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
^ Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (Original Soundtrack), November 17, 2023, retrieved January 4, 2024
^ "Traditional Classical Albums – Week of December 2, 2023". Billboard. December 2, 2023. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
^ "Maestro Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

External links

Track listing
Liran Gurkiewicz, Music in ‘Maestro’ is as versatile as Bernstein - soundtrack review, The Jerusalem Post, 24 December, 2023

[1] Tilden, Imogen (November 13, 2023). "Wigs, kisses and the pope's jumpsuit: can Maestro reveal the real Bernstein?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[:0-2] "How Bradley Cooper Nailed the Conducting Scene at the Heart of Maestro". GQ. November 27, 2023. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[:1-3] Lenker, Mauren Lee (November 20, 2023). "Watch Bradley Cooper recreates Leonard Bernstein's conducting in Maestro". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 25, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[4] Sharf, Zack (November 15, 2023). "Bradley Cooper Spent Six Years Learning to Conduct Six Minutes of Music So He Could Film It Live on Maestro Set: 'I Was Absolutely Terrified'". Variety. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[:2-5] "About That R.E.M. Needle Drop in Maestro". TIME. November 22, 2023. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[6] "'Maestro (Original Soundtrack)': Deutsch Grammophone's Soundtrack For Bradley Cooper's Biopic Releases Digitally On November 10 [Exclusive]". The Playlist. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[:3-7] "Maestro (Original Soundtrack)". Deutsche Grammophon. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[8] Hernández, Javier C. (September 30, 2023). "Conducting Lessons: How Bradley Cooper Became Leonard Bernstein". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[:4-9] Maestro (Original Soundtrack) – Deutsche Grammophon Store exclusives:
"Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – CD". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

"Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – 2 Vinyl". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

"Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – Exclusive Limited Crystal Clear 2 Vinyl". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

"Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – CD + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

"Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – 2 Vinyl + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

"Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – Exclusive Limited Crystal Clear 2 Vinyl + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[10] "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – CD". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[11] "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – 2 Vinyl". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[12] "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – Exclusive Limited Crystal Clear 2 Vinyl". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[13] "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – CD + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[14] "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – 2 Vinyl + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[15] "Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (OST), featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra – Exclusive Limited Crystal Clear 2 Vinyl + limited photobook". Deutsche Grammophon Store. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[10] Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (Original Soundtrack) by London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin & Bradley Cooper on Apple Music, November 17, 2023, retrieved January 4, 2024

[11] Jetzt anhören - Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (Original Soundtrack) von London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bradley Cooper (in German), retrieved January 4, 2024

[12] "YouTube Music". YouTube Music. Retrieved January 4, 2024.

[13] "Maestro". www.amazon.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.

[14] Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein (Original Soundtrack), November 17, 2023, retrieved January 4, 2024

[:62-15] "Traditional Classical Albums – Week of December 2, 2023". Billboard. December 2, 2023. Archived from the original on November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

[16] "Maestro Soundtrack Album Details". Film Music Reporter. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.

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v t e Leonard Bernstein
List of compositions Awards
Opera and operetta	Trouble in Tahiti (1951) Candide (1956) A Quiet Place (1983)
Musicals	On the Town (1944) "New York, New York" "Lonely Town" Peter Pan (1950) Wonderful Town (1953) "Ohio" West Side Story (1957) "A Boy Like That" "America" "Cool" "Gee, Officer Krupke" "I Feel Pretty" "Maria" "One Hand, One Heart" "Something's Coming" "Somewhere" Tonight" "Tonight Quintet" A Party with Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1958, collaboration) The Race to Urga (1968) 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (1976) The Madwoman of Central Park West (1979, contribution)
Ballet	Fancy Free (1944) Dybbuk (1974)
Orchestral music	Symphony No. 1 (Jeremiah) (1942) Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety) (1948–49, revised 1965) Symphony No. 3 (Kaddish) (1963) Fanfare for the Inauguration of John F. Kennedy (1961) CBS Music (1976) Slava! A Political Overture (1977) Divertimento (1980) Concerto for Orchestra (1986, 1988, 1989, originally Jubilee Games)
Concertante	Prelude, Fugue and Riffs (1948) Serenade after Plato's "Symposium" (1954) Ḥalil (1981)
Chamber music	Piano Trio (1937) Clarinet Sonata (1942) Dance Suite (1989)
Choral	Hashkiveinu (1945) Chichester Psalms (1965) "Olympic Hymn" (1981) Missa Brevis (1988)
Vocal	Psalm 148 (art song, 1935) I Hate Music (song cycle, 1943) La Bonne Cuisine (song cycle, 1947) "So Pretty" (1968) Songfest: A Cycle of American Poems for Six Singers and Orchestra (1977) "My Twelve Tone Melody" (1988)
Piano music	Non troppo presto (Music for the Dance No. 1) (1937) Music for the Dance No. 2 (1938) Sonata for the Piano (1938) Anniversaries (1942—1988) Seven Ann. (1942–43) Four Ann. (1948) Five Ann. (1949–51) Thirteen Ann. (1988) Four Sabras (ca. 1950) Bridal Suite (1960) Touches (1980)
Other compositions	The Lark (incidental music) (1955) Mass (1971) Opening Prayer (1986)
Film adaptations	On the Town (1949 film) West Side Story (1961 film) West Side Story (2021 film)
Books	The Joy of Music
Related articles	Academy for the Love of Learning Artful Learning Bernstein–Mahler cycle Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Creative Arts New York Philharmonic concert of April 6, 1962 Pacific Music Festival The Unanswered Question (lecture series) Young People's Concerts Maestro (2023 film)
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