That Bernstein feeling

SAN FRANCISCO -- On Nov. 14, 1943, 25-year-old Leonard Bernstein made his debut conducting the New York Philharmonic in Carnegie Hall. A last-minute substitute for Bruno Walter, he landed on the front page of the New York Times. The next year he composed his first musical, "On the Town," and wrote his first ballet, "Fancy Free," all of which made him the talk of the town.

By Mark Swed

September 19, 2008