Bernstein and Robbins

The formative early ballets of West Side Story creators Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins explored in detail for the very first time.

2022 CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title Winner.

Leonard Bernstein and choreographer Jerome Robbins stand as giants of the musical-theatre world, but it was ballet that launched their stage careers and established their relationship. With Fancy Free (1944), their triumphant debut collaboration produced by Ballet Theatre, Bernstein, Robbins, and set designer Oliver Smith-all in their mid-twenties- captured the spirit of wartime New York, created a defining ballet of the period still widely performed today, and became overnight sensations. The hit musical On the Town (1944) and a now largely forgotten ballet, Facsimile (1946), followed over the next two years.

Drawing extensively on previously unpublished archival documents, Bernstein and Robbins: The Early Ballets provides a richly detailed and original historical account of the creation, premiere, and reception of Fancy Free and Facsimile. It reveals the vital and sometimes conflicting role of Ballet Theatre, explores how Bernstein composed the scores, sheds light on the central importance of Oliver Smith, and considers the legacy of these works for all involved. The result is a new understanding of Bernstein, Robbins, and this formative period in their lives.

Contributor: Sophie Redfern SOPHIE REDFERN is a music historian and lecturer at the University of Sheffield and holds a post supporting research activity at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, having previously taught at Liverpool Hope University. In January 2019, she was appointed Curator at the European Opera Centre.

Rich [archival] materials and Redfern's thorough analysis of Bernstein's music constructively articulate how each artist's individual contributions defined the futures of both ballet and musical theater in the United States...Some of the most compelling highlight Bernstein's adaptation of popular and Latin music into the classical French structure of ballet. Fancy Free's inclusion of defined character motifs, stacked ostinatos, tone rows, and rhythmic complexity would give American ballet a definitive form. --- Sophie Redfern's groundbreaking and compelling new book offers a vivid account of the often high-octane collaboration between Leonard Bernstein and the choreographer Jerome Robbins-and to a lesser extent, the theatre designer Oliver Smith. . . . [A] manifestly important book that will undoubtedly establish itself as a classic text in the fields of both Bernstein and ballet studies, and which is distinguished throughout by its expert interweaving of historical narrative, source studies, music analysis, and criticism. --- Sophie Redfern's new book on Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins provides a rich portrait of their collaborative relationship [and] the first in-depth, published analysis of their ballets. Her book adds many insights into the working relationship between these two influential figures. A fascinating narrative arc emerges. Redfern's book is important reading for scholars...who want to think more deeply about collaborative relationships between composers and choreographers. --- This very interesting book primarily relates the early partnership of Leonard Bernstein and Jerome Robbins. I enjoyed Redfern's...discussion of the staging and choreography of the various shows. The author wisely includes a discussion of Bernstein's ability to work quickly on theatrical assignments and Robbins's legendary rehearsal requirements, and how that affected their relationship. This book offers corrections to...prior information and presents the ballet information with enough detail to better appreciate the music and choreography. --- For choreographers interested in commissioning scores for their dance pieces, the information contained in this book is very useful.