Bradley Cooper's 6-Year Journey to Master 6 Minutes of Music in 'Maestro'
Bradley Cooper's dedication shines as he devoted six years mastering the art of conducting six minutes of enchanting music for the captivating film 'Maestro'
Bradley Cooper Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage/Getty Images
Bradley Cooper, a 48-year-old Oscar nominee, encountered a monumental test in his career as he took on the roles of director, co-writer, co-producer, and lead actor in the biographical movie Maestro, focusing on Leonard Bernstein's life.
Cooper disclosed that he dedicated numerous years to master the art of conducting, specifically for a pivotal scene in the film. In this scene, he skillfully reprised Bernstein's conducting of the London Symphony Orchestra within the illustrious Ely Cathedral in 1976.
During a conversation moderated by Lin-Manuel Miranda after a movie screening on Monday, November 13 at the Whitby Hotel in New York City, Cooper expressed his initial concern about the live scene. He mentioned that the London Symphony Orchestra was involved and how he had to conduct them. Reflecting on his preparation, the A Star Is Born actor shared that he dedicated six years to learning how to conduct precisely six minutes and 21 seconds of music.
Maestro recounts the life of a 16-time Grammy winner, renowned for composing the iconic score of West Side Story, as well as his deep connection with his spouse, Felicia Montealegre. In 1951, they exchanged vows, and their unwavering bond endured until she succumbed to lung cancer in 1978.
From 1958 to 1969, Bernstein held the esteemed role of musical director for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, gracefully retiring from conducting in October 1990. Sadly, fate dealt a cruel blow as he passed away in that very month due to a heart attack.
Cooper mentioned that he extensively researched and prepared for the scene, sharing with Miranda his experience of watching Leonard Bernstein conduct at Ely Cathedral with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1976. He mentioned that he studied that raw footage to gain insights for his role.
Cooper reminisced about Spielberg informing him of the shift during his guest appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in January 2022.
"I will always remember this unforgettable moment. As we were sitting there, I was showing him A Star Is Born on a massive screen, and he was seated all the way on the front row. I noticed him getting up, thinking he was going to the bathroom, and I thought it meant that he wasn't enjoying the movie. But to my surprise, he walked over and I lowered my head, only to feel his face close to mine. Amidst the loud noise, he exclaimed, 'You're f—ing directing, Maestro!'"
Cooper shared with Colbert that since childhood, he had aspired to be a maestro and had dedicated countless hours to practicing conducting.
During a roundtable discussion held by Focus Features in January, Cooper discussed the difficulty he faced in depicting the renowned conductor. He expressed his deep admiration for the world of conducting and the podium, emphasizing that it was the most terrifying encounter he has ever had. Cooper declared it to be the ultimate challenge and an exceedingly daunting task, one that is essentially impossible to achieve.
