To play Leonard Bernstein in his upcoming film Maestro, Bradley Cooper worked hard for six years on a single crucial scene that lasted 6 minutes and 21 seconds. The film is expected on Netflix on December 20th.
Maestro: Bradley Cooper becomes Leonard Bernstein
After directing “A Star is Born” with Lady Gaga in 2018, Bradley Cooper returns behind the camera for “Maestro.” Release on Netflix is scheduled for December 20th. In this new film, once again set in the musical realm, Bradley Cooper plays Leonard Bernstein, the famous composer and conductor, at various points in his life.
Shot partly in black and white, the film covers both his career and his personal life over a period of thirty years, and in particular his chaotic marriage to Felicia Montealegre (played by Carey Mulligan). For this role, which would earn him another Oscar nomination, Bradley Cooper immersed himself completely in the life of Leonard Bernstein, including physically (which sparked controversy when the first trailer was posted online). He also worked for six years on a crucial scene in the film, in which he conducted a live orchestra.
Six years of work for six minutes live
During a panel discussion in Los Angeles following a Maestro presentation, Bradley Cooper revealed (via IndieWire) that he spent six years learning how to do it Conducting an orchestra for a live shot scene from the film. This six minute and 21 second sequence reproduces a performance by Leonard Bernstein when he conducted the London Symphony Orchestra at Ely Cathedral in 1976.
“I was absolutely terrified,” admitted Bradley Cooper, emphasizing the intensity of the experience of conducting the orchestra live in this crucial scene. To prepare, he studied a rough version of Leonard Bernstein’s conducting at the time and received help from experts such as the director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Quebecer Yannick Nézet-Séguin. In particular, thanks to the videos he created, he was able to perfectly learn the gestures of a conductor.
See you on Netflix on December 20th to discover the result of this hard work.