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Bradley Cooper Opens Up About His Terrifying Six-Year Journey to Portray Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro”
Briefly
• Bradley Cooper opened up about his six-year journey to portray Leonard Bernstein in Netflix’s “Maestro,” including preparing for a scene conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.
• Cooper was aided by rigorous training and studying footage of Bernstein, allowing him to capture the essence of the legendary conductor.
• Yannick Nézet-Séguin provided materials and “wonderful teachers” for Cooper to achieve authenticity in his portrayal.
• At a recent tastemaker screening in New York, Cooper received praise for his performance from Lin-Manuel Miranda, who commended Cooper’s directing style and use of Dream Ballet film technique.
• Cooper’s dedication has resulted in a captivating portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro”.
At a recent tastemaker screening in New York, Lin-Manuel Miranda praised Bradley Cooper’s extraordinary performance as Leonard Bernstein.
Bradley Cooper expresses his fear and dedication to bringing Leonard Bernstein to life in the Netflix film “Maestro.” Not only did Cooper direct, produce, and co-write the feature, but he also spent six years mastering the art of conducting a six-minute sequence.
During a Q&A at the Whitby Hotel, moderated by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Cooper shared his anxiety about one particular scene. It involved him conducting the London Symphony Orchestra live, recreating Bernstein’s iconic performance at Ely Cathedral in 1976. Cooper admitted that he was terrified, but through years of rigorous training and studying footage of Bernstein, he captured the essence of the legendary conductor.
Cooper credited his “wonderful teachers” and the materials provided by conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin for helping him achieve authenticity in his portrayal. The result was a standing ovation for the film and praise from his co-stars Matt Bomer and Carey Mulligan.
Miranda, impressed by Cooper’s directing style, highlighted the metaphor of a director as a conductor that was evident throughout the film. He also commended Cooper for bringing back a Dream Ballet film technique reminiscent of MGM musicals.
Bradley Cooper’s dedication and talent have paid off, creating a captivating portrayal of Leonard Bernstein in “Maestro.