The Real Love Story ‘Maestro’ Is Based On
Bradley Cooper has shown himself to be just as skillful a director as he is an actor, and his newest film, the biographical drama Maestro, delves into the complicated relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre. Cooper both directs and stars in the movie, and producers on the film include Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. Carey Mulligan stars as Felicia Montealegre, and the cast also includes Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Michael Urie.
Bernstein was a legendary conductor, composer, and pianist, and he’s considered to be one of the most important and talented conductors in history. He was the first American-born conductor to lead a major symphony orchestra, and his works include West Side Story, the original score for the Elia Kazan film On the Waterfront, and three of his own symphonies. Bernstein racked up two Tonys, seven Emmys, and 16 Grammys, and an Academy Award nomination during his career, and his Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic were televised programs that introduced classical music to a wider audience. Montealegre was an actress, and she gained success for her performances on TV and in theater roles on Broadway and at the Metropolitan Opera.
The couple got married in 1951, but as the movie explores, there were constant issues during their marriage, and their picture perfect image didn’t reflect the reality of their relationship. As with most biographical films, fans are wondering about the real-life story behind the famous couple. Here’s the true story of Bernstein and Montealegre’s relationship.
How did Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre meet?
Bernstein and Montealegre met in 1946 at a party thrown by pianist Claudio Arrau. The couple ended up getting engaged a few months later, but they soon broke off the engagement. Montealegre went on to have a relationship with actor Richard Hart, and they lived together until his death in 1951. Montealegre and Bernstein then rekindled their relationship, and they got married on September 9, 1951 in Boston.
What was their marriage like?
The couple lived between New York City and Connecticut, and they had three children. Bernstein and Montealegre were said to have regularly hosted parties and events at their homes, and guests included the who’s who of composers, playwrights, and writers of the time.
In public, Bernstein seemed devoted to Montealegre, but the reality of their marriage was that the famous composer was engaging in multiple affairs with men and women while still married. Montealegre reportedly knew of Bernstein’s infidelity before they got married, but it weighed on her as the years went by.
However, the two were aligned when it came to their careers, and they also both supported the civil rights movement, the anti-war movement, and other humanitarian organizations. In 1965, Leonard Bernstein joined the Stars for Freedom Rally, a concert organized by Harry Belafonte to inspire the Selma marchers to continue their historic walk. In 1974, Montealegre co-authored a report of the New York State parole system with Coretta Scott King, Victor Marrero, and other members of the Citizens' Inquiry on Parole and Criminal Justice, Inc.
According to Biography.com, Bernstein was still torn about his sexuality, and he reportedly engaged in therapy to “cure himself.” In a letter to his sister, Bernstein wrote, “I have been engaged in an imaginary life with Felicia.”
Things came to a head in 1971 when Bernstein met Tom Cothran, a music scholar and music director of a San Francisco radio station. They started a relationship, and in 1976, Bernstein left Montealegre to go live with Cothran in California.
What happened to Felicia Montealegre?
In 1977, Montealegre was diagnosed with lung cancer. Bernstein returned to her, and he took care of her until she passed away in 1978.
What happened to Leonard Bernstein?
Bernstein continued composing and conducting until he announced his retirement in 1990, and he passed away on October 14, 1990 from a heart attack brought about by his longtime smoking and emphysema. He is buried in the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn alongside Montealegre.
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