Bernstein's Big Break

On April 21, 1939, American composer Leonard Bernstein debuts as a conductor, being asked to stand in for the conductor for the New York Philharmonic.

Before becoming a household name in American popular music, Leonard Bernstein made his high pressure debut as a conductor when he was told to stand in for the conductor of the New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall on April 21, 1939. This first performance at the young age of 25 set in motion the wheels to propel him to the forefront of American music. In the coming years he went on to compose such well known classics as "West Side Story" in 1957 and "On The Town" in 1944.