He was the genius behind West Side Story, the face of the New York Philharmonic, and the first American-born conductor to achieve international acclaim. This week on pplpod, we explore the explosive career and complex life of Leonard Bernstein.

From his childhood in Massachusetts as the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants to his stunning, last-minute conducting debut at Carnegie Hall that made him famous overnight,, we track the rise of a musical prodigy. We discuss how Bernstein bridged the gap between the concert hall and Broadway, composing iconic scores like On the Town, Candide, and West Side Story,,.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Great Educator: How Bernstein brought classical music to the masses through television and his legendary Young People's Co ...