Leonard Bernstein’s Children Say His Wife “Knew Exactly What the Deal Was” With His Homosexuality
Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre’s children Nina Maria Felicia Bernstein, Jamie Bernstein and Alexander Bernstein sat down with ‘Maestro’ writer-director Bradley Cooper to discuss the upcoming film.
Lenard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre’s children Nina Maria Felicia Bernstein, Jamie Bernstein and Alexander Bernstein discuss how much their mother knew about their father’s sexuality.
In interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Bradley Cooper and correspondent Mo Rocca sat down with the three kids to discuss Mestro, which Cooper stars in, directed and co-wrote with Josh Singer.
“Our mom was the most elegant, delicious person,” Nina said. Jamie added, “She knew exactly what the deal was.” Alexander chimed in, “They obviously loved each other to death. They never fought in front of us. We never saw any darkness. We felt a lot. They kept everything very well tidied and pretty well hidden.”
The segment explained that while Bernstein and Montealeagre loved each other, their relationship was complicated by the fact that the legendary composer had affairs with men over the course of their marriage and had left his wife several times.
Rocca noted that in Jamie’s 2018 memoir, she wrote that her mother penned a letter to her father shortly after their wedding, writing, “I’m willing to accept you as you are without being a martyr and sacrificing myself on the L.B. altar.” Jamie, however, added that she feels like her mother did exactly that.
“That’s how I feel,” she said. “I feel like it cost her everything to stick with it. It was really tough for her, and I think it contributed to her early death in a way.”
Alexander disagreed with his sister. “I wouldn’t go that far. I think, you know, probably she regretted a lot of things looking back,” he said. “She had a wonderful, rich life and mostly wonderful marriage and a lot of love.”
In addition to co-writing and directing the film, Cooper also serves as a producer alongside Spielberg. “A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love,” reads the logline.
The project also stars Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Gideon Glick, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton and Miriam Shor.
Other producers include Kristie Macosko Krieger, Fred Burner, Amy Durning and Martin Scorsese. Singer, Carla Raij, Bobby Wilhelm, Weston Middleton and Tracey Landon also had executive producing roles.
