(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
Welcome to People in America in VOA Special English. Today, Rich Kleinfeldt and Sarah Long tell about the life and work of one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century -- Leonard Bernstein. This music was written by Leonard Bernstein. He composed it for the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in nineteen seventy-one. Leonard Bernstein lived from nineteen eighteen until nineteen ninety. During his seventy-two years he was one of America's most hard-working musicians. He was a composer, conductor, pianist and teacher. He wrote both serious classical music and light popular music. He was musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for more than ten years. He often played the piano while leading an orchestra at the same time. He taught many other musicians. And, he appeared on television programs and wrote books to help people -- especially children -- learn about music.
Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August twenty-fifth, nineteen eighteen. His parents were Jews from Russia. They met and married in the United States. Leonard demonstrated early in life that he had special abilities in music His father, however, did not believe his son could support himself as a musician. The older Bernstein continually advised against it. Luckily, his son rejected this advice. Leonard studied music at Harvard University and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent summers at a famous music center in Massachusetts called Tanglewood. There he studied conducting with two major musicians of our time -- Serge Koussevitsky and Fritz Reiner. Later Leonard Bernstein would return to Tanglewood to teach almost every summer of his life. In nineteen forty-three, Leonard Bernstein became assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. In November of that year, New York Philharmonic conductor Bruno Walter became sick and could not conduct an important concert.
Mister Bernstein was called to lead the orchestra very soon before the event. He had little time to prepare. Still, he did so well that the New York Times newspaper published a story praising his effort. The story appeared on the front page the day after the concert. After that, Leonard Bernstein was invited to conduct concerts of almost every major American orchestra. In nineteen fifty-eight, he became musical director of the New York Philharmonic. He was the first American to hold that position. Critics said the well known orchestra became even better under his leadership. He was the main conductor of the Philharmonic until he resigned in nineteen sixty-seven. Leonard Bernstein became involved in many more projects after leaving the New York Philharmonic. People said he was like a powerful ocean storm. He seemed to live his whole life in a hurry. Mister Bernstein traveled around the world to act as guest conductor of many orchestras. He wrote music and taught music. At home, he and his wife, Chilean actress Felicia Montealegre, were raising their three children. Their home was a gathering place for some of the most influential artists, musicians and writers in the United States.
As the years passed, Leonard Bernstein's many musical skills made him known around the world. He won high praise as a pianist. Listen now as he plays "Piano Sonata" by his friend Aaron Copland. Critics say Bernstein wrote some of his best work in his early years. He wrote "Symphony Number Two, the Age of Anxiety" in nineteen forty-nine when he was about thirty. Musical experts say the piece captures the sounds of America. That piece was among several large works Leonard Bernstein wrote for symphony orchestras over the years. He composed several symphonies that demonstrate his deep interest in his Jewish religion. Mister Bernstein wrote other major classical works through the years for a large group of singers and an orchestra. He also composed operas and ballet music.
Many people think these classical works are not as great as some of his musical plays for Broadway such as "On the Town," "Wonderful Town" and "Candide." Some music critics say "Candide" is the best music Leonard Bernstein ever wrote. The musical "West Side Story" is considered Leonard Bernstein's most famous work. It opened on Broadway in New York City in nineteen fifty-seven. It still is being performed all over the world. The show tells a story similar to "Romeo and Juliet," the famous play by William Shakespeare. Stephen Sondheim wrote the words to the Bernstein music. "West Side Story" guaranteed Leonard Bernstein a special place in American musical theater. Here tenor Larry Kert sings "Maria," one of the most beautiful songs from "West Side Story."
Leonard Bernstein worked for three years on "Mass, A Theater Piece for Singers Players and Dancers" to be performed at the Kennedy Center opening. Two hundred people are in this huge work. Its name comes from the religious service of the Roman Catholic Church. The story tells of a young man who loses his belief in God. "Mass" is the closest Mister Bernstein ever came to joining the styles of Broadway and classical music. It contains rock music, blues music, and religious music.
Throughout his life, Leonard Bernstein was involved with social issues as well as music. He supported the civil rights movement and opposed the Vietnam War. He conducted concerts to raise money for AIDS research. In his later years, he wanted to write something that he knew would be remembered always. But he was in poor health. Still, he kept composing, directing and speaking. He gave his last performance in August, nineteen ninety, at Tanglewood. Less than two months later, he died in his New York home. He will be remembered always for his many musical gifts to the world.
重点解析
1.influential adj. 有影响力的
He had been influential in shaping economic policy.
他在制定经济政策方面曾起过很大作用。
2.compose v. 作曲
Vivaldi composed a large number of very fine concertos.
维瓦尔蒂创作了大量非常优美的协奏曲。
3.cooperate v. 合作，协作，配合
The two nations will cooperate on research and development of energy conservation.
这两个国家将合作进行能源保护的研究与开发。
4.continually adv. 不断地
The desert continually encroaches on the fertile land.
沙漠在不断地侵蚀肥沃土地。
5.invite v. 邀请
She invited him to her 26th birthday party in New Jersey.
她邀请了他参加她在新泽西举办的26岁生日聚会。
6.act as 担当
He acted as chairman in my absence.
我不在时他担任主席。
参考译文
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语栏目《美国人物志》。今天里奇·克林沸德和莎拉·朗将为大家讲述20世纪最具影响力音乐家之一—伦纳德·伯恩斯坦的生平和作品。这首曲子是由伦纳德·伯恩斯坦写的。1971年，他为华盛顿约翰·肯尼迪表演艺术中心的开幕而创作了这首曲子。伦纳德·伯恩斯坦生于1918年，死于1990年。在这72年间，他是美国最勤劳的音乐家之一。他是一名作曲家、指挥家、画家兼教师。他创作严肃经典音乐，也创作流行轻音乐。十多年的时间里，他一直是纽约爱乐交响乐团的音乐指导。他经常一边弹钢琴一边指导管弦乐队。他教过很多其他音乐家。他还上过一些电视节目、写过书，帮助人们尤其是孩子们学习音乐。
1918年8月25日，伦纳德·伯恩斯坦出生于马萨诸塞州劳伦斯。他的父母是来自俄罗斯的犹太人。他们在美国相遇并结婚。伦纳德在早期就展现出了音乐天赋。但是他的父亲认为他的儿子不可能成为音乐家。老伯恩斯坦一直反对。幸运的是，他的儿子拒绝了这个建议。伦纳德在哈佛大学以及宾夕法尼亚州费城的斯音乐学院学习音乐。他的暑假是在马萨诸塞州的一所名为坦格活德的著名音乐中心度过的。在那里他和两位重要音乐家学习指挥，他们是谢尔盖·库塞维兹基和弗里兹·莱纳。伦纳德·伯恩斯坦之后几乎每个夏天都会回到坦格活德教书。1943年，伦纳德·伯恩斯坦成为了纽约爱乐交响乐团的助理指挥。那一年的11月，纽约爱乐交响乐团指挥布努诺·瓦尔特生病了，无法指挥那场重要的音乐会。伯恩斯坦先生临时被叫去指挥乐团。他都没有什么准备时间。但是他还是做得很好，《纽约时报》发表了一篇文章赞扬他的指挥。这篇文章于演唱会第二天便登上了头版。
至那以后，几乎每个美国重要管弦乐团都邀请伦纳德·伯恩斯坦去指挥。1958年，他成为纽约爱乐交响乐团的音乐指导。他是首位获得该职位的美国人。评论家认为知名管弦乐团在他的指挥下变得更好了。他一直是爱乐交响乐团的总指挥，直到他于1967年退休。离开爱乐交响乐团后，伦纳德·伯恩斯坦参加了更多项目。人们说他像是强劲的海洋风暴，他似乎一生都在匆忙之中。伯恩斯坦先生游遍世界，为很多管弦乐担任客席指挥。他创作并教授音乐。在家中，他和妻子，智利女演员费丽西亚·蒙提莱格勒共同养育他们的三个孩子。他们的家是美国一些最具影响力艺术家、音乐家、作家的聚集地。
多年过去了，伦纳德·伯恩斯坦的音乐技巧让他享誉全球。作为钢琴家的他，也备受赞誉。现在播放的是他弹奏他朋友阿隆·科普兰的作品《Piano Sonata》。评论家表示伯恩斯坦早期的一些作品最棒。1949年，他在30岁的时候写下了《第2交响曲, 焦虑的时代》。音乐专家表示这个作品是美国之声。这首曲子是伦纳德·伯恩斯坦为交响乐团创作的几个主要作品之一。他创作的几首交响曲都展现了他对犹太教深深的兴趣。伯恩斯坦先生为众多歌手和一只管弦乐队写下了其他重要的经典作品。他还创作戏剧和芭蕾舞剧。很多人认为这些经典作品不如他为百老汇音乐剧所创作的曲子好，包括《锦城春色》、《奇妙小镇》以及《憨第德》。一些音乐评论家认为《憨第德》是他最好的作品。音乐剧《西区故事》被认为是伦纳德·伯恩斯坦最著名的作品。1957年，这部作品在纽约百老汇上演。如今还在全世界进行演出。这部音乐剧讲述和《罗密欧与朱丽叶》相似的故事。斯蒂芬·桑德海姆为伯恩斯坦的音乐作词。《西区故事》确保了伦纳德·伯恩斯坦在美国音乐剧中的特殊地位。以下是男高音拉里·克特演唱《Maria》，这是《西区故事》众多美丽歌曲中的一首。
伦纳德·伯恩斯坦为肯尼迪中心开幕上表演的《Mass》准备了三年。两百人参与这个巨大的作品。作品名字来源于罗马天主教会的宗教仪式。该故事讲述的是一个年轻男子对上帝失去了信仰。《Mass》是伯恩斯坦先生最贴近百老汇和古典音乐的作品。其中包含摇滚乐、蓝调和宗教音乐。纵观他的一生，伦纳德·伯恩斯坦都在参与音乐和社会问题。他支持民权运动并反对越南战争。他指挥音乐会为艾滋研究筹钱。在生命晚期，他想写下会被铭记一生的东西。但是他的健康状况很糟糕。但他还是继续指挥、指导、演讲。1990年8月，他在坦格活德进行了最后一次演出。两个月后，他在位于纽约的家中去世。他的音乐天赋是献给世界的礼物，他将被永远铭记。
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