WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Maestro.
The compelling and magnificent soundtrack to Bradley Cooper’s Maestro is appropriately made up almost entirely of songs composed and conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Cooper’s energetic and passionate film expertly captures the heart and soul of the legendary larger-than-life Bernstein, whose unyielding love for music and people helped him become one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century. Bernstein’s influence was felt not only in the United States but throughout the entire world.
The film daringly tackles some of the heaviest subject matter of Bernstein’s lesser-known private life, fearlessly dissecting the deep connection Bernstein had with his longtime partner Felicia Montealegre despite being a closeted gay man. Maestro is as much about the brilliance of Bernstein’s music as it is about the people, particularly Felicia, who help inspire Bernstein’s life with a euphoric sense of joy and wonder. Cooper achieved another transformative performance similar to his role as Jackson Caine in A Star is Born, seemingly channeling the essence of the remarkable Leonard Bernstein in Maestro.
Maestro Ending Explained
Bradley Cooper’s Maestro paints a larger-than-life portrait of Leonard Bernstein that reveals his flaws through the tragic eyes of his wife, Felicia.
Here’s Every Song in Maestro:
- “Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront / Manfred, Op. 115: Overture / Fancy Free: Var. 1 (Galop)” written by Bernstein and Robert Schumann; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin, Victoria Ruggiero
- “On the Town: Lonely Town. Pas de deux” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “I Get Carried Away / You’ve Got That Look (That Leaves Me Weak)” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by Nick Blaemire, Mallory Portnoy, Kate Eastman
- “Trouble in Tahiti: Interlude” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by Antonia Butler, Michael Clarke, Mark Brown, the London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Candide: Paris Waltz” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Facsimile: Molto adagio” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Fancy Free: Enter Three Sailors / Fancy Free: Var. 3 (Danzon) / On the Town: New York, New York” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by Tony Yazbeck, Clyde Alves, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Ruth Mense, Dicky Tarrach, Thissy Thiers, London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernstein
- “Anniversaries for Orchestra: X. for Felicia Montealegre / Interview (Dialogue) / Songfest: To What You Said” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “St. Louis Blues (Concerto Grosso) / Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, Pt. 3: Adagietto” written by W.C. Handy, Gustav Mahler; performed and conducted by Louis Armstrong Quintet, Lewisohn Stadium Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, Bernstein
- “Candide: Make Our Garden Grow” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by Bradley Cooper, Alex Lacamoire, Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, Nézet-Séguin
- “West Side Story: Prologue” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Mass: XVII. Pax Communion” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by Ann De Renais, Philip John Sheffield, Samuel Oladeinde, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Façade – An Entertainment: Sir Beelzebub” written by William Walton; performed and conducted by Carey Mulligan, Zachary Booth
- “Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection”: V. Finale. In Tempo des Scherzos” written by Mahler; performed and conducted by Cooper, Rosa Feola, Isabel Leonard, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Symphony No. 2 “The Age of Anxiety,” Pt. 1. A. The Prologue” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Bernstein
- “The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)” written by Lincoln Chase; performed by Shirley Ellis
- “A Quiet Place: Postlude” written by Bernstein; performed by Victoria Ruggiero
- “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” written by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe; performed by R.E.M.
- “Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93” written by Ludwig van Beethoven; performed and conducted by Cooper, London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Chichester Psalms: Psalm 23” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Chorus, Nézet-Séguin
- “Shout” written by Ian Stanley; performed by Tears for Fears
- “Candide: Overture” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin
- “Symphony No. 3 ‘Kaddish’: II. Din-Torah” written by Bernstein; performed and conducted by London Symphony Orchestra, Anne De Renais, Nézet-Séguin
When Every Song On The Maestro Soundtrack Plays During The Movie
“Symphonic Suite from On the Waterfront / Manfred, Op. 115: Overture / Fancy Free: Var. 1 (Galop)” — This song plays at the beginning of the film as a young Lenny finds out that he is being given his first chance to perform at Carnegie Hall when Bruno Walter falls sick. His first song in front of the live audience is “Manfred, Op. 115 Overture.” Lenny plays “Fancy Free” on the piano moments later.
“On the Town: Lonely Town. Pas de deux” — This song plays as Felicia Montelegre is introduced to the film. She gets off the bus and walks toward the camera moments before she meets Lenny at a party.
“I Get Carried Away / You’ve Got That Look (That Leaves Me Weak)” — The song is performed by two actors at the party where Lenny and Felicia meet. The second song is performed by an actor/singer in the background as Lenny and Felicia get to know each other.
“Trouble in Tahiti: Interlude” — This song plays over the scene immediately after the party as Lenny and Felicia go off on a bus together. Felicia takes Lenny to a small theater where she performs onstage.
“Candide: Paris Waltz” — This song plays as Felicia takes a bow in front of a packed theater. It continues over a transition to Lenny experiencing the same rush after one of his performances at Carnegie Hall.
“Facsimile: Molto adagio” — This Bernstein original plays over a scene in which Felicia ties Lenny’s tie as they stand together on a balcony and she is reminded of her father.
“Fancy Free: Enter Three Sailors / Fancy Free: Var. 3 (Danzon) / On the Town: New York, New York” — The first song plays as Felicia and Lenny run off together from an outdoor lunch to watch a stage production with dancing sailors. Eventually, Lenny joins in on the fun.
“Anniversaries for Orchestra: X. for Felicia Montealegre / Interview (Dialogue) / Songfest: To What You Said” — The first song, dedicated from Lenny to Felicia, plays over the romantic scene in the hedge maze where the two decide to give marriage a shot. The interview is from actual footage of the real Lenny and Felicia. “To What You Said” plays as Lenny catches a drawing from his oldest child Jamie and meets up with David Oppenheim in NYC.
“St. Louis Blues (Concerto Grosso) / Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, Pt. 3: Adagietto” — These songs play as Lenny and Felicia dance at a party together. Lenny holds his newborn baby and conducts around the 46-minute mark as the second song plays.
“Candide: Make Our Garden Grow” — This song plays as Lenny conducts a choir singing it during a rehearsal. Both Felicia and Tommy watch the performance.
“West Side Story: Prologue” — This famous Bernstein original plays as Lenny arrives at his home in his light blue convertible bringing Tommy, an unexpected guest.
“Mass: XVII. Pax Communion” — This song plays as Cooper’s Bernstein is in the process of creating it on piano, writing down the vocalization notes that he hears in his head on the sheet music around the 68-minute mark. It also plays as Felicia dives into the swimming pool and Lenny watches the final production holding hands with Tommy, with Felicia in the background.
“Façade – An Entertainment: Sir Beelzebub” — This musical number plays around the 80-minute mark as Felicia performs for a television program.
“Symphony No. 2 in C Minor “Resurrection”: V. Finale. In Tempo des Scherzos” — This song is notably played out over a six-minute scene at the Ely Cathedral. Cooper performs and is credited as conductor, emulating one of the greatest moments in Bernstein’s career.
“Symphony No. 2 “The Age of Anxiety,” Pt. 1. A. The Prologue” — This famous Bernstein original song plays as Lenny and Felicia sit back to back for the second time in the film as Lenny asks Felicia to think of a number, recalling an earlier romantic scene between them as the two smoke cigarettes.
“The Clapping Song (Clap Pat Clap Slap)” — This notable song is played and danced to by Lenny and Felicia’s children on the record player. The Bernstein kids try to cheer up with a spontaneous dance number for Felicia, who is gradually dying from lung cancer.
“A Quiet Place: Postlude” — This heartfelt song that Bernstein made as a tribute to Felicia as part of his A Quiet Place opera is played on piano around the 112-minute mark. It is also the first song played in the film, as Lenny tells the television cameras and interviewer that he sees Felicia everywhere he goes, noting the massive loss that Felicia was for him.
“It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” – This R.E.M. radio hit that references Leonard Bernstein plays briefly in Maestro as Lenny drives to Tanglewood to teach students in one of the final scenes of the film.
“Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93” — This song plays as Lenny’s student William is learning how to properly conduct it at Tanglewood. Lenny offers his advice on how to best conduct it and is given a round of applause.
“Shout” – This popular ’80s song by Tears for Fears plays as Lenny parties with his student, particularly William, on the stage of Tanglewood.
“Chichester Psalms: Psalm 23” — This song plays over the end credits of Maestro after the title card appears in the final shot of the film which is appropriately Felicia. Real footage of Leonard Bernstein is shown as the song plays.
“Candide: Overture” — The end credits continue with this famous original piece from Bernstein.
“Symphony No. 3 ‘Kaddish’: II. Din-Torah” — This is the final song that appears in Maestro.
Maestro’s 8 Biggest Changes To The True Story Of Leonard Bernstein & Felicia Montealegre
Bradley Cooper’s Maestro is intensely focused on the dynamic between legendary composer Leonard Bernstein & the love of his life, Felicia Montealegre.
Where To Listen To Maestro’s Soundtrack (& Leonard Bernstein’s Real Compositions)
The full soundtrack for Netflix’s Maestro can be found on Apple Music and Spotify as well as Amazon Music and YouTube. Leonard Bernstein’s complete body of work, which consists of dozens of albums, is also available on Apple Music and Spotify, including the full soundtrack to West Side Story and Bernstein’s popular Christmas album, The Joy of Christmas, which he performed with the New York Philharmonic. The full soundtrack of Maestro is, of course, best experienced through Bradly Cooper’s heartfelt and commanding performance in the Netflix film.
Maestro
Maestro is a biographical drama about the famous composer Leonard Bernstein. Bradley Cooper stars as Leonard Bernstein and also wrote and directed the film. The movie chronicles Bernstein’s life from 1946, when he met Felicia Montealegre, through his two engagements and three children. Maya Hawke, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Silverman, and Matt Bomer star alongside Cooper.
- Release Date
- December 20, 2023
- Director
- Bradley Cooper
- Cast
- Bradley Cooper , Carey Mulligan , Maya Hawke , Sarah Silverman , Matt Bomer
- Runtime
- 156 Minutes
- Genres
- Biography , Drama , Music
- Writers
- Bradley Cooper , Josh Singer
- Studio(s)
- Amblin Entertainment
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
