Bradley Cooper stars as the legendary American music conductor Leonard Bernstein. The film’s teaser trailer has got fans talking about Leonard’s wife Felicia Montealegre, while others are surprised the composer was married.
Netflix‘s upcoming musical drama is based on Leonard Bernstein’s life. Bradley Cooper and Carey Mulligan are the main talents. Carey Mulligan portrays Leonard Montealegre’s wife Felicia. The film chronicles both Leonard’s professional success and his personal life. Its newly released teaser trailer has got many fans talking about the American music conductor’s wife and family.
Felicia Montalegre, who was she?
Leonard Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre was a Chilean-American actor and social activist. The music composer’s website reveals her acting works ranged from television appearances to theater roles including Broadway. Her performances included operas, concert halls and other venues around the world.She had a thriving acting career in the 1950s. Some of her major Broadway roles at the time were in A Doll’s House, Torch for a Dark Journey, The Wings of the Dove, Along Came a Spider, The Death of Rasputin, and more.
Felicia’s concert performances also included collaborations with her husband. She was born in Santiago, Chile. While Felicia’s mother was Costa Rican, her father was American. At age 21, Felicia moved to the United States. Leonard and Sheila were introduced at a dinner party in 1946.
In 1951, the couple got married. The pair remained married until Felicia’s death in 1978 when she passed away after a tragic cancer battle. Their marriage was anything but normal. There are reports suggesting Felicia knew about her husband’s sexuality.
Leonard Bernstein’s wife knew he was ‘homosexual’
Leonard and Felicia first met at Claudio Arrau’s piano party. InterludeHK Notes A few months after, they became engaged, but the relationship did not last. The report goes on to claim Felicia was fully aware of Leonard was “homosexual”. New Yorker article from 2018 also includes another report. states The same.
In a letter to her husband Felicia reportedly wrote: “You are a homosexual and may never change—you don’t admit to the possibility of a double life, but if your peace of mind, your health, your whole nervous system depends on a certain sexual pattern what can you do?
“I am willing to accept you as you are, without being a martyr or sacrificing myself on the L.B. altar.”
The couple had three children during their marriage. This gave rise to the speculations that Leonard was ‘bisexual.’ However, his West Side Story collaborator Arthur Laurents has said the music conductor was “a gay man who got married. He wasn’t conflicted about it at all. He was just gay.”
They shared 3 kids
Leonard and Felicia had three children together. Jamie Bernstein has reached the age of 70. The late couple’s second-born was Alexander Bernstein, now 68. Nina Maria Felicia Bernstein was their third child.
The music conductor’s eldest Jamie wrote the memoir Famous Father Girl: A Memoir of Growing Up, with Bernstein detailing her childhood and life as Leonard’s daughter.