E. Nina Rothe

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Bradley Cooper transforms into Leonard Bernstein in first images & trailer released by Netflix for 'Maestro'

The film, which is also directed, co-written and co-produced by Cooper, chronicles the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.

One of the most highly anticipated titles on this Lido this year, Maestro by Bradley Cooper will be premiering at the Venice International Film Festival on September 2nd. The film is a Netflix title and the streaming giant will also roll it out in cinemas around the world in November, with an at-home premiere just days before Christmas. A special delivery kind of gift which will begin streaming on December 20th.

According to Netflix, “Maestro is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.”

Leonard Bernstein is best known for his wondrous compositions, such as West Side Story, Candide and On the Town. But Bernstein was also a gay man, during a time when being openly homosexual in America would have cost him dearly. Jamie Bernstein, the couple’s daughter, wrote a candid book about being the Maestro’s offspring and David Denby at the New Yorker wrote about the it here.

So, watching Maestro will be a revelation in Venice, but also a great treat. It is one of those stories that we think we know, but actually live in a kind of legend status and we need a film like Maestro to discover the full truth. The cinematic truth anyway…. Alas, Cooper himself is not going to be accompanying his film as the Directors’ Guild of America has vowed to support the WGA strike during this crucial time — and thus is preventing the star to appear on the red carpets in Venice as the film’s helmer.

Maestro is directed by Bradley Cooper, written by Cooper & Josh Singer, produced by Martin Scorsese, Bradley Cooper, Steven Spielberg, Fred Berner, Amy Durning and Kristie Macosko Krieger. Carla Raij, Josh Singer, Bobby Wilhelm, Weston Middleton and Tracey Landon are Executive Producers.

Maestro stars Carey Mulligan, Bradley Cooper, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Gideon Glick, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton and Miriam Shor.

Make sure to check out Instagram for all the other stills from the film.

All images courtesy of Netflix, used with permission.