Leonard Bernstein was one of the best known and most compelling figures to emerge in classical music in the 20th century, bringing symphonic music to a whole new audience, and this documentary follows his life and career from his first concert as a conductor in 1943 to his final one at Tanglewood. Reaching for the Note features rare footage of his concerts, home movies, selections from the Broadway shows he helped compose, and interviews with his friends, relatives, and colleagues, including Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Seiji Ozawa. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide