The family of the celebrated late conductor Leonard Bernstein has sold a Midtown Manhattan penthouse — one where they often congregated, held parties and tended to the maestro’s business at the Parc Vendome, Gimme Shelter has learned.
The final sale price, we hear: $3 million, down from its final ask of $3.65 million.
The new owners are Broadway and television producer Flody Suarez and his partner, Gino Filippone, a broker with the Corcoran Group, who repped the pair in the transaction.
While Bernstein famously lived at the Dakota, this three-bedroom, three-bath penthouse, at 353 W. 56th St., served as an office hub and a party place for Bernstein’s family to manage the late composer’s affairs.
Bernstein, one of America’s greatest musical conductors, composers and educators, died in 1990 at age 72, just days after announcing his imminent retirement due to health reasons. More recently, he was portrayed by Bradley Cooper in the 2023 film “Maestro.”
“We walked in and immediately felt at home,” Suarez said. “It didn’t hurt to be surrounded by Bernstein’s beautiful furniture, memorabilia and art — some of which they were kind enough to leave for us.”
That included, he said, a “beautiful Russian brass bed from the 1800s” and an “incredible custom oversized formal dining room set,” along with “perfect” wrought iron furniture for the terrace.
“The apartment didn’t speak to us, it sang to us. They passed the baton. It’s a legacy apartment and a generational buy because these penthouse apartments never come up,” Filippone said.
“We are penthouse people,” Filippone added. “It is an unbelievable, magical place. It was part of his family trust and the family all used it as a family compound in the city. It was a big party place. From the moment we walked in, it was magical. It screamed social gatherings, with big, wonderful tables with three leaves. It was an extension of that whole era. We hope to recreate some of that. It just breathes old New York glamor.”
Bernstein — the son of Jewish immigrants born in Ukraine when it was part of the Russian empire — became one of America’s greatest music talents. He directed both the New York Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, where he was their youngest director. He also composed for ballet and theater, including shows like “On the Town” in 1953, to “Candide” in 1956 and “West Side Story” in 1957.
Suarez, meanwhile, is known for “The Cher Show” and the upcoming Tom Jones musical, “What’s New Pussycat?” — as well as the TV shows “8 Simple Rules,” “The Tick,” and “Rise.”
The aerie comes with 10-foot ceilings and a wrap terrace with city skyline views. At 2,758 square feet, it all opens to a foyer that leads to a gallery lined with bookcases. An open living room features a woodburning fireplace.
Casement windows run the length of the home, and glass-paned doors open to the 817-square-foot terrace from three rooms, including the main bedroom.
The 19-story building dates to 1929. It features a gym, sundecks, a game room, a library, a banquet room and a residents’ lounge.
The listing broker is Alexandra Rhodie, also of Corcoran.