Arnold Weinstein | |
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 | |
| Born | June 10, 1927 New York City, New York |
| Died | September 4, 2005 (aged 78) New York City, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Hunter College Harvard University |
| Genre | opera musical theatre |
| Notable works | McTeague A View From the Bridge |
| Notable awards | Rhodes Scholarship Fulbright Fellowship |
Arnold Weinstein (June 10, 1927 – September 4, 2005) was an American poet, playwright, and librettist, who referred to himself as a "theatre poet".[1]
Weinstein is best known for his collaborations with composer William Bolcom, including the operas McTeague, based on the novel by Frank Norris, A View from the Bridge based on the play by Arthur Miller, and A Wedding, based on the film by Robert Altman. Bolcom described his work with Weinstein as a "true collaboration", and said about him that "He had such a gift for writing words that were singable, and that gave character. He was more influential on a lot of other people than people have taken into account."[1]
With some frequency, Weinstein's work involved adapting the writing of others. He said in an interview in 1992 that "An adaptation gives you a funny kind of limitation that makes it easier to improvise." His early work with Paul Sills, founder of the Second City Theater in Chicago, helped hone those improvisational skills.[1]