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Filmed in 1984, the feature-length documentary Leonard Bernstein Conducts “West Side Story” follows the composer as he records the first-ever complete recording of his musical-theater masterpiece. Virtually the entire documentary takes place in a New York recording studio with a pick-up orchestra, session singers, and headliners Kiri Te Kanawa (Maria), José Carreras (Tony), Tatiana Troyanos (Anita), and Kurt Ollmann (Riff). The 89-minute program alternates rehearsal footage… More >>
Leonard Bernstein Conducts West Side Story: The Making of the Recording
Tags: amazon, Bernstein, Conducts, feature length documentary, headliners, kiri te kanawa, Leonard, leonard bernstein, Making, Recording, recording studio, rehearsal footage, session singers, Side, Story, tatiana troyanos, West, west side story
#1 by Anonymous on April 27, 2010 - 1:01 am
Best music, best choreography, best tale of endless love…that’s enough
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Larry D Borman on April 27, 2010 - 1:54 am
When I first played this DVD it instantly became my favorite. The music is superb and it shows a lot of what it took to make music recordings before the digital age. My DVD was damaged and I am now orderring a replacement.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Jeffrey D. Keith on April 27, 2010 - 4:10 am
Loved watching the rehearsal process in the video! The singers being opera stars have very different voices than are usual for this style of “Broadway show tunes”. Wish they had identified by name the orchestra members and chorus. They are all terrific! The conflicts between Maestro Bernstein and Jose Careras were amusing to watch, though I know it wasn’t funny for them! Enjoyed seeing the producers and engineers at work, too. Both “I Feel Pretty” and “Gee, Officer Krupke” are stunningly beautiful and hilarious. It is fascinating to think that four gay, Jewish men came up with this astounding, macho, and even violent “Romeo & Juliet”- inspired musical about gang rivalries between Italians and Puerto Ricans in New York. Great stuff!
Rating: 4 / 5
#4 by Allan Cohen on April 27, 2010 - 5:43 am
Aside from the wonderful performances, watching Bernstein in action is fascinating. He’s the archetype of heroic conductor/leader.
Rating: 5 / 5
#5 by Anonymous on April 27, 2010 - 7:41 am
This is a great look at Leonard Bernstein in action rehearsing/recording this West Side Story session. If you are fan of Lenny, you MUST own this. If you aren’t a fan, watching this video will make you one. Truly inspirational.
Rating: 5 / 5