Bernstein rehearses Kiri and Jose for 'Tonight'

[@katef6154]

I love the way Jose's voice sors above the others on this brilliant

[@FLOWERSANDSUNSHINE22]

Watching Bernstein dance while providing Artistic Direction is just an awesome sight! :)

[@normanlinden5786]

Just wondering, but is it distracting to the musicians and singers?

[@Beefsneeze9]

Huge respect, the amount of stress in these rehearsals, where you Have to be 100%spot on, Is enormous

[@mattorlando415]

ALL DAY too lol, really intense. I bet those musicians were exhausted at the end of every night. Especially those horn players.

[@JasonBeo]

Those werent rehearsals they were recording sessions

[@normanzurich2781]

That means to be professional 😮

[@Jaegertiger]

The attempt for any group of singers to perform "Tonight" creates a paradox for them. First, the score is EXTREMELY demanding in so many ways, ranging from entries, layering of voices, tempo, phrasing, changing time signatures, accents (where and when)... you name it. The lyrical nature of the piece requires extremely STRONG singers who can maintain the long phrasing as written along with the consistency of flowing sound production without either running out of breath or truncating the long and open tones as Bernstein intended. So, on the one hand, you have classically trained Operatic singers who can bring this quality to the production (as needed and intended). BUT on the other hand, you have the GRITTY aspect of the performance which Bernstein wants protrayed that provides the "in-the-street" nature of the entire production. In short, the GENIUS of Bernstein captured BOTH sides of the paradox and brought them together -- Both beauty and the raw nature of the street. Furthermore, he adeptly blends the staccato, hard driving orchestral support (that is underneath the soloists) along with the free-flowing, lyrical nature of the melody that "floats" ABOVE all of the grittiness underneath. This is SHEER GENIUS AT IT'S BEST. BRAVO HERR MAESTRO !!!

[@miltonderezende7906]

Everything you said is based on how you think now. When Bernstein wrote this he simply took paper and pencil and wrote

[@cko7372]

In other words..... He killed that shit! Well done Bernstein!

[@miltonderezende7906]

@@colvingenealogy I think you misunderstood the spirit of what I said. Usually in silly movies, the composer appears sitting at the piano and composing. In reality, a good composer only needs pencil and pael as Handel did, who wrote the Messiah in 15 days (work that lasts 3 hours) Memories from Brazil

[@Jaegertiger]

@Katy Hamlin You have a valid point. True edginess comes from the hood.

[@Jaegertiger]

Interesting detail.... at 2:04... Kiri reaches out to the gentleman (John) who is tracking the entire recording session and asks for the corresponding words for the chorus, so they will know where to enter.... vs the actual bar number. As you can see, the chorus looks up at her with gratuity and Kiri SMILES back at 2:13. She knows how to take care of her compatriots !!! Amazing how people look out for each other !!!

[@UncleDuTheWatchman]

Love Bernstein!!! Even us Gospel Music Conductors took many a note from him!!!

[@coreycox2345]

I love this song. I love the way the singers looked at him at the end of this. They want so much to be perfect.

[@reneecarter6702]

I finally exhaled at 3:59 wow, I couldn’t imagine directing or trying to keep a place amongst all of the vocals on that. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@swanningaround]

Wow! Jose and Kiri, the ultimate Tony and Maria. Just perfect!

[@rhonertpascual4812]

Tatiana's a pro at this at this point. She understands to follow thd master who is conducting his own work.

[@bonitaparaguaya101]

I LOVE this!!!! I love the music, the movie, and the play. It's my favorite movie!!! It's a sad movie but the, plot, action and the music is what counts. Bernstein is a genious!

[@evaschmid1919]

Bernstein is almost dancing❤️🙏love that🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

[@iampasdechat]

This is such a jewel... thanks so much for posting. I must have watched it a dozen times already...

[@4evergleek97]

Leonard Berstein is so friggin cute omg, I love it!

[@NikuNekoDoki]

Its awesome how everyone works a team for the sake of composing a song. A lot of people working together as if they were one body in order to crest such masterpiece. Beautiful! I admire musicians

[@danielparra5173]

The expression of the last musician is priceless. He is thinking: “Please God, let him like it, please” 😂

[@Jaegertiger]

That's because he is a TRUMPET PLAYER and has been blowing himself silly... bringing home the best he can do. So that each and EVERY take is his BEST. I can also tell by his look, he would immediately do it again if Lenny wanted it.

[@wwrunk5551]

@@Jaegertiger That's Phil Rucktenwald.....RIP.

[@Jaegertiger]

@@wwrunk5551 If you don't mind filling me in... whatever you know about him -- such as: with whom did he study, attend Curtis or Julliard, where did he play afterwards, etc. If I am right, the filming was done in '84 and he looks as though he's still in his 20's. If that is the case, then he died young. There were 2 other trumpet players in the recording session. One, a white guy with a beard (brown hair) and the other was a black guy (Wilmer Wise perchance ? -- I happen to originate from Philly too). Do you happen to know of them too?

[@wwrunk5551]

@@Jaegertiger As a free lance player in NY, I worked with Phil a few times.....great player, that's all I know. He did die young. The bearded guy I don't know. I believe the other is Wilmer. Only knew the name.

[@Jaegertiger]

@@wwrunk5551 I discovered that Phil died at age 50 -- meaning he was only about 30 at the time of the recording (he looks like a "kid" to me). I'm also figuring he died from something like cancer. Clearly, Phil was an accomplished player. 1. He would have never been selected if he could not deliver the goods under tight time and budget conditions. 2. Considering he was performing the similarly challenging score for 2nd trumpet. (BTW.. He was just 1 year older than me). Do you still play... even if just for yourself?

[@edwardmartinez]

Now that is a master piece, they all sang as one.

[@virgilepellerin9661]

He's having so much fun !!! That's priceless

[@josephgiles2204]

This is a 1984 DGG recording of WSS. Leonard Bernstein conducts Jose Carreras, Kiri Te Kanawa, Titiana Troyanos Kurt Ollmann .and Marilyn Horne in this "Operatic Version". This excerpt is from a BBC DVD called "The Making of West Side Story". The set of CD & DVD are available at Amazon for as low as $10.95.

[@michaelgphillips]

Many thanks for that information.

[@coreycox2345]

I must see this.

[@pega17pl]

Marilyn Horne isn't member of cast.

[@darrocco]

the face of the trumpet player at the end of the piece. Wonderful...

[@thomaslembessis6803]

He looked like :"Were we really that good?" Yes, you were!

[@ewelinamezzo]

I had a wonderful thrill when Kiri began to sing

[@hectormunoz8549]

1957?

[@hansdekorver7365]

@@hectormunoz8549 This recording from 1984 ( the first album from 1957 )

[@Swedetres]

Bravo think lenny loved it, hell with Jose's hands,,,,,,,,,,,,,his voice is magic

[@stranraerwal]

Bernstein's conducting style (singing and dancing at the same time) is electrifying.

[@showtunestarpower]

How wonderful it is that Bernstein put so much energy into conducting his score. We'll always know what his original intent was in terms of tempo and interpretation. I am in awe of Carreras and Te Kanawa's talent - but how wonderful it would have been if he had used the hot young Broadway performers of the era. Of the three DG albums that Bernstein did for the label, the best is Candide.

[@windstorm1000]

+Star Sky Bernstein seemed to feel compelled to cast opera singers--their vocal tone was all wrong--he should have known that as a musician. And I love Carreras but not here.

[@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302]

Berstein wanted operatic singers at the begining Anna Maria Alberguetti and Frank Porreta but later they decided to put musical singers.He wanted Barbara Cook as Maria because at the begining it would have been a fight between Christian and Jewish groups.But when they decided to put Wasp Americans and Portorriqueans she didnt accept the role because she didnt look as a PortoRican girl and neither did Florence Henderson who also made an audition. Anna Maria Alberguetti was doing a movie and Carol Lawrence was cast with Larry Kert as Tony.For this 1985 West Side Story recording he wanted Dame Kiri and Jerry Hadley but he had to cast Carreras a very popular tenor at the time..Berstein didnt like Carreras.So in 1989 when he recorded Candide he cast Hadley.he wanted Dawn Upshaw as Cungunde but the more popular soprano June Anderson was cast..The WSS recording was very succesfull and popular in 1985

[@SeeingEros]

i love it add the very end after the last note the musicians are like... omg omg omg was it good enough... silence and wait for Berstein to go "yes!" ... know the feeling ...

[@veletez]

De punta se te quedan los pelos!!!increible!!

[@RollerCoasterManiac]

This is so wonderful to see! and hear!

[@Swedetres]

I pleasure at looking at the Maestro's demeanor, imagine having a dance with Lenny.

[@joanyee0]

this is beautiful

[@labeep]

@claggan22 Yes, it is Ms. Troyanos. She sadly left us many years ago. I bought this recording many moons ago when it was released, I still love it dearly :)

[@LorinTone]

The trumpet player's expression at 03:55 sums it all up. One old white guy did in fact dance, and he did it well. Wow.

[@Oleg1961712]

Шедевр!

[@olgaguasque3315]

Eso es vivir una musica❤

[@fannyjemwong]

MARAVILLOSO

[@Jaegertiger]

This recording was made in Sept 1984 per the Gramophone website

[@blancawhite1899]

Absolutamente maravilloso

[@countalucard4226]

This might be my favorite part of movie, when both Jets and Sharks heading to the rumble. Can’t really pick a favorite though. It’s like asking for favorite Beatle song.

[@McElhinney65]

I'm going to Cologne in Germany in June to see this show for the third time, Birmingham, Paris now Cologne.

[@winrx]

2:58 Wonderful counterpoint!

[@samosullivan1744]

That little trill Tatiana Troyanos puts on ‘hot’ in Anita’s part is amazing!

[@Swedetres]

There has never been a conductor as animated as Leonard Bernstein

[@dannys-pianoconnections5169]

SUUUUUUUUUUUPER !!!

[@Piero2374]

Lenny, emanavi maestria da ogni poro!!!

[@coreycox2345]

Bravo!

[@MissLizaMay]

Harmonee, I admit it, I was going by the movie soundtrack, which does list the Balcony Scene as "Tonight" and this version as "Quintet."

[@Corgidad15]

Love it

[@kelly6739]

ppl should just sit back and enjoy this instead of looking for faults.

[@cristiancarrascoaravena700]

GENIAL

[@bee-beargaming]

I respect how they left the part where they messed up in the video

[@Deer548]

WOW!!!!!!

[@jdpcpunta]

Pues yo tengo los pelos de punta, y puede ser como decis que jose c. no es como toni pero es una version distinta y no se cual de las dos me gusta mas aunque lo mejor seria escuchar el concierto de este ensayo. arriba jose carreras de una compatriota.

[@Harmonee13]

@MissLizaMay Actually, this IS "Tonight." In the WSS score it's listed as 10. Tonight, not Quintet, the duet you're referring to is listed as 6. "Balcony Scene."

[@jordifuentes5521]

Es una música viva de las bandas al mismo con una figura de ostinato de 3 notas canción de amor de amplias líneas con textura musical combina la música de la banda con la balada Toni tempo rápido y rítmico final

[@claggan22]

... Is that Tatiana Troyanos at the beginning? It totally looks like her lol

[@dianavictoriaaljadeff5302]

Yes the late Tatiana Troyanos (1938-93) was cast as Anita in the recording and Marilyn Horne sang Somewhere.The baritone who sang Riff was Kurt Ollman who was also in the Candide recording as Maximilian

[@thechinadesk]

@Wacotix LOL. You have a point. The film version was more "realistic." Although "realistic" in this context is a pretty relative term.

[@evans54]

and the late Tatiana Troyanos

[@maggiheilweil3131]

I do have a problem with Tony having an Italian accent. But who could do Anita better than Tatiana Troyanos?

[@rebekahholder3055]

Jose Carreras is Spanish

[@moirbasso7051]

....Anyone who didn't sing flat, that's who. And Carreras is SPANISH. I remember being SO disappointed with this entire cast- both personally and vocally, when this recording came out. After three decades, I STILL am disappointed in EVERYTHING, except the orchestra. I had my college students choose some Lenny to listen to. One picked this- I was embarrassed to discuss the vocal mis-casting of this 'worst of all possible recordings.'

[@wotan10950]

Maggi Heilweil Actually, Carreras is NOT Spanish! He is Catalan. Different language, different culture. Carreras said he didn’t learn to speak Spanish until his teens.

[@albarios8156]

@@wotan10950 Cataluña is a part of Spain. They speak Spanish and have Spanish culture. Yeah, the are taught catalán, but that doesn't mean they're not spanish

[@gfoot9916]

Robert Lee, Countertenor Tony actually isn’t a white bread American. He and the Jets are supposed to be White ethnics so Italians, Irish and Polish.

[@orfeo2003]

Personally, I preffer the guy with the trumpet at the end of the video. So cute!

[@arniemazmax]

Man so many people bitch at what others do....when they don't do anything. This amazing.

[@michaelgphillips]

Great recording. Can anyone date it?

[@hansdekorver7365]

September 1984

[@MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu Uh, I think you need to lighten up. It was a misunderstanding that we actually cleared up months ago.

[@Dan474834]

At 3:27 is Carreras checking his watch in the middle of a note?

[@jackkenefick2696]

checking his timing

[@nuriadelavega3260]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@Wacotix]

They don't sound like 50's New York street teenagers at all.

[@rapsodie1211]

It's a musical quasi an opera, this comment...

[@Rubeus89]

@claggan22 Yes, it is.

[@elene38]

♥♥♥

[@FabioVernuccio]

Was that Borat at 3:50? 😂

[@Piero2374]

@Boerenfox ma quando nascerà un altro Lenny?!

[@swanningaround]

busingkwet . Yes. I think they are wonderful Have a look yourself: Larry Kert & Carol Lawrence ~ 'Maria' & 'Tonight' (Tell me what you think.)

[@karlmilton6688]

Bernstein as the composer had a perfect right to try something different , to judge this version against the original is, I think to miss the point completely. We have the original ingrained upon our subconscious minds and I expect it is difficult for most people to erase that version from their minds , however listening to the end product it is not at all bad , considering that in most cases classical singers have difficulty in crossing over to a more , dare I say it, popular form of music , allowance must be made for the apparent difficulty both principal performers had in adapting to the required accents . As an experiment it perhaps falls a little in limbo but worth listening to anyway.

[@saxamaphoneguy1]

Wow! TOTALLY agree haha. Lenny got a bit annoyed at him for coming in early though....

[@MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu Okay that made no sense. Just admit that you didn't read the context before you commented and let it go. You seem determined to start a fight and I really don't know why.

[@windstorm1000]

the production was a near fiasco--not the orchestra---I wonder if Bernstein thought so when the lp came out--too many casting mistakes. I think the composer was not thinking intuitively when he wanted another 'go' at his marvelous score 'Oh, I gotta have opera singers' no, Lenny (I much prefer the original B'way album with Carol Lawrence and Larry Kirk). Still, its marvelous to have a record of Bernstein putting his proverbial energy in this--his insights about the vocal/orchestral score are marvelous.

[@Jaegertiger]

I agree with your assessment about Lenny making it too operatic, by selecting highly trained professionals vs singers who can still project sound, but done in a more simple and wholesome manner that suggests the innocence of Tony and Maria (as they are supposed to be). Teenagers are NOT sophisticated, operatic singers.

[@praestant8]

Bernstein didn't select Jose Carreras, who seemed like the biggest mismatch, it was the label that wanted him because the person Lenny had in mind "wasn't a big enough name."

[@ericolson881]

I am sorry but I have to disagree with you. I am a professional singer and as a classical trained lyric Baritone. With all operatic singing, we are trying to obtain a really open free resonating sound. I also sing musical theatre as well, wherein musical theatre singers tend to have a more pushed and tight straining sound which is not good for you vocal chords at all. I found this to be an absolutely amazing soundtrack and I think their choices for singers was spot on. I would also like to say that this was essentially a rehearsal for most of these singers. They don't have all the time in the world to look over the entire score multiple times, so this is almost a first time run through for most.

[@Operaandchant90]

Um... if the composer wanted his own piece to be operatic then what the hell is wrong with that...

[@mga2899]

Carreras makes my ears hurt. Kiri was superb.

[@bh5606]

Should have used Jerry Hadley to sing for Tony.

[@tamerlano]

But they knew Carreras and Kiri would make the thing sell.

[@MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu and by the way, Bernard, sorry if it's news to you, but Liza is not my real name. I'm a hillbilly? Hon, I'm from Detroit.

[@well_i_liked_it]

Is the red turtle neck in the Smithsonian?

[@MissLizaMay]

Sorry, but it's bugging me, this is actually "Quintet" not "Tonight." "Tonight" is a duet sung only by Tony and Maria.

[@EinsteinFelinto]

Que hondaaaaa

[@swanningaround]

No. The originals were Larry Kert as Tony and Carol Lawrence as Maria.

[@mga2899]

One star and a chorus of a dozen.

[@myfurryfam365]

I always wondered what conductors are doing with their arms and hands. It just looks like he’s moving in gibberish to me

[@Kyle-ur4mr]

You must be a singer

[@annxl4723]

I just realized i have the extact recording on vinyl haha

[@psychoangus]

It still sounds like Kurt Ollmann is screwing up "So I can count on you boy" the second time round too. Comes in too early first time and too late second time.

[@educationhum2991]

ї9300

[@tommytimp]

Preposterous. I can't wait for for Carol Channing to sing Tosca. I bet no one will object.

[@jordifuentesandres226]

PRESTAR ATENCION A.vivaz música de las bandas al unísimo,con una figura de obstinato de tres notas.canción de amor de amplias líneas,con tony y maria.La compleja textura musical combina la música de la bandas con la balada tonight .tempo rápido y rítmico.

[@peterjonas1545]

Although the execution is just about flawless from all, It seems like a huge misfit to have these upbeat jazz songs performed by opera singers and their exaggerated vibrato. Also, as pointed out in other comments, the age of the lead singers don't fit with the youthful characters. Apart from that, well done by all!

[@thursdaygoirl]

I agree, they could have picked maybe some lighter voices (Kathleen Battle as maria?) but I love these singers just as much

[@Romeogram]

It’s an opera.

[@pega17pl]

I listened a very interesting story told by Marcel Prawy (German audio) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpW6aXRnaN2np9U 1) Bernstein hated to be called "Lenny", 2) Bernstein wanted Maria and Tony at West Side Story are sung like Mimi and Rudolph at La Boheme and hoped he were successfully now at performance at Volksoper at Vienna (at America that wish was impossible to fullfil because missing voices), 3) Bernstein said to Prawy (American) Musical is a trial to modern opera but the 'Mozart' of that is still missing.

[@dahuterschuter]

Riff sounds like Ray Romano.

[@Mooorhe]

I think it's the man singing Riff who is told off.

[@kingsasquatch]

I could listen to Carreras and only him for the rest of my professional career, but to have an “off” American accent for a decidedly American accent role, is just weird

[@jorgejohnson451]

I used to like it when KZbin allowed you to give a thumbs down to comments.

[@carmennunez540]

No están ensayando, están grabando la música para el musical. En el escenario los actores solo mueven la boca no cantan. Esto lo aprendí en una grabación que ví en Australia. Sorpresa?

[@adamastor1947]

Inoubliable West Side Story

[@wotan10950]

As the composer, Bernstein certainly had the right to conduct his own interpretation. And it’s a valid one, although several recordings since then have captured the flavor better than this operatic version. But I like Te Kanawa, Troyanos, and Ollman’s voices. But Carreras sinks the whole ship.

[@abelsincain]

So many guys speak about singers having the wrong accents but....has anyone ever heard Joan Sutherland's accent when singing in Italian? Horrible! But no one would say she was not right for Norma or Lucia.....except some crazy ultras, that is.

[@nasthek156]

@tenniscrazy2 kurt ollmann

[@evans54]

I agree - he's fine as a singer just not as Tony. Tony should be more Anglo IMHO

[@miltonderezende7906]

We dont have Leonards today

[@miltonderezende7906]

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[@snootzie78]

Bernstein made the biggest mistake having Jose play the part of Tony.

[@jackkenefick2696]

Amy Collins bit what fun watching the mistakes and both lenny and jose trying to keep the cool

[@wotan10950]

Amy Collins Jerry Hadley was originally cast as Tony. I don’t recall if it was a schedule problem or a record company issue, but Bernstein was forced to use Carreras. Although Carreras had some great years in opera, he is so utterly wrong in this recording; I think his performance sinks the whole enterprise.

[@susanpaul8259]

No he was absolutely brilliant.

[@frogmouth]

It wasn't Bernsteins decision, was it?

[@HelloooThere]

She sounds weird.

[@ericlafoudrenoire1113]

Bernstein is not very kind. Singers are very brave.