John Barrowman and Lea Salonga - One hand, one heart (from "West Side Story")

By Andrew Gans
21 Jun 2005
Tony Award winner Lea Salonga and Sunset Boulevard's John Barrowman will take part in an upcoming tribute to the music of Leonard Bernstein in Germany.
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The Munich concert, A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein, will be held July 2 at the Klassik Am Odeonsplatz. The 9 PM performance will feature Barrowman and Salonga in a suite of songs from West Side Story with Barrowman singing the role of Tony and Salonga the role of Maria. The concert will also feature the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks under the direction of Leonard Slatkin.
John Barrowman recently reprised his role as Billy Crocker in the National Theatre's production of Anything Goes at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He originally played the role opposite Elaine Paige in 1989. On Broadway, the actor starred in the Stephen Sondheim revue Putting It Together and also made a guest appearance in the New York company of Sunset Boulevard, repeating his London role as Joe Gillis. Barrowman's other London theatrical credits include Grease!, The Phantom of the Opera, The Fix, Miss Saigon and Beauty and the Beast. He can currently be seen as Captain Jack in the BBC series "Dr. Who" and recently filmed a small role in the upcoming screen adaptation of Mel Brooks' The Producers. Barrowman's solo recordings include "John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter" and "Reflections from Broadway." He will soon return to the London Stage opposite Rob Lowe in A Few Good Men.
Lea Salonga burst onto the London and New York theatre scene as Kim in the international hit musical Miss Saigon. For her performance, she was awarded the Laurence Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards. On Broadway she was also seen in another Boublil Schönberg musical, Les Misérables, as the ill-fated Eponine, a role she would later repeat in the concert video of the musical. Her most recent Broadway appearance was in the revival of Flower Drum Song. (c) www.playbill.co...

[@arthurodonohue2474]

52 years ago my wife and I had this sung at our wedding after we exchange our wedding vows

[@singingstars931]

I LOVE how Lea’s voice is so light and angelic!

[@RichardPIRAGIS-ms1hm]

Simply heavenly elegance...emotionally heart touching. Thank you.

[@gleetotallyrocks28]

Salonga is so VERSATILE. Incredible!

[@voiceofanangel1728]

This is such an amazing performace. Lea Salonga is such a talent. All of us in the music business look up to her as well as all the other aspiring young artists who dream of making in big in Broadway just like her.

[@sesfilmsllc]

I can’t stop thinking of this after Sondheim’s passing. I hope he’s giving Bernstein a big hug up there.

[@noisycanary]

Salonga can sing anything!!

[@2034916]

Beautiful score. What wonderful voices.

[@donschmidt8203]

It has to be intimidation on a different level singing alongside Lea Salonga. No matter how good you sound, you seem to be choking on a chicken bone. Effortless perfection every time that golden throat opens in song. Fortunately, because of her Hispanic look, Lea Salonga was given a chance to perform Maria in West Side Story. Naturally, she does it better than anyone else could dream of. Had she been white, she would have undoubtedly played Christine in the Phantom of the Opera. With her unmatched gifts, she would have decimated even Sarah Brightmans brilliant performance. If you want further proof, listen to her rendition of Memory from Cats. Even the glorious Elaine Pages rendering falls flat beside it. Of course, everyone knows her from Miss Saigon and Les Mis. Eponine and Fantine performed at a virtuoso level. If you take the sum total of this womans talents, every female artist since time began falls short. They're great. Princess Lea is the greatest. The undisputed Lady Goat.

[@MadonnaImperia]

I like this so much better than some of the recordings here on KZbin featuring opera singers - in this version it really sounds like to young teens in love. Can anyone direct me towards an equally good studio recording of this duet? I already know the one from the film.

[@captebbtide]

I would almost insist that you hear the version by Kiri Te Kanawa and Jose Carrerras, conducted by the composer Leonard Bernstein.

[@anneboleyn4175]

They sound horrible.

[@eldiran2]

@@captebbtide Oh no no no--doesn't work as 'opera'--way too melodramatic.

[@pianoman551000]

@@captebbtide You got be Kidding!!! If I didn't know the lyrics prior to hearing Carrerras' voice on the remake I would wonder what the hell is he singing! He's got a beautiful voice, but NOT for Westside Story! Besides, he had a terrible time with the recording the remake. Poor Lenny!

[@captebbtide]

@@pianoman551000"Poor Lenny" indeed! What you heard and saw on that particular televised production of WSS were the clashes of two massive egos. Both Carreras and Bernstein are infamously egotistical (quite common, actually, among well-known conductors and popular opera singers) and are difficult to work with. So it goes in the music business, but the most wonderful music that these people make is worth an occasional tantrum or two. And let us never forget -- Bernstein wrote the music for WSS! Now as for the preferences of how a musical or theatrical production should be done, I respectfully yield to the listeners personal tastes, I have my own.

[@deeamparo1703]

Omigod!! This exists!!!!! o.o I'm Filipino and Lea Salonga is a national treasure, so to speak. ;) I didn't know she did a duet with Barrowman! ♥ ♥ ♥ Thanks for this!

[@NYCER4LIFE]

Thanks so much for uploading! I love John Barrowman and Lea Salonga's versions of these duets from "West Side Story!" They sound wonderful together.

[@takeasteph7549]

So basically we're hearing Jack Harkness and Mulan sing together

[@wmperkins25]

aint it the truth !! funny way of putting it but it's so true - lol !!

[@hiramfibonik4907]

I'm not twelve years old, so basically no.

[@cutephantomJCAGdoll]

YESSSSS!

[@marlenesomes230]

She was also the singing voice of Jasmine from Aladdin.

[@gladness1742]

Stephanie Blanco

[@jhez]

Amazing Lea!

[@gladness1742]

Live Young & Happy With Jhez

[@2034916]

Just beautiful.

[@rendezvous6969]

♥ Love Mr. Barrowman!! ♥ ♫ Sing it, Buddy!! ♫

[@DCGirl98]

Wow, that was a great performance! Thanks for sharing. I also listened to "Tonight." Were those the only two songs they performed?

[@AnnieVesper]

and amazing John :P

[@pelahnar4]

We recently did this play at school and I thought this song was _sooo_ boring. But hey - John and Lea could sing anything and I would listen to it. And singing together...wow!

[@robandre5755]

I want to see a video of them singing together

[@wtfdana]

Dear lord. All the feelings. :')

[@AnnieVesper]

@bygollybabe Munich, 2005. Did you listen 'Tonight' from the same concert? you should view my channel )

[@DirectionerForEvah]

Holy shit that voice. -dead-

[@crisontherun]

2019 ❤️

[@bygollybabe]

Where was this recording taken from? It's great.

[@AnnieVesper]

@DCGirl98 Yes... Only two songs.

[@smc0910]

Where’s the “Tonight” video? :-(

[@serenity0324]

hmm correct me if I'm wrong, isn't he her leading man in the Manila production of "Grease"?

[@gleetotallyrocks28]

Where’s the other video???

[@VS257]

Did they ever have a picture together?!

[@AERIXX3]

Nice, but too fast!

[@stevendouglas3860]

Barrowman cancelled for wiggling his willy in the corridor

[@endhai]

What? Why? He is gay and married.

[@souricecream4399]

The reason why john barrowman is gay is because Leah married someone else... Jk Idk

[@johnnyminella9342]

+Veronika uy :D you are silly...

[@CelticMorning]

A horrible voice, neither male nor female, murders his part. To put it crudely, like a cat pissing on zinc!

[@elizabethmather5259]

CelticMorning u r stupid!

[@CelticMorning]

I think Mr Bernstein and Mr Sondheim would agree with me! This pair murdered it! But hey, we are all entitled to our opinion. If you want to hear it sung properly try Carreras and Ti Kanawa.

[@juanted6938]

Carreras and Ti Kanawa's version does not capture the innocence of the lovers. its way too heavy for a song like this.