West Side Story - America (Troyanos/Edeiken)

AMERICA
Anita: Tatiana Troyanos
Rosalia: Louise Edeiken
Conductor: Leonard Bernstein
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim

[@KennethHimschoot]

The one and only perfect version. I saw it live last week and it was a stunning performance, except for this song. The recording we see here, conducted by the maestro himself, is absolute perfection.

[@GordonLF]

A even better version, IMHO, is achieved with a male/female ensemble, when the women are the ones who want to stay in America and the guys counterpoint and are the ones who want to go back to PR. The lyrics are a bit different though.

[@filipjandus4537]

Come to Warrington on Sunday, we are doing very well!

[@dt6540]

Perfect example of musical brilliance

[@henryseidel5469]

Great music from a great composer. A beautiful example of American culture. Greetings from Europe.

[@jemandjemand2362]

their voices sound awful

[@rowancrew2934]

You are spot on.

[@plooh5316]

R.I.P. Tatiana Troyanos, a great artist

[@warwickmjs]

RIP Stephen...magical lyrics that have been with me all my life...enriched!

[@briangallagher7776]

This is simply priceless and shows the Maestro at his fizzing bes.God to see Tatiana Troyanos taking a lead part.

[@CarlosRA69]

My God Troyanos!

[@svetcovladich9996]

Oh, yes!! Spot on Anita!!

[@Dimensioneer88]

Had this CD growing up. Listened to this song non stop.

[@stefer5979]

thank you for sharing. Thank you Leonard Bernstein and the artist for the gift - music - art -

[@levieuxpiano]

On oublira jamais la Troyanos, parfaite dans tous les rôles très divers qu'elle abordés, en particulier ici. Quant à Bernstein, il a atteint et égalé dans cette oeuvre la Carmen de Bizet : partition populaire et géniale....

[@edwardbarnes2702]

How can anybody Not see this fantastic take on the original film version, just mind blowing, just gets my head going, where do you start, just Brings the whole film even more to life, he is just agenius. )

[@aensti9077]

The singer who widens her eyes at the end!!! Totally understand her 😂😂🙈🙈

[@markwhittingham7626]

I used to work with a lady who looked like the one next to her in red and blue top!

[@johnmusalo1545]

SUNG AS A OPERA AS BERNSTEIN WROTE IT !

[@levieuxpiano]

BRAVA TROYANOS !!!!

[@mrcaji4401]

The zenith in musical composition. Brilliant!

[@stevew3978]

This is so delightful.

[@mga2899]

Bernstein had a sensational lead trumpet in the lineup.

[@IAMBENNYBLANCO.]

yes sir!!!

[@Bildungsrebell]

Must be the Bernstein Record from 1985 with a young Jose Carreras and a great Tiri Kenawa. There is a great documentary of these recordings. This is a monument in music history!!!

[@rowancrew2934]

Brilliant.

[@MrKoiner]

Perfect! - If that term wouldn't sound completely inadequate here. How much fun "classical" music can be. In Germany, there used to be a period of time when music was categorized into "serious" and "entertainment" music. Probably ended with this song.

[@andysbg77]

Wonderful!!

[@joselares9031]

YEAH...¡¡¡ Stunning View...

[@paulotosi6091]

Sensacional!!!

[@traderkill]

Excelente aunque es curioso comprobar que para los norteamericanos puerto rico y México son lo mismo. Aún más considerando la relación que Berstenin tenía con Chile.

[@shartrezlittle8952]

Great❤

[@alexchristopher221]

I bought the CD of this studio recording when it came out and still have it and listen to it.

[@pegasus9280]

Wonderful

[@Baccatube79]

Actually, I think making it a thing between boys and girls did the number much better. The dichotomy becomes way clearer. It's beautifully sung by these ladies, though.

[@GordonLF]

I agree. But the lyrics have to be a bit different, though. Remember I'm in America!

[@maurobonfanti]

Amazing

[@mciti2594]

Heard this song on a MasterCard commercial as a kid living abroad years ago! Of course I didn’t understand a word or who composed it back then. I’ve been searching for it for years! Sad to finally know who wrote it after Stephen Sondheim passed away….

[@leenavonhertzen-ruokonen4635]

This is great forewer! Love them all...

[@onlymeification]

Leena von hertzen-ruokonen n

[@filsgreen]

This version is magnificent, but imagine singing the score and dancing to it as well? Debbi Allen and Karen Olivo perform it spectacularly.

[@gregjones6955]

rita moreno was the best anita

[@gregjones6955]

period

[@filsgreen]

Greg Jones I respect your opinion Greg, but Rita had several takes to film her parts. Debby and Karen were doing it live every night.

[@reneedaughter]

+filsgreen I would respectfully say Chita Rivera and Debbie Allen... Karen did NOT do the choreography as she could not. BTW even though Rita had several takes.. she still had Jerome Robbins there "cracking the whip" and her dancing was excellent.

[@realztenisfanz7048]

Robbins was fired from the film

[@oilingup]

First Deutsche Grammophon release which features an official videoclip that I come to know

[@ayokay123]

Americana Gold!

[@musicaltheatrefan2k226]

0:00 LIGHTS UP IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

[@GordonLF]

More like Hell's Kitchen 65 years ago.

[@matthewbrown560]

i saw the original broadcast of this. the poster cut the clip short. after they finished Bernstein commented that that was the best he had ever heard that piece performed.

[@100Singers]

How I love Lenny ....

[@claresamways9534]

Bit of copeland in there too... Love Maestro!

[@charlesfuentes3695]

Wow, I hope Spielberg's upcoming version of W.S.S. will do as well as Mr. Berstein's original masterpiece. R.I.P.

[@filipgjud8922]

Unfortunately, they decided that sfx is more important that the music… so its a concert for street noise i vocals

[@filipjandus4537]

We'Re playing this on this Sunday. Hardcore for mind :D 1/2 1/2/3 :D

[@Ramon34able]

Godibilissima! La Troyanos, poi, fa mostra di una verdatilità prodigiosa...

[@markwhittingham7626]

The girl with the red and blue top, closest to the Main Singers, looks just like an old work colleague of mine! I know it cannot be true though due to the date....

[@user-eq9zz2sm7g]

VICE💕

[@maralba8319]

4:47 siempre hay una queriendo llamar la atención todo el tiempo xD

[@TheMaestroCraig]

I am not sure what you said but I think I agree! :D

[@Piero2374]

Manca l'eloquente espressione di apprezzamento di Bernstein alla fine, eccato!"

[@keving5300]

I understand Sondheim hated the concept of using opera singers. He felt that having dancers sing lent a certain impetus to the lyrics that was missing with singsters.

[@miriamponlatetera4611]

Is he enjoy this?

[@lyricospinto8940]

ギロは忘れたのか?

[@arthurjamin1736]

pch

[@yellinarthur5107]

Did you lose AMEX? I reported it if you??? Arthur Yellin MARIA CARRERAS____>Did you lose AMEX? I reported it if you??? Arthur Yellin On F BOOK.

[@pianokings9046]

Wer ist auch wegen den Musikhausaufgaben hier drauf?(-;

[@fairies47]

Better with men voices responding...

[@fredprimo7567]

True !!!

[@coreycox2345]

There is a lot of lively dancing in this part. It made me feel like dancing. I loved it. It must be fun to perform something so exuberant.

[@johnmusalo1545]

MEN WITH REAL VOICES NOT SQUEAKY FILM VOICES

[@mariaschuster5187]

Wtf

[@orion8835]

This very important recording of a very important American musical work was a very big casting MESS. The orchestra Bernardo/Riff and the smaller female /ensemble were fine . However Tony Anita and Maria were a casting train wreck . Anita sounded like a moan then the badly accented Tony and a very mature sounding Maria. The recording was truly a political joke by Deutsche Grammaphone and it’s stupid board of directors and producing executives. Lord knows why Bernstein just did not see this coming .

[@jenniferfelan694]

I totally agree. West Side Story is supposed to be a Broadway show, not a damn opera! Carreras totally destroyed the role of Tony with a Spanish accent instead of a New York accent. Troyanos was just okay as Anita but her approach to that role did sound kind of moany. Maria sounded more Italian than Puerto Rican. It's too bad Leonard Bernstein totally butchered his own masterpiece by turning it into an operatic mess. I would rather listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording instead of this dreadful rendition of West Side Story.

[@orion8835]

Jennifer Felan I did this show (Tony) and only Tony and Maria were lyric opera singers. And we were very clear toned not woody or moany. The Anita was a Latina with a belt voice and real dancing. I adore Troysnos in opera but here she sounds like a yawned witch out of a faerie tale.

[@jenniferfelan694]

@@orion8835 Wow! It must have been a blast doing that show. One of my favorite numbers I really enjoyed was "Gee Officer Krupke" and Tatiana Troyanos doing "America" with the ladies. The thing I discovered about the song "Gee Officer Krupke" was that the song's last phrase at the end where they say "Gee Officer Krupke, KRUP YOU" almost used the F word on that lyric. Good thing that he didn't put F You on that last line. Also I enjoyed the jazzy number "Cool". I have seen both the movie and the show and the choreography and special effects are amazing.

[@yp3424]

L. Bernstein was such a versatile artist that he could easily "switch" from one genre to another. He had had already an enormous success with the musical (W.S. Story) and as he was growing older, he decided to revise it, not like an opera, but as a "demi-caractère" drama with prose. He had already composed "Candide", a 20th century "Singspiel". Of course D. Gramm. was powerful but he could never impose his terms to a living legend as he was./ As for Tat. Troyanos, he had already knew her and she was, partially his own choice. Anyway, he left something for the future generations.

[@Bumblebeebeebee]

Sure, a third rate community theatre tenor knows far better what the composer wanted and intended than the composer himself. Pity that DG did not have your number as they needed so badly your advice.

[@elphbwckd212]

The opera tone doesnt work. Plus this is an old woman tone. Not the role.

[@GordonLF]

That is the point of this version and it works marvelously. Remember that the singing is just for the LP and it is not a recording of the play. On stage, Kiri Te Kanawa, Carreras, Troyanos, etc. would not work, even in a recording would not work if you are already used to the play, but these musical roles were created by Lenny and this time it's only up to him To stress my point, first look at, and then listen to, the delightful Louise Edeiken. She could play it on Broadway any day better than anybody, but on the LP she is the miscast.

[@paperellino]

yankees don’t know to compose music …