The Making of 'West Side Story' (TV 1985)
"Leonard Bernstein Conducts West Side Story" (original title)

A documentary which shows, in great detail, the making of the 1985 Bernstein-conducted recording of the entire score of "West Side Story", featuring operatic stars.

Director:

Christopher Swann

Stars:

Leonard Bernstein, Kiri Te Kanawa, José Carreras

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonard Bernstein	...	Himself - Conductor
Kiri Te Kanawa	...	Maria
José Carreras	...	Tony
Tatiana Troyanos	...	Anita
Kurt Ollmann	...	Riff
Nina Bernstein	...	Maria (in dialogues)
Louise Edeiken	...	Rosalia
Angelina Réaux	...	Francisca
Stella Zambalis	...	Consuelo
Alexander Bernstein	...	Tony (in dialogues)
Stephen Bogardus	...	Baby John
Richard Harrell	...	Bernardo
Todd Lester	...	Snowboy
David Livingston	...	Action
Marty Nelson	...	Diesel

Storyline

A documentary which shows, in great detail, the making of the 1985 Bernstein-conducted recording of the entire score of "West Side Story", featuring operatic stars.

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Plot Keywords:

recording | making of | behind the scenes | new york city | recording studio | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Deutsche Grammophon (DVD)

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Making of 'West Side Story'

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), UNITEL

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"West Side Story"
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Book by Arthur Laurents
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Based on a conception by Jerome Robbins
Orchestration by Leonard Bernstein with Sid Ramin and Irwin Kostal

User Reviews

a misguided project!

Why Mr. Bernstein decided to make a recording of his great musical with operatic voices is a puzzle. Though Kurt Ollmann is fine in his part, Te Kanawa and Carreras are totally miscast even vocally. And what should be a lively and highly rhythmic performance is "embalmed for eternity". In the last part of his career Bernstein became slow and mannered in an apparent attempt to emulate Karl Böhm and it didn't suit him at all, in my opinion.

Hear the original cast recording or see the show or movie instead.

(2006) I might, in self-defense, add a little to my earlier review:

I am really quite familiar with "West Side Story" having worked with more than one theater group on it as pianist. I also am a great admirer of Kiri Te Kanawa but I don't think she should have sung this part. An operatic approach is not appropriate for a Broadway musical except in rare cases such as Ezio Pinza in "South Pacific" or Robert Weede in "The Most Happy Fella" which is nearly an opera anyway.

I met Mr. Bernstein in the late 50s or early 60s and am familiar with his work. Though I greatly admired much of his earlier work I think he lost his way both as conductor and composer late in life. (Due in part to self-indulgence: in addition to not being Karl Böhm, neither was he Gustav Mahler!)

So, even though many may think my comment is "useless", I am letting it stand.