"Somewhere" WEST SIDE STORY Reri Grist, Soprano

[nwchrista]

I can remember this version on the old LP that my mom had. I think I about wore it out on this song. Later on, in High School, I had the opportunity to perform in our Crete-Monee High School production of West Side Story. Circa...1982. During voice lessons, I had the opportunity to perform the quintet while still in H.S. After H.S., I auditioned for the local Drama Group using 'Tonight'. West Side Story is still the greatest musical ever. Reri Grist had such a beautiful voice.

[phil2u48]

Her Mozart and R. Strauss roles were brilliantly performed, unrivaled, in fact. I believe she may have been better appreciated in Europe, but I can't say as I was still quite young when she was in full career. She lacked, of course, the size voice needed for the dramatic roles more popular in the big opera houses in the US in the '50's and '60's. Her gift was an angelic voice over which she had perfect control. I don't know why I say "was", I believe she is still living in Germany.

[intelegentable]

Of all the people wo have sang this song ovrthe deades since it was introduced on Broadway Reri Grist still does it the best. her vocal is the most rich and soaring and to my ears the most genuinely moving.Reri Grist went on to an international Opera career and now teaches,voice, she still sings beautifuly!

[jonegger1983]

I have been looking for a recording of this version for a while ever since my high school drama dept. put on this musical back in 2003. My favorite part is the fade out at the end starting just after the 2:00 mark.

[RETROGEMS]

Reri Grist was actually a supremely talented African-American opera singer. I've been a WSS fan for twenty years yet it was only recently I discovered Ms. Grist and that she was one of the players in the production. She sang this with passion and heart. :-)

[horse760]

I love this song. I might want to use it for my high school audition,but I'm not sure if I should use my belting voice or head voice. Anybody have an opinion?

[Zeppolino100]

Beautiful, understated interpretation, focusing more upon its musicality than on the dramatic nature of the lyrics. Such a fantastic musical, I never tire of it, nearly 50 years after first seeing/hearing it. The combination of Bernstein and Sondheim is unbeatable.

[star15615]

hey i've uploaded a video of myself singing this song, please listen to it and let me know what you think :)

[calloustycoon49Ne]

Stream`,'It.`'Now"".

ＷＷＷ.ＭＯＶＩＥＴＩＭＥＯＮＬＩＮＥ.ＴＫ

Copy"'.&",`Paste.,,

[iSachihiro]

A piece of heaven's voice... Such pure talent! It makes me sing

[risktakerdaito]

I know Reri was a coloratura soprano and had great technique but she sang this very naturally and never be show off

Amazing..

[Yarajeff94]

THIS IS BEYOND AMAZING!!!!!!!!

[smilezify]

minor 7th

[ballclubsribbonhoop]

Reri Grist is the reason I started listening to opera. She changed the way I listen to music.

[Rita0Moldao]

The most beautiful version....

[Thenishabellajb]

i was an ensemble for WWS in my college..=)

[RVP57]

An American Treasure singing an American Treasure!

[padfootrocksmysocks]

this is absolutely beautiful.

[TheEpochWin]

beautiful voice

beautiful piece

but way to murder the ending...

[Mahina003]

Let's acknowledge Ms. Grist's talent and contributions to the original Bway production. The reunion rehearsal a couple of years ago permitted us to witness the purity of her voice. I would love to see her perform HER favorite songs in NYC! Yes Imsubramaniam, she is seriously underrated!!!

[NickTheQuin]

One of the great versions and, of course, the original. Pretty spine-tingling!!

Not the greatest version though in my opinion - that would be Marilyn Horne from the 1982 Bernstein Video/CD also starring Kiri te Kanawa and Jose Carerras, sadly not on YouTube. The '82 has Bernstein giving it just an subtle 'swing' between Horne's vocal and the piano in the accompanyment.

[TOMATNOSCE]

What a voice! Nice interpretation too, really has poise and strength, and feeling, tremendous feeling. I do not tire of hearing her voice!

[maxmillion99]

Thank you for posting this!

[neweast1]

this is a voice

[xXxNaginixXx]

Gah, I'm singing this for a university choir audition who sing internationally. There's only two openings a year, i really hope I get it. They said to pick a challenging song to audition with, and I think that this is certainly one! Thanks for uploading!

[couturesixfour]

i prefer this in a mixed voice, not legit! grist is wonderful however, isn't she?

[isabelle070209]

Ele est parfaite même si on a l'impression de voir un 44 rentrer dans un 36...

[papidou1934]

@isabelle070209 ...toujours aussi drôle...!

[isabelle070209]

@papidou1934 Je sais pas si c'est drole mais c'est quand même le cas...

[haikuhenry]

@letsgoeskimox, I agree. The aching beauty of this piece is the unity of emotional and intellectual content. The singer begins tentatively, and as the idea of leaving evolves into something greater - we'll find a way of forgiving - her voice grows in strength and confidence. U imagine her lifting her head up. Grist is the only artist who *gets* this. Tom Waits comes closest to her. BS changes the words around, like who r Bernstein & Sondheim?

[haikuhenry]

@letsgoeskimox, I agree. The aching beauty of this piece is the unity of emotional and intellectual content. The singer begins tentatively, and as the idea of leaving evolves into something greater - we'll find a way of forgiving - her voice grows in strength and confidence. U imagine her lifting her head up. Grist is the only artist who *gets* this. Tom Waits comes closest to her. BS changes the words around, like who r Bernstein & Sondheim anyway?

[StacyAnnIsDead]

Her voice is so beautiful! :D

[tintin20001967]

Yer i had it on clarient Bb..nice to play.

[THEcoolKID4100]

this is aqward

[sian0151]

i love this song im thinking of singing it in school talent show

[westsidestory97]

I love the end when they overlap "There's a place for us".

Goosebumps every time. <3

[rmrgm521m]

The irreplaceable Lenny.....

[DuchessAliana]

I love it both as a duet and as the solo version...but seriously, this original version is just STELLAR. Reri Grist's voice is just so stunning.

[hellomynameiscory]

she sings it beautifully but i prefer when tony and maria sing it, idk its more passionate as a duet, i did not like it with "kiddo" in the new bway version

[SoleilGirl101]

I was the "Somewhere Girl" in West Side Story last summer..beautiful song and a wonderful performing experience!

[musicvslyfe]

@SoleilGirl101 i was casted as the "somewhere girl" do you sing the whole song by yourself in the musical? just curious.

[JumpStreet1983]

Reri Grist was the Kathleen Battle of her day, hands down. She should have gotten more opera work @ the Met and is *SERIOUSLY* underrated. I saw her on quite a few PBS specials from the 80's, but by then she was passing the torch to Kathleen Battle. It's a shame that we don't really have a readily-known coloratura soprano after Kathleen these days, who ruined her opera career early.

[leesterg]

@JumpStreet1983: I totally agree, L. Bernstein personally chose Ms. Grist to sing this part, you think Hollywood would have even given her an audition. She was certainly one of the most poised African-American sopranos and Kathleen had the opportunity to have been coached by RG too. Alas, Grist is in Germany living well with her husband and much appreciated there.

[SpazzyTiffy]

Im either singing this song or I dreamed a dream from les Miserables for a musical theater audition for Gibbs PCCA.

[Panda0Bunny1990]

Do this song :D I dreamed a dream is over done you would stand out better for picking a lesser used song :D

[lakshmiluvsvishnu]

@SpazzyTiffy -- so, how did the audition go? All of us Reri Grist fans want 2 know!!! Best wishes, F.

[SpazzyTiffy]

@lakshmiluvsvishnu i didn't make it in to musical theater. :(

[RETROGEMS]

I have recently "discovered" the amazing Reri Grist and I am balled over by her gorgeous rendition of this beautiful song! She is amazing.

[paolohudson]

Excellent rendition of Bernstein's ingenious and beautiful music.

[BeatleMania445]

wow, that's high! :)

[AnastasioFranco]

This is a great singer, unlike ms Brustofski.

[lmsubramaniam]

so amazing. Reri Grist is seriously underrated!!

also, for those that don't know, she's a coloratura soprano ... but look at how she's singing those low notes so rich and full

[LeCoconut]

omg i know, it's ridiculous!! her voice is sooo beautiful, all the way up and down!

[pcorrigan1]

This is how it's done. Singers: listen listen listen; learn learn learn.

[babygirl121896]

im singing this song for nyssma...google it if ya dont know what it is....anyway....im in 7th grade and so this song is slightly intimidating....how old is the woman singing this?

[albertdiner]

Reri Grist was 25 when she recorded this song

in the original cast Lp of WEST SIDE STORY.

That was way back in 1957 under the direction of

Leonard Bernstein.

[babygirl121896]

@albertdiner thanks

[Angelhalo777]

@babygirl121896 old lady? this is Reri Grist show some respect!

[babygirl121896]

@Angelhalo777 i wasn't calling her old. i asked her age. there's a difference.

[babygirl121896]

@Angelhalo777 i didn't mean she was old, i wanted to know her age when she sang. haha. sorry for the misunderstanding. 

[carly3592]

I have a question... I'm just starting to get into West Side Story, and so far I've only seen clips from the film. In that version, Tony and Maria sing Somewhere. Is it different in the stage production???

[albertdiner]

Correct. In the 1957 stage version, SOMEWHERE is the middle part of the

so called SOMEWHERE BALLET and is

sung by soprano Reri Grist. The Begining and end part of the SOMEWHERE BALLET is sung by Tony and Maria, but they do not sing the ballad

SOMEWHERE in the show.

[riceball360]

yes, lots of musicals are like that, if your going to competition. with a song, always go with the stage and not the movie

[Kevin90028]

@carly3592 Correct. In the version that's on Broadway now, it's sung by a small boy.

[1babyevey]

wonderful

[maribelper]

absolutamente maravillosa !!!!

[Hank0531]

this song and video is outstanding, so

beautiful, this is my favorite song from West Story, I never saw the show, but I did see the movie, and it is my all time favorite. I watch it every chance I get. Hank7

[drlemoncobra]

amazing! such a powerful voice. i never heard this version before.... and it's the best i've heard.

[KMO325]

Wow this is amazing!

[thenowcorporation]

a treasure. thank you for posting.

[maniacmaryoom]

brilliant :)

the picture at 0:47 is absolutely adorable hehe

[paulzie1]

best song of the show!

[JuliaDarling]

No one will EVER sing this song as beautiful as she did.

[OhFookinELL]

Absolutely Superb!!!!!

[speedingclock]

AMAZING

[mmmy15]

It so beautyful, butter than a verson I have were it too opra, this is a little opra but not overly

[spirmusic]

I agree, I like that it is not so opera legato... Her voice is very great

[PungiFungi]

Reri's performance is the definitive version of this song, unlike Ms. Streisand, who merely uses it to showcase her vocal chords and caterwauling range. The movie version of WSS had Tony and Maria singing rather than Consuelo (who was played by someone else)....totally doing a great injustice to the song.

[pinkydogbear]

@PungiFungi nnI agree

[Loejyrrab]

@PungiFungi Even though your comment is 2 yrs old it is a perfect statement. It shows your musical expertise and taste and I agree with you emphatically. Ideed Ms.Grist's version is in the stars. I see she is alive and well, bless her heart. Thanks for your comment!!

[Lala2616]

This is beautiful!! I aspire to one day have a voice like hers =)

Although I'm Mezzo-Soprano.

Who on earth is Julian Smith?

[Butterflysrhappy]

Julian Smith was a guy on a show called Britian's got talent and he played this song on I believe what was the soprano saxophone.

[Lala2616]

Oh yes! That guy was brilliant! Thanks =)

[mrbpg]

he played this song on the saxaphone on britain gots talent its amazing.

[KatherineXIX]

There is more emotion packed into this song than the entire rest of the show.

[coffeescup]

the other versions don't even sort of compare to the beauty, honesty, vulnerability, hope, and pain of this one.

[envoivey]

This is the bestt

[dyroc]

Who sing this version?

[albertdiner]

Reri Grist, soprano. 1957 cast recording

of the broadway musical WEST SIDE STORY. Reri Grist played the role of

CONSUELO.

[meltch82]

yup julian smith bring me here

[philproductions2210]

Julian Smith didnt bring me here, but I did find Allison Brustofski's version linked from BritainsSoTalented channel (the Susan Boyle final video)

Both Allison and Reri versions of "somewhere" are excellent (take a look....

watch?v=NuryvyFDRSk

[sanshen]

Julian Smith brought me here. Bless him, and his sax.

[kazdagpro]

Julian brought me here!!!

[poppinghutuka]

Yes! Big thank to Julian Smith, without his appearance on the show, I wouldn't know this amazing song!

[carnival2004]

Copy and paste if Julian Smith brought you here! .......lol

[winna023]

haha thnx 2 julian smith :p

[tarielensar13]

Copy and paste if Julian Smith brought you here! ... LOL ... Got me :P

[ImadnessI]

Copy and paste if Julian Smith brought you here!

[symphonyjade]

I love Shirley Bassey's rendition best, but of course, this is amazingly beautiful, too

[powerfulpowerzz]

where in the musical did she sing this? what part? i looked up the synopsis and it only said that tony and maria sang it, followed by a ballet..could someone help me, its for a project

[albertdiner]

This song is part of the SOMEWHERE

(BALLET= from the 1957 original cast

Lp from WEST SIDE STORY. The

selection begins with a duet by Tony and

Maria (Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence)

then in the middle CONSUELO (Reri Grist) starts singing the ballad SOMEWHERE then an instrumental and

the song ends with the chorus and Tony and Maria singing the end. See my

video Somewhere Ballet w Barbra Streisand.

[TheBellmeister93]

I adore this song. I've been given it in our schools production, but I'm an alto, and can not sing high to save my life. Oh well...

[sanshen]

At Britain's got talent saxaphonist Julian Smith played this music brilliantly!

[tlisia]

So am I... My singing teacher played Maria on the West End recently, so she's pretty much teaching me the entire score. Though 'Riff' sang this in the production she was in... After he was dead, funnily enough.

[Caramelle3636]

I love this song, I'm singing it at the moment ,in singing lesson, too =)

[majin2912]

awesome song. great chords.

[GoOsSeO101YaY]

were playing this in band :D

[drummerboy1138]

how wonderful!

[lakshmiluvsvishnu]

Reri Grist is a goddess -- this is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

[102936]

I had no idea that was Consuela/Reri! I always thought it was Maria/Carol. This is beautiful, for sure.

[anglophila]

I love the orchestra at the end...never fails to give me chills! She has a gorgeous voice!

[antod11]

Nothing to say other than beautiful................ just glorious.

[swanningaround]

O. This is so great! It is so natural. The modern people cannot replicate this sound.

[PhillipLWilcher]

Wonderful!

[jasonking10001]

bugger, there are bloody tears in my eyes too!

thanks for upping this, too beautiful for words.

[xgirlfiendx]

*sob*

beautiful...

[fortheloveofLDS]

c:

I remember when I first saw West Side Story performed.

I sang the songs for weeks. <3

[asisecanta]

Reri Grist was at the premiere of West Side Story on a minor role?? I had no idea. Nice, although I prefer more lyrical sopranos singing this sublime aria.

[dm5401]

It has been said this was originally written for an all male cast which couldn't be done at the time. If that is the case this song might be the composers anthem for freedom in his personal life. Whatever it may be, it is a beautiful ballad.

[alexdelarge95]

West Side Story best Musical EVER! this song makes me cry every time, but i think a part of that is is that it was my last high school show, and when i hear it the memories flood in.

[IMthinkingGoAway]

It was my last high school show too. I played Maria. What an amazing show and role to go out with though. I'll never forget it. I feel like being in this show changes you.

[broadwaysurfergrl]

amazing voice....wow

[albertdiner]

most people make that mistake.I the original

cast recording of WEST SIDE STORY, Somewhere

appears as the middle part of SOMEWHERE (BALLET) a long 7 minutes piece beginning and

ending with a duet by Larry Kert and Carol

Lawrence. If you get the libretto of the show,

you will notice that the SOMEWHERE ballad is

sung by "Consuelo", played in the show by

soprano Reri Grist. It was very unfair to

Reri Grist that her ballad was not singled out

on the record label.(Film version was MARIA)

[ciaranfh]

hmm wtf, ok then my music teacher is a tard

[barborakozakova]

I agree with you! It´s so!

[barborakozakova]

Why do you call him so?!?!? I´m sorry, but i have to agree with him. Although it´s sometimes sung by Maria, in original version (and in this performance) it was sung by Reri Grist, She is famous for her singing at West SS in Czech republic too. :-) And we can see you don´t know her voice - it couldn´t be changed with another singer.

[796824]

Grist was excellent. But there was a splendid Afro-American singer who never had the same opportunity who would have been one of the great sopranos, DOROTHY MAYNOR.

[jondavwal]

Maria Callas? That has to be the most ridiculous comment ever. This is the original and BEST version. Sweet, pure (and legitimate), full of innocence, hope and in this context, pain. Reri Grist was perfection on this recording. Why not Birgit Nilsson? I bet her version would be louder. Whatever.

[amybrewhaha]

It was an honor to see her yesterday at the BC/EFA Gypsy of the Year Awards as they paid tribute to the 50th Anniversary of WSS. She along with 20+ Original cast members left me in speechless and in tears! Thank you!

[fridaylove1690]

one of the best opera singers.... not just one of the finest African American singers. wonderful coloratura voice.

[gj2855]

I must say, it is so rare to fine such wonderful gleams of light. A rarity indeed, Ms. Grist was one of the finest African-American singers ever; however she never got the recognition she so richly deserved.

[StarRaft]

excuse me? she was one of the finest singers ever! why limit/qualify that statement? she was one of the best, if not the best, Zerbinetta.

[mm9913]

YOu are correct, hers was the consumate Zerbinetta (see you tube)this was after a very successful Broadway career, one of the early successful transitions from the Broadway to Opera stage.

[ArtSongAlliance]

Although she is not as widely known in the states, Reri Grist's recognition is better acknowledged through her work in Europe.

[atm77wat]

so beautiful im singin this as a solo soon so this is inspiration

[oneshortkat]

This is one of my favorite versions.

[bathboy007]

Awesome! What a beautiful version. Thanks for posting this forgotten gem.

[wilt48andahalf]

Wow I just found out this is my cousin. Your unbelievable!

[albertdiner]

most people "assume" that SOMEWHERE was sung

by Maria (Carol Lawrence) or Anita ( Chita

Rivera). But it was Reri Grist, soprano who

sang it in the middle of the "Somewhere, Ballet". I wanted to give credit where credit

is due, so I made this video for her.

[aquamarineeyes]

A nice subtle song but has the LA DIVINA sung it before as that would REALLY give it justice !!! MARIA CALLAS where are you with this one ???

[albertdiner]

This song is from the Broadway musical WEST

SIDE STORY. As far as I know, Maria Callas

never sang songs from Broadway musicals. She

might have been a personal friend of composer

Leonard Bernstein, but I doubt he offered this

song to her.

[jurek46pink]

Very good voice and whole story so interesting ! Valuable item.