Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story, studio-takes. (2)

[TheU2BigO]

wow they are real dicks to him

[AuditoryEden]

His accent is awful in this song. Not that it's actually a bad accent, just a terrible match for this song.

[joeboo36]

I'm almost happy that I don't have any sort of discernable genius. Berstein probably couldn't enjoy hearing "Happy Birthday" at a kiddie party. Amazing what he hears.

[ehkaisy]

Shitty singers all the way (in this version). No groove at all...

[Dhyahbolical]

@ehkaisy

Completely bias and a plain idiotic statement. Jose Carreras is a LEGEND. Sure, I'll say, Jazz might not be his area of expertise but to just flat out call him "shitty" just shows exactly how uneducated you are.

Go watch Carreras in Boheme or Carmen. Listen to him in Madama Butterfly.

You'll quickly eat your words.

[scrmtrumpet]

Am I the only one who was intimidated at 1:50? You know you're good when you can intimidate people thru a video 21 years after you're dead.

[camomile988]

@scrmtrumpet

I thought Bernstein shouted at the mixer guy who instructed Jose for accent between takes. Difficult pieces to sing really.

[Brahmsfourth]

Jerry Hadley should have done this recording. Carreras has a fine voice but his accent is too strong.

[tuadolcefanciulla]

@Brahmsfourth Jerry Hadley would have been wonderful. I'm certain Jerry would have accepted Bernstein's

offer. After all, he was his original star in Candide. I don't know why Bernstein chose Carreras, but Carreras is

NEVER a mistake, never second best. I did order the CD. I'm a great fan of both Te Kanawa & Carreras. marvelous. Lenny, the perfectionist, & he's older here. He took I Feel Pretty slower. It read he took EVERYTHING slower in later years "as if he never wanted to let go of life."

[starwarsjunkie7777]

West Side Story: the most high pressure, yet best gig ever!

[ShellyA227]

This is the hardest song from the entire score and I have not heard it sung well since the first Broadway cast, but the accent kills me. Polish people don't roll their R's and neither should a Polish character.

[losdejamescraik]

Poor Lenny... Carreras dont have swing.

[badumdumcheesh]

hey maybe i'm being stupid but is that leonard berstein conducting?

[jenkus93]

@badumdumcheesh yeah it is. its ok i wouldnt have known either a few months ago till i saw a picture. and thats why hes being so anal since its his work, aside from the fact that its a pro recording

[legomyeggo252]

@badumdumcheesh

Yes, of course.



[gnubboleso]

ass kickers, music or film directors like Monicelli, Kubrick and others.



[31operafan]

It almost sounded like that recording engineer was making fun of Jose's accent. (I don't think he is, but it sounds like it.) That's just mean! >:( Poor Jose. I would've given that engineer a punch in the nose if I was in that studio.

[anitaeducation]

BERNSTEIN WAS TOTALLY RIGHT WHEN HE DIDN'T ACCEPT THIS!

CARRERAS VOICE WAS NICE but HE DIDN'T FEEL THE RHYTHM AT ALL.

[SexyHogwarts]

WOW Tension! But u can''t take this things personal music is very hard! And a composer like Bernstein knows what he wants!! U gotta suck it up and do it

[31operafan]

Carreras did a good job at keeping his emotions under control, at least in this clip. He nearly lost it after "Maria".

[mortalfrog0815]

at our production of west side story tony had the exact same problems with this song! we all didn't get his problem, it seemed easy to us... but i'm gonna show him this video! that'll build him up again! :-)

[pentelesoikoon]

I thought Bernstein was a cool guy until I saw this.

[GabMelonius]

@pentelesoikoon In fact he was asking for the engineer to stop bothering Carreras, if you are talking about this part of the vid...

[31operafan]

I can clearly see the embarrassment on Carreras's face, like "What did I get myself into?". Poor guy. :(

[31operafan]

I like how Carreras puts emotion into everything he sings. :) I agree with what he said at the beginning. This is a fast song; no wonder he can't keep up. And it's in English, which makes it even more challenging for him. I'm glad Bernstein stood up for Carreras and told that stupid recording engineer off.

[31operafan]

I hate that recording engineer who corrected Carreras. What an a**hole. Sure, Carreras's accent is strong, but it's not his fault. He is trying very hard. I think he was still in the process of learning to speak English at this time. Apparently, he learned quickly, because when I heard him in interviews (especially recent ones), his command of the language was pretty darn good.

[jacob95124]

Is this available to the public? I find this quite facinating. This is an important part of history as far as the science behind West Side Story goes.

[Oberon90]

Important german word by Jose at 3:15 . These clips from the recording are wonderful. And Careras was so young.

[jacobflaschen]

Fjols!

[alan1963]

Say what, Lenny? Did you say "JOHN, please don't do this!! Don't give Jose some "cunt" lessons on the microphone!!" "Son of a B****!!"

[maestralala]

@alan1963

No!  He said "elocution lessons"

[StarCrossedPotato]

@alan1963

elocution :) 

[Gregq96]

I would be terrified to work with Berntsein

[Selendomono]

Why? He seems like a pretty chill guy.

[Zugvogel1]

2:24 min. Carreras say : I have no numbers Meastro.You see there the high Respect he have on BernsteinToday he is also a big Star.

[maestralala]

to Jmahlon: I sang on these sessions, and was told that this, in fact, was not Lenny's dream cast. You're quite right that Shicoff's legal problems kept him out of the US, but Lenny's first choice for Maria was, reportedly, Julia Migenes, who would've been great. Not available. His first choice to sing "Somewhere" was Jessye Norman. Not available. Tatiana Troyanos and Kurt Ollmann = first choices.  Kiri arrived voiceless (laryngitis) which you can hear on the recording, but she didn't cancel.

[maestralala]

Sunsnare06: Lenny DID hire Domingo (after Shicoff and Hadley both backed out) but Domingo also backed out. So just days before the sessions were set to begin, Lenny was begging Carreras to take on the gargantuan task of learning "Tony" from scratch. That Jose sang it so beautifully after learning the part overnight - plus jet lag - goes to show his professionalism. Lenny knew exactly what he was getting into, and Jose saved the project. The video was edited to "sell" a fiction.

[Reinocerous25]

I don't know... I'm sure that this isn't representative of the whole session, but this scenario seems pretty likely when you have a bunch of perfectionists in the room.

[SUNSNARE06]

should've hired Placido Domingo, what do you guys think?

[31operafan]

@SUNSNARE06 As far as the accent goes, yes. Domingo's accent is not that strong. I have very little trouble understanding him. He can speak English well, too. So can Carreras, but his accent may put listeners off guard.

[snowXwhiteXdancer]

As fantastic as it would be, I would be terrified to work with Bernstein.

[GeXeS]

@snowXwhiteXdancer I'd love to work with him! Oh and how! He knows exactly what he wants...

[marciusnery]

Carreras casting was a BIG mistake.His tempo is terrible and his strong Spaniard accent had nothing to do with the part.The distressed and frustrated facial expression of the Maestro says it all.Unfortunately, by this far on recordings,would be very difficult to recast him.Publicity matters and costly contracts made it impossible.Fortunately the exquisite musicians and star quality of other members of the cast made this,one of the best recordings of the 20th century.Bernstein still is a Genius

[Pavarotti4eva]

but bersteing chose carreras, didnt he?

[gaditanocity]

Maybe Bernstein choses him because there was no good opera singers in America... the accent is not the most important, I think... And... yes, I am Spanish too

[Rudziewicz]

This is awful.

[johnedreslin]

Why cast a Spaniard in the part of the American Tony? Might have made sense as one of the Sharks with his accent. I could never understand why Bernstein selected him for his so called "dream cast". Poor Jose was put in a terrible position.

[jmahlon]

This was Bernstein's dream cast, however he had originally wanted American opera singer Neil Shicoff, but he couldnt get back in the country at the time for legal reasons.

[bukebak]

Carreras' timing is terrible.

[SweeneyToddFanatic2]

He looks kind of like Billy Crystal from the side

[ipmoic]

Yes, CSVernon, I agree with you completely. Troyanos does have that lovely depth and earthy oomph in her voice that suits Anita very well. But I still hope someone out there may know:

Why choose Carreras to play an American youth?? Just silly and, for a perfectionist like Berstein, what was he thinking?

[operabitch77]

lenny should have been HONORED to have such a voice sing his PUTRID score of vocal music! so flamboyant yet such a bitch!

[shelleyop26]

take 130!!!!

[EmperorOfWei]

I'm sorry, I don't really get what's going on here. I know Lenny is getting pissed by the minute, because of Jose's singing, but personally I don't know what mistakes he's making. Is it about the jazz rhythm? Or his accent?

[triondrummer]

Its the Jazz Phrasing that Jose just cant deliver...! And Lenny gets pissed!!! Jose is a trained Opera-Singer and just too unexperienced with this kind of Music. It doesn´t "groove"! And unfortunately...WSS has to Groove like HELL!!! :-)

[Maestrojosh87]

EXACTLY!!!!!

[SweeneyToddFanatic2]

Well, Carreras would have been able to do it any other time in his life, except he was suffering from leukemia at the time this was recorded, and he didn't know it yet, and it really affected his judgement

[upatoia]

If you like JOSÉ CARRERAS check THE 30 TENORS in my playlist SUPER TENOR ARIAS ( including CLAUDIO SOTELO performing ARIA DEL CIRUJANO as a world première ) and tell me which one you prefer !

But, please, dont forget, if you can, to help the JOSÉ CARRERAS LAUKAEMIA FOUNDATION ( Fundación Josep Carreras contra la leucemia ) !

Thank you

[ipmoic]

What a strange, and I think silly, idea to have Carreras sing the part of an America--Tony. Does anyone know why Bernstein chose to do such a seemingly wrong-headed thing?

I've never been a fan of this recording session. (Although the "band" is superb--I worked with a lot of these guys) I think the anger and petulance Mr. Bernstein shows here is due to the fact that he seems to realize that it was a bone-headed idea too.

[CSVernon]

Yes, he looks like he realizes it was bone-headed but can't undo it.

I also don't like this recording. It just doesn't go at all. Most people I know who have heard this also don't get what possessed him to get Carreras for it, other than that he may have been fashionable at the time among opera diehards. But also Kiri too is not at her best here. She was good in quirky stuff like The Beggars Opera, but here she doesn't know how to groove either. I did kinda like Troyanos.

[frenchyfrench]

Poor Carreras...His mistakes are actually not so important because of his amazing voice and in a way his great musicality even he does something a bit wrong according to Bernstein. Carreras west side story beyong what we are waiting for...so I don"t care about his accent or his little difficulties about the score.

[saxymikec]

Boy, Bernstein was a huge son of a bitch.

[maadjuh1900]

I beleve this was the most head breaking recording of all that's obviously

But after a long time it finaly finished luckely for Leonard and Jose :)

[Querzeo]

Poor Jose... He's completely lost! looooool

Completely smached by the legend (Bernstein himself)!

[Selendomono]

i dont think someone with such a thick accent was suited to tony....

[finylvinyl66]

I remember watching this not too long after the recording was released. It's almost too painful to see again. Carreras was really good in his prime, but what a mistake it was to cast him for this part.

Must have taken a year off of Lenny's life.

[sesameseed77]

Jose has a beautiful voice, but he can't handle the jazzy rhythms and syncopation, much less tie them to the English. His rhythm was not just wrong, it was impossible for Bernstein to adjust the music to fit the star. It's an interesting disaster -- I just wouldn't use it as a definite recording of these songs. Especially if you care about rhythm.

[tanto1948]

sesameseed - your comment is true to a degree however, with Jose, what is more important than anything else is his beautiful voice.

[blendiblup]

great comment sesameseed!!!Finally someone thinks like I do!!

[FungoBoy]

if you have a ferrari but drive like a moron, you're still a moron

[Bona07]

I find it funny that Bernstein is smoking by his singer in those last few seconds, haha!

[SeanMcGibbon]

Enough of the "poor Jose" already. Jose knew what he was getting into... For pete's sake, the man is a professional, and Lord know's he was being payed enough. Just to get a meeting with the guy takes 50 thousand dollars, not to mention scheduling months and months in advance. Poor Jose? Try poor Leonard... he was probably praying that he didn't have to pay all the musicians for one more day of practice...

[princetrumpet]

@SeanMcGibbon

Poor Leonard? Really? The guy, with plenty of great American or English tenors at his disposal picks a Spanish tenor to sick. Carreras' voice was wonderful, please don't get me wrong, but the problems of culture are of Bernstein's own creation.

[SeanMcGibbon]

@princetrumpet Let me read you a few of the lead character's names: Anita, Bernardo, Consuela, Maria, Tony.... why would you get an "English" Tenor to play these parts? =)

[princetrumpet]

@SeanMcGibbon

Let me have you read something: the part of American-born Tony is portrayed by a heavily Spanish-accented tenor. If you don't understand why that's poor casting, Pepe's marvelous voice notwithstanding, then fine, you don't get it. An Englishman would have a better chance of faking a New York accent better than Pepe did, by the way. I should have included Canadians in there, as well.

[SeanMcGibbon]

@princetrumpet Yeah? Well I think you're a racist.  Nice try, Hitler...

[princetrumpet]

@SeanMcGibbon: Well, you're a fool. I happen to be a New Yorker of Puerto Rican heritage and likely have a little better take on the subject than you. By the way, my Jewish wife and children would likely not agree with your Hitler remark.

You can apologize anytime.

[SeanMcGibbon]

@princetrumpet sounds like you're compensating for your racism.... ::shifty eyes:: =)

[tuadolcefanciulla]

@princetrumpet I grew up a Jewish girl of a Holocaust survivor - in The Bronx (Pelham Parkway.) My first 2 boyfriends were Puerto Rican. I was 18, my 1st boyfriend in college was 20, & my 2nd, 17 in HS, & a drummer. This was late 1960's. My parents loved Larry because he'd play on the heat pipes (we had a gorgeous 6th floor apt. overlooking Bronx Zoo & Botanical Gardens) in the winter until the super finally sent up some decent steam! Good memories! YES! an apology from Sean is due you!!!!

[enaj78]

@princetrumpet  I so totally agree. Why have someone on the American side with a heavy spanish accent. Doesn't make any sense! Beautiful voice aside.

[anitaeducation]

@SeanMcGibbon

EXACTLY!

[tuadolcefanciulla]

@SeanMcGibbon They're ALL VERY wealthy and sought after. I HIGHLY doubt Bernstein was thinking about money, just perfection of his music. I have never heard of Carreras being called 'hard to work with' or a 'primo uomo'. He is also a perfectionist. They are two (3 with Te Kanawa) perfectionists doing their jobs.

[fooforofo]

poor Jose!

[sdjbass]

the crossed fingers by the producer going into the last take are hilarious.

[MuchSmarterThanYou]

As an MBA, I see this video as an example of Bernstein's executive brilliance. The singing talent: great but useless. Lenny ends up making lemonade out of lemons and it's a moment to behold.

[anonysquirrel]

It would have been so much easier if the singers had listened to the movie soundtrack a few dozen times.

[phantom4087]

Actually, Jose Carreras just not a very good opera singer. If they had gotten Jon Vickers to sing the role, it would've been perfect.

[tenortime51]

If it were not for Carreras' name here, he would have been fired for how poorly he performed and prepared. The mistakes were numerous, the diction sloppy, the musicianship hardly there. He's lucky he got a call back.

[phantom4087]

That's basically what I said. I'm saying that an English speaking opera singer should have been hired. However, Carreras was passionate in the recording.

[nclysander]

If an operatic tenor had to be used at all, Jerry Hadley would have been good.

[toghissima]

he can't never sing the song correctly..why???? at first he is e singer and then a opera singer..

[mwp2paris]

To think he birthed this miracle of the AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE and never conducted it till now...it is amazing to watch his baton use and as someone with a master's degree in choral conducting and vocal pedagogy, Lenny was the master of the podium and the baton and the beat...his orchestra and choir just knew where he was going and it is amazing to watch and listen to...he just nailed it every time and God do I miss him. Michael Tilson Thomas comes close, but we will never have another Lenny.

[rayrainbows]

... wow, it seems to me that i don't have nearly the depth of musical knowledge that you do ... BUT, do i ever miss Lenny, too !!

[kedlubajz]

After seeing this document, Pepe Carreras has became my most favourite opera singer of all. And this little quarrelels only gave him some humanity, which is very sympathetic too:-) However his problems with the rythm (which is really crazy in this song:-)) His voice is exactly the right one for this role. And in the end, he made it wonderfully.

[blendiblup]

I absolutely disagree with you. How can you say that although he has rhithmical problems he has the right voice for this role???? isn't it rhythm,plus intonation,plus good voice,plus haracter,plus many other things what makes a good musician? I think Pepe is very far to be perfect...

[kedlubajz]

as I read your comment carefully, you swapped the terms of voice and rythm in a very free way:-) Althought Pepe is out of the rythm, his voice is still wonderful, and not only in this song. However yes, that all which you´ve described makes a good musician and is necessary. And I´m sure he was able to correct his rythmical problems. This video is after all only a funny example of ,,how hard can it be" Not the final concert version..

[tinytimton]

I find it funny that people are having such fusses over musical theatre- and opera-trained singers. Your opinion is your opinion, but you don't need to be bashing or name calling people because someone disagrees or you disagree with someone else.

[niallguinan]

I've got a feeling that Carreras is going to have a huge argument with the maestro.

[JCLAWS]

Everyone must realize that Bernstein's music is in a class of its own. Yes it is "musical theater," but if you look at the score you realize its more of an opera. There are no "musical theater" singers that can sing this music the way it it supposed to be sung. Only trained operatic singers can sing the legato that is necessary to hold most of these lines. Tony has a b-flat in the original score for maria and an optional high C in the Tonight Quartet. Come on people.

[FungoBoy]

smoking's bad for you

[TimonyErt03]

Why pick opera singers to sing musical theater roles? Shameful on Bernstein's part to do so. Te Kanawa and Carrera are not musical theater singers, the are opera singers, for cyin' out loud! Beautiful voices but they seriously didn't belong in this genre...ever.

[auerwack]

West Side Story was written as an opera originally, but was not published as such due to the time. However, after it's large success, Bernstein had the ability to re-record the soundtrack the way he initially inteded.

[tennisplayer132]

i feel extremely bad for Bernstein...his music is beyond amazing, and was just ruined with Josè Carreras singing this piece.

[tanto1948]

Tennisplayer, you should be playing tennis, not commenting on music you know nothing about. Carreras is one of the top tenors of the world. Bernstein didn't have to struggle with him at all......can you sing that well? Please, continue to "hit" your tennis balls.

[blendiblup]

If you call yourself a musician then it is you who doesn't know anything about music.Tennisplayer is saying the pure truth, Carreras should be ashamed of spoiling Bernstein music.He is the one that doesn't have a clue about how to sing.I feel pity for him, it is so embarassing...

[Olfux]

It took me a long time to make the playlist free from faults, but now it's finally OK, I promise you !

[ajw11141968]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Carreras playing the role of the WASP gang leader. It seems odd casting when his English has such a heavy Latin accent.

[tanto1948]

ajw, the male leading role is Polish. That does not make him a wasp but Slovic. You of all people should not be commenting on things you know nothing about. You sound so stupid!

[b43xoit]

tanto1948 "ajw, the male leading role is Polish" . . .

Polski?? Isn't he Italian? Maria says, "Te adoro, Anton!" Is Anton a Polski name?

[tanto1948]

Yes, he is Polish. Maria is Puerto Rican. "Te adoro, Anton" is in Spanish. Italian and Spanish are both Romance languages and sound very similar.

Best regards.....Tanto 1948

[novice1959]

I do enjoy these clips from the recording of "West Side Story", eventhough they are quite...intense! It's a good thing I'm not a singer - I couldn't handled this kind of intensity!

[seecritagent]

I don't care who you are, if you're going to perform under someone like Bernstein, you damn well better be prepared. All basis covered. Every "T" crossed, and "I" dotted. And if asked to do it again, better make it perfect. That's just the way I was taught to perform for a master. And Lenny's just that...PERIOD.

[blendiblup]

Finally someone makes an inteligent coment! I absolutely agree with you, and even more, I think Carreras should have been banned from world classical music after this recording...I really can't stand him!!

[kboyer1]

My dear fellow music lover. Senior Carerras is a genius and it is people like Bernstein who made him loose his self esteem. He is by far one of the finest tenors I knnow. And you are a pompus ASS!

[ArnoArtner]

it seems you know nothing... do you think that just a good voice makes a good musician?? tz LOL

[Olfux]

No he is'nt. He was too hard on Carreras, but everything had gone against him that day, and he had worked himself up to the boiling point.

He is a genius, but afterall he is also a human being!

[toghissima]

excuse me olfux bur can you tell me about west side story with josè carreras and about this video

[christinedaae87]

this is what its like in the theatre. u dont have time to be polite all the time especially when uve bin working on a particular song for a while patience runs low. berstein IS a genius, he jus knws wot he wants.xxx

[elizabethvonslussen]

Kiri even called Bernstein - This animal coming from another planet - To this day, my husband and I still laugh about her comment. But of coruse Dame Kiri did not mean anything band. she meant this man from another planet oozing with brilliance. In the first place, why was J Carreras chosen, he just could not pronounce the Yankee words properly. I adore Carreras singing and get hurt by all these criticisms. Anyway just lsiten to him singing Lamento di Frederico of Cilea. Sublime.

[supertrouper2]

@tacetviola Most geniuses are.

[havetohavemusic]

I was astonished how much his pronunciation improved in the second take in this clip. He was really trying.

[blendiblup]

I always thought Carreras is a tenor but not a good musician, and here is perfectly clear that he has no sense of rhythm and didn't understand the essence of this music. You can't sing West Side Story like if you were singing Puccini, you need something different for it, something he doesn't have (and he knows he doesn't...). It also looks like he didn't watch the movie and learned from the marvellous singers there. A pity but real I am afraid...

[toghissima]

what are you saying??? josè carreras is famous and very clever for his approach to music...his gives importance to each note..maybe his voice and style aren't appropiate for west side story but at the end he did a perfect work...

[blendiblup]

you don't have a clue...

[sdjbass]

pepe needs to work on not rushing, and really his elocution is rather unbearable if you ask me, but it's really cool to see bernstein rehearse.

[janeautme]

Watched this more than a decade ago and it really got to listen to Candide thereafter. Carreras has a good voice but he's not a R&B guy, he is a tenor. I thought latino spanish sounds more rhythmic than spanish spanish ?? I thought Pavarotti wouldn't have tolerated all those barking ???

[TachieBillano]

I love Carreras, but I had to grimace when he started singing "Something's Coming" with his incorrigibly Spanish accent. Nevermind...he redeemed himself later on with his rendition of "Maria"; nobody comes close to the way Carreras sang it.

[gatomjp]

It's not just his accent. There is somenthing very American about the phrasing of Something's Coming that poor Jose just does not get, IMO.

[TachieBillano]

Years ago I showed this film to a graduate arts management class, and the students just flipped when they got to this part. Poor Jose (or Pepecito, as Bernstein later said)! "Eet may come cannonBOLLing dahwn fruhm deh sky, gleeem een eets eye, brright-ass a row-hose, whooo knows..." LOL. Ah, nobody's perfect. It's actually a source of artistic inspiration for me!

[aquamarineeyes]

Jose will NEVER be PAVAROTTI sadly! Luci we miss u SO much !!!

[gheeah]

he doesn't have to be Pavarrotti, he is better...

[pocoprimadonna]

Uhh... I'm pretty sure Pav couldn't sing this piece any better, have you heard his diction in foreign language?

[mgperc]

Humbling to watch a great musician like Carreras struggle.

[gheeah]

apart from the fact that he has the best voice he has such a sweet attitude,unique..

[giulia87gc]

it's so nice to see such a great artist like Jose, be ashamed of his mistakes like a child in front of his teacher...

[eliman4189]

he is still probably now the best tenor on earth...but pavarotti was the real thing!!!

[albertdiner]

Was not easy for Jose Carreras. He became ill

the following year and lost his youthful

appearance. He recovered well from his illness.

[balletamie]

good information to apprecite more this then.