West Side Story Revival - Tonight (02.25.09)

[keenoled]

His voice is insane, I get chills. I mean, the soundtrack makes my breath catch at the notes he hits, but this is live. I bet their acting is lovely as well, and everyone in the audience is tearing up from the added song.

[cpuff512]

Lol @gupppo

But I loved the whole thing! Surprised you people dont...

[jlholmescello]

Dramadude, It is called rubato.

[jlholmescello]

Dramadude, It is called rubato

[SexyHogwarts]

The only thing that really bothers me is that the rhythm is kind of all over the place. It bothers me that they're not following the music the way it was written. Sondheim would be having a fit! They are good singers but the music is very important in this musical and they should really follow it!!!!

[megan132]

@SexyHogwarts the fact you dont know that bernstein acutally composed the music... lol.

[inbach]

He has way too much vibrato it almost sounds like he cant' keep the notes:/

She's great though...

[squirrelywrath321]

I'm confused. I was listening to this and thinking, wow, this is amazing :). Then, I sneak a peak at the comments and everyone is like 'OMG THEY SUCK!!1!!!11!' I don't get it. I think there both amazing, not based on there technique (which singers pay attention to) but just there basic tonal quality. They sound nice. Whats the problem?

[bethnor]

@squirrelywrath321 musical theater lovers like to bitch.

[Gupppo]

1:45 - And what was just a world is a STAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAR TOOOHOOHOOHOONIIHIHIHIHIGHT

That vibrato is out of control.

[MAGICLOVER8]

his vebrado doesnt fit w/ the music... ick

[LocutusOfBorg2010]

Josefina is just beyond all words of amazing... Matt, on the other hand, is another story. He's a great actor and dancer, but as far as singing goes, I'm not exactly upset that he's not there anymore.

[Lexigiggles]

Their voices dont seem to blend well at all. They're both good singers, but maybe together... no.

And Matt Cavenaugh doesnt always sound like this.

[spacecadetonice]

I don't care for either of them. And none of that "it's not like you could do a better job" crap. It's not the artistic directors deciding if this play succeeds--it's the common people who decide, who are not educated about music. I'm not a soprano or trained for singing but I still know I don't care for the timbre of either's voice. Tony is too girly and vibrato, and Maria is nasally and not sweet enough.

[theamazingivysmith]

I think Josefina Scaglione is great. Matt Cavenaugh isn't the very best, but he doesn't suck completely. At least they do sing. A lot of you are used to the vocals from the 1961 film, which Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer didn't even do. Try singing this song at the volume Matt and Josefina do, chances are, you won't be any better.

[RoseZombie]

I agree. And Natalie Wood did not even sing; someone dubbed the voice for her...I think you can find the video of Natalie singing..she wasn't that great

[applescruff121]

This just keeps getting worse.

[dizzygirlx3]

I don't like either of their voices...

[blondegirlct]

i like this but i want the original 1

[leadingladybug]

I think they both sound wonderful. You can never go wrong with two attractive young leads with powerhouse voices!

[hellomynameiscory]

they are both attractive, but his voice is god aweful, his vibrato is rediculous, his voice sound like someone making fun of the song. however she is very good. btw, what sounds good about his voice to you, i just don't hear it.

[halaluani]

I'd say just the opposite. She's a soprano with a voice that is a dime a dozen. There's nothing memorable about her at all.

[roccoh21]

I somehow doubt you even saw the show. In my nearly half a century of seeing Broadway shows, her performance was one of the most letter perfect. This cut sounds like it was recorded in a tin can and is obviously of very poor quality.

[speedingclock]

haha everyone's bashing Matt Cavenaugh saying he has too much vibrato? Since WHEN is that a bad thing? haha I wish I had such control over my voice like that!

Don't be jealous... go practice!!! : )

[dramadudeinbham]

Does anyone else hear Tony being of Tempo at 1:26? or am I just crazy?

[japper98]

I heard it too!

[alexitalabonita12]

i think he holds "today" out a little longer than usual but if that was a mistake then her recovered very well!

[Magus9653]

Nope he tore from the pit!

[FloriZ1988]

Tony sounds very classical, young, legato, innocent, but I would prefer a Tony with a little bit more power in his voice.

Still, he kicks ass as Tony!

[hellomynameiscory]

once again, he doesn't sound classical at all, do you listen to music, he sounds like an over-acting/over-singing douch who is way too cocky about being a bad singer. he ruined the show for me

[ukrainegirl]

Wonderful! One of my favorite moments of the show :). As for Matt Cavenaugh, I agree that he's less than stellar, but he was best whenever he sang with Josefina. "Something's Coming" and "Maria" were too subtle and full of vibrato that they didn't soar. The creative team must like his style but it just didn't work for me, nor does it work for many others. There's no need to get snippy if someone expresses a dissenting opinion.

[emarloo]

i agree with you

he sounds amazing with josefina but the vibrato is too much when he is singing by himself

i still think he's pretty good by himself!

[ilovesinging1202]

Don't even mess with Matt Cavenaugh. His voice left me breathless. I's like to see one of you do better?

[machinegunvibrato]

i really wish people would stop bashing matt cavenaugh. i dare you sing better; and if he's so terrible, then why was he cast as tony?

[RUNTHERECOMING]

eh, fuck all you. its good and you're jealous

[christiantbailey]

josefina...wow....i love you

[FoggyRoad81]

Who are these fools who claim that they can't sing. What I hear here is on pitch, well supported singing. Maria sounds angelic and ethereal as she should in this music, her final note sung piano is INCREDIBLY hard to do. Tony, well OK he has legato issues but he sounds young, earnest and in love as he should be. I think we're a little too used to listening to recordings by people like Mandy Pantinkon that we forget Tony is YOUNG.

[bethnor]

here's the problem. people basically want cavenaugh to sing like larry kert.  but love it or hate it, matt can't be larry kert--he has to be matt. i think that should at least be respected, but i doubt it will happen.

[StarlitMasquerade]

I'd like to hear you try to sing better than them and act like the way you think they should be acting and do it well enough to get on broadway before you start bashing them.

[StarlitMasquerade]

Guys stop bashing on the actors. They do their best. it's trying and also maybe Laurents (as director and original collaborator on West Side Story and Revival) he wanted them to do something specific and they did that. They will be different from the originals because every actor has to put their own stamp on the role. Personally I think their voices match wonderfully. I haven't seen the show so I can't say anything bout the acting except for what I know about professional theatre.

[brookes0]

just saw this yesterday. the production was fantastic, the dancing amazing, and overall the acting and singing were great. Matt Cavenaugh was the only problem i had with the show. His acting was off his singing didn't work and there was nothing "special" about his performance. This is not the best recording, because in performance Josephina's voice really shines and sparkles she's wonderful.

[StetsonSOMusic]

I agree! I saw this when it was in preview in the beginning of March. Poor Matt...when he came out of the stage door after the show he looked so sad and disappointed. During the curtain call, everyone else got hoots and loud applause, but, when he stepped up to bow, everyone in the audience was just eh so so...because he overacted and he didn't act like he was in love with Maria. Which is a problem since, ya know, it's a LOVE STORY. Oh well, maybe he's better now...

[civicplayer]

Very nice. Can't wait to see it.

[Raittfan]

I agree with blackpython. You shouldn't put Adam Pascal in Oklahoma! and you shouldn't put John Raitt in Rent....and you shouldn't put Josephina Scaglione and Matt Cavenaugh in West Side Story. It is style and there is a certain "style" they are just not honoring. Now, personally I don't know into what "style" Josephina would fit. I don't particularly like her voice. It sounds pretty incorrect in many ways and really has no luster. But that's just me. The point remains, vocally poor casting.

[blackpython]

Not a fan of the Maria, she sounds like she's singing out of her nose in the higher sections (which, being that it's WSS, is almost the entire song). And I love Matt Cavenaugh generally, but I can see where everyone's coming from with the vibrato. He does it in everything he does (and in say, Grey Gardens, it totally worked!), but in this it's a bit annoying. Maybe they smoothed it out a bit in the recording?

[nyprncss1996]

josefina is fantastic...tony isnt BAD but i agree, that much vibrato is not neccesary

[tiaraglitz]

This was an amazing production. Id like to hear YOU sing, if you think these people have bad voices. It simply crazyy..

[UberWackyAmerican]

the whole point is tony went soft after he left the Jets

[aasjb4ever]

lol true

[flicfan416]

tony's weak

[JasonIsAwesom]

I saw this yesterday with the same cast. It was wonderful!

[idareyou2move24]

he usually doesnt have this much vibrato... listen to "in whatever time we have" by him, it's very different

[KingHenryWord]

I wish Tony grew some balls and sang like a real man. not with all that vibrato

[ec2031]

I think his Vibrato was intentional stylistic choice. And whatever, he's hot.

[jtcarey2]

what does vibrato have to do with masculinity?!!! It's about healthy singing and this music is not easy to sing.

[ferwynn04]

I saw Josefina Scaglione at Hairsray in BA and she was totally phenomal. She has a beautifll voice,

[Raittfan]

Exactly! Your parents must have been a wonderful influence. WSS is truly some of the most beautiful music written for musical theatre. Maybe we can single-handedly remind people of what it's intended to sound like. Ha! And I'm not saying belting is bad. There are certainly people who naturally sing with that sound and it's great for particular characters. It's just disappointing to know that the people who decide what goes on stage-have no idea what to listen for when it comes to legit singing

[applescruff121]

I think it is THE most beautiful music written for musical theatre...BY FAR. I'm going to be honest, though..I don't even think Carol Lawrence was very good. I have the Original BW recording, and I dunno, she doesn't seem to have much musicality.

And there's a significant difference between belting...and belting well. People forget that, too.

[Raittfan]

About Carol Lawrence-it's kind of true. I think that happens with a lot with old studio recordings, like they are afraid to sing too loud. I went back and listened to it and there isn't a lot of dynamic in "I Feel Pretty" either. Strange. who would be your pick as far as Marias go?

[applescruff121]

I'm not sure. Well, I thought Marni Nixon did a great job in the movie.

[Raittfan]

Someone should post Andrea Burns' or Laura Benanti's if they have them. I'd love to hear them sing the role.

[applescruff121]

It looks like we're being vetoed.

[Raittfan]

Agreed. People are so used to casting for Rent and Legally Blond that they have forgotten what a real legit voice is supposed to sound like. She is weak and one-dimensional. I imagine she is the Charlotte Church of Argentina. Casting should listen to recordings from the 50s and retrain their ears. Just a thought.

[applescruff121]

Wow, I was totally expecting the comment following mine to be nothing like this. I appreciate that. I've grown up with music all my life. My Dad's a Pulitzer/Grammy winning composer and my Mom's a pianist (They were actually good friends with Bernstein) so I've grown up with an ear for what's acceptable and what isn't. This is just appalling. It's a shame, because it's just about the most beautiful music for the stage.

[applescruff121]

And don't even get me started on Legally Blonde and Rent.

Go back to the 40s, 50s, and 60s even. Those were REAL shows with REAL music and REAL singers. It just isn't like that anymore. It's a real shame.

[blackpython]

I feel like people in those show's are "real" singers, they are just a radically different style. You shouldn't take Adam Pascal and throw him in Oklahoma, the same way one shouldn't take John Raitt and throw him into Rent. Not saying there haven't been people cast in Rent or Legally Blonde who suck, there certainly have, but not EVERYONE who's been in them is a bad singer because they shouldn't sing the classics.

[applescruff121]

This is disappointing. They're both terrible. She has that typical awful squealy voice that people seem to love these days, even though it's not a voice at all. He has more talent than she does, but definitely needs to tone down his vibrato.

[selenagomez28]

i agree

[yeahitsmej15]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO­OOOOOOOOOOVE THIS SONG these two are amazing.

[loverofbroadway]

First of all this song is not called Tonight, it's called the Balconey Scene. Tonight is when they're all singing the quintet. She is good, he annoys me. But my school did this show and the Maria gave me chills when she sang those high G's and this Maria just doesn't do that for me.

[THinDC90]

except the song is called Tonight. The quintet is called Tonight (Quintet and Chorus). Just sayin'.

[loverofbroadway]

I was in the pit band for the show at my high school and we played the score and this song is 6. Balconey Scene

[THinDC90]

I was also in this show and, yes, it is indeed called Balcony Scene in the score. This is the title of the music underscoring and accompanying the entire scene. If you look at the cast recordings of both the movie and the original Broadway production, the song is called "Tonight".

And you spelled balcony wrong.

[yeahitsmej15]

do you go to howell? are you talking about the one they did in 2008. if thats the one your talking about the one they did was AMAZING

[spicywinniepooh]

they have incredible voices

[ladequa]

I think that goat has a sinus infection. Is he supposed to be the romantic lead?

I'm not sure I can deal with it.

She is angelic however.

[KingHenryWord]

he drags too much.

and has too much vibrato.

but he's great!

[selenagomez28]

wait ur saying that she's bad?cuz if u r i agree

[applescruff121]

I'm saying she's bad. Haha. Very very very bad.

[bethnor]

if she's not to your personal taste, that's fine, but speaking as if she is unskilled is plain ridiculous.

[tiptoegirl98]

I agree. This show is amazing an I've seen about 10 shows and this is my favorite!!! Sure it has a couple of "ok" parts but what show doesn't???? I thought the singing is amazing

[TNMEBDobsession1]

I don't know what everyone is talking about. I saw the show and it was phenomenal. Maria was incredible and her voice is great. Tony was amazing too. He just has some crazy vibrato parts. Anita was perfect. The dancing was all perfect and some of those guys are only in high school. The sets were great. The show is now my favorite Broadway show out there and I've seen quite a few. Don't judge it before you see it. I cannot imagine a better way to revive a Broadway legend.

[JuliaDarling]

This is supposed to be a sexual and exciting scene!! They're a couple of kids who just fell in love, not 80-year-olds!! It's WAAAYY too slow.

[seventysevenplus]

She's terrrible.

[quickquickfast]

What!!! She is amazing!!!!

[Butterflyneverlands]

I was asked to get the casting cd of this revival (2009) to surprise someone overseas. Does anybody know when or if it is coming out? Thanks!

[alittledazzled]

June 2 :)

[Butterflyneverlands]

Thank you so much for the info!!!

[Saigon10185]

is this a joke????

they suck.

[mrelectric40]

tony, tony, tony, what happened with this? Tony is off with timing off pitch and just, blah!!!

[gLoCkGooN19]

I watched it on Broadway this past Wednesday...I really enjoyed it!

[carnivalfreakshow]

My god....the overload of vibrato and backphrasing (mainly on Tony's part) made this really unpleasant.

I'm disappointed. West Side Story has always been my favourite. I had high hopes for this revival. I hope this was just an off night.

[bethnor]

are ppl basing their comments to speed the tempo according to the OBCR?

apparently that was sped up for recording purposes (to fit everything on one record). bernstein was not there to supervise and was apparently not happy when the tempo was accelerated during the show.

[Durnty]

Maria has a good voice, but it's completely overshadowed by how shitty Tony's is.

He doesn't seem to be using any sort of technique at all, and the performance suffers for it.

[BroadwaySomeday37]

it is a bit slow, but still, it's gorgeous. i like both of them.

[theonefour]

the tempo is a bit slow, but we are not he musical directors, and for all we know this is how it is supposed to be played....i think both maria and tony sound awesome...the music is extremely challenging ..although it does seem that tony is trying to find where he should use his vibrato and not use it....it will come with time...but tone wise he has an amazing instrument

[yesblanche]

This is awful.

[GravityIsUnderated]

I like the tony! ahaha am I the only one?

[Jarrod005]

Pretty much.

[GravityIsUnderated]

well that's a pity because he sounds extremely talented.

[worldtraveler91]

I like him, too!!

[synchro101]

I do!

[JohnDEldridge]

Maria pretty good, Tony not so much.

And agreeing with several other commenters, MOVE THE TEMPO!!! That's really the conductor's problem, not theirs.

[cdmsinger]

but nonetheless, it was still gorgeous!!!

[cdmsinger]

UGH they are reeeaaally dragging in some places. i mean, come ON! listen to your orchestra and keep up with them.

[G4Rat]

I think they're putting a lot of acting into it that makes the scene go a little slower, but I'm sure it's amazing to watch.

[BEVERYCUMMINS]

Her voice is beautiful, his not so much

[cbgbs93]

tony's vibrato is all over the place

[quickquickfast]

She is so amazing!!!! I can´t believe how wonderful. Her voice is simply marvelous. And she is beautiful. This is a part for her.

He is fabolous too.

[Selendomono]

theres something about the way she pronounces her words that bugs me. its not her spanish accent though its something else i think its when her words kinda taper off like on the first "Tonight Tonight"

[JuliaDarling]

Why is it soooooooooooo slooww?!?!?!

[iloveelphaba17]

i dont like her.