Bernstein rehearses Kiri and Jose for 'Tonight'

[Wacotix]

They don't sound like 50's New York street teenagers at all.

[thechinadesk]

@Wacotix

LOL.

You have a point.

The film version was more "realistic." Although "realistic" in this context is a pretty relative term.

[claggan22]

... Is that Tatiana Troyanos at the beginning? It totally looks like her lol

[Rubeus89]

@claggan22 Yes, it is.

[SeeingEros]

i love it add the very end after the last note the musicians are like... omg omg omg was it good enough... silence and wait for Berstein to go "yes!" ... know the feeling ...

[tenniscrazy2]

Who is the guy singing at 1:19?

[nasthek156]

@tenniscrazy2 kurt ollmann

[haylei225]

I suspect this cast is just what Bernstein was looking for. A treat to see the behind-the-scenes work. He wanted more from Kiri's lovely voice--and she certainly has delivered!

[haylei225]

I suspect this cast is just what Bernstein was looking for. A treat to see the behind-the-scenes work. He wanted more from Kiri's lovely voice--and she certainly has delivered!

[haylei225]

I suspect this cast is just what Bernstein was looking for :) What a treat to see behind the scenes of this remarkable event. Leonard looked for more from Kiri's lovely voice--and she certainly has delivered!

[22maestro]

call me crazy but I don't care for these singers singing this wonderful music. I mean they're all amazing singers but in their own fields. Jose Carreras has the thickest accent and he's singing Tony? Kiri Kanawa slides to every note, it's annoying. Bernstein however, is pure genius!

[Dan474834]

At 3:27 is Carreras checking his watch in the middle of a note?

[31operafan]

@Dan474834 Actually I think he was checking his watch because right when he did that, he was singing "Today the minutes seem like hours..." xD

[Swedetres]

There has never been a conductor as animated as Leonard Bernstein

[abelsincain]

So many guys speak about singers having the wrong accents but....has anyone ever heard Joan Sutherland's accent when singing in Italian? Horrible! But no one would say she was not right for Norma or Lucia.....except some crazy ultras, that is.

[doutoreinstein]

Que hondaaaaa

[tomharrison714]

I never get tired of this music esp. w/ jose and kiri and Most delightful w/ leonard directing his own music. I grew into this music in 7th grade way back when it was new to us so long ago

[noel2711]

Bernstein at 1:40 is the greatest expression of WTF that I have ever seen.

[JOEdoesThings22]

why did they choose her to play anita her voice doesnt fit the roll

[LorinTone]

The trumpet player's expression at 03:55 sums it all up.

One old white guy did in fact dance, and he did it well.

Wow.

[DJnightwalker1]

lovely :)

[dahuterschuter]

Riff sounds like Ray Romano.

[bassoonplaya08]

Kiri looks constipated when she sings.

[repontino]

the face of the trumpet player at the end of the piece. Wonderful...

[Zugvogel1]

..."A Quarter to soon..." <.. Look at Bernstein Face. 1:21 Min.

[Zugvogel1]

Ähhh. I meant 1:31 Min..then 3 seconds Later...

[Harmonee13]

@MissLizaMay Actually, this IS "Tonight." In the WSS score it's listed as 10. Tonight, not Quintet, the duet you're referring to is listed as 6. "Balcony Scene."

[MissLizaMay]

Harmonee, I admit it, I was going by the movie soundtrack, which does list the Balcony Scene as "Tonight" and this version as "Quintet."

[MissLizaMay]

Sorry, but it's bugging me, this is actually "Quintet" not "Tonight." "Tonight" is a duet sung only by Tony and Maria.

[BernardProfitendieu]

@MissLizaMay ever heard of a reprise? lighten up, sister ... don't let such small things bug you

[MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu Uh, I think you need to lighten up. It was a misunderstanding that we actually cleared up months ago.

[BernardProfitendieu]

@MissLizaMay if calling ignorance a "misunderstanding" helps you sleep at night, you just go ahead and do that, little lady

[MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu did you even read the comments before you posted your nasty little remark? I was going by the movie soundtrack, not the broadway. Yes, I call that a misunderstanding. You seem to be the ignorant one.

[BernardProfitendieu]

@MissLizaMay Listen, LizzyLulabelleMae or whatever your hillbilly name is - when you're already in a hole, you should just stop digging.

I'll let you get back to milking your goats now.

[MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu Okay that made no sense. Just admit that you didn't read the context before you commented and let it go.

You seem determined to start a fight and I really don't know why.

[MissLizaMay]

@BernardProfitendieu and by the way, Bernard, sorry if it's news to you, but Liza is not my real name. I'm a hillbilly? Hon, I'm from Detroit.

[seripsolrac]

Um maestro é sempre um MAESTRO!

O resto,... é musica e cantar de passarinhos.

[iampasdechat]

This is such a jewel... thanks so much for posting. I must have watched it a dozen times already...

[knockedoutbymynungas]

I hate watching the bit where she is told off! Makes me cringeee

[Mooorhe]

I think it's the man singing Riff who is told off.

[veletez]

De punta se te quedan los pelos!!!increible!!

[maltese48]

He's doing it for himself.

[Selendomono]

what one earth is jose doing with his hand during his first verse... he does realize that lenny is the one conducting correct?

[ejrouge]

I guess he's only doing that to support his FRASEO (I don't know if there's a word for FRASEO in English, ha ha). I don't think he was trying to conduct

[Boerenfox]

Help himself with the tempi and the frasing. A very natural and helpful thing during recording sessions.

[Piero2374]

@Boerenfox ma quando nascerà un altro Lenny?!

[Boerenfox]

@Selendomono - this is a rehearsal and no concert. The singer support himself with following the tempi and the harmony. This is something which lots of singers do. Watch any ordinary studio take of a pop album and you will see the same.

[Selendomono]

Lol my comment was just a bit of sass :P about two seconds after I posted it I was like.... "wait..."

[3cplantin]

I like the original Broadway/movie cast better because they're more natural. Bernstein obviously has no problem with this cast, so how could I possibly argue with the composer himself? But isn't it ironic that Maria (a character from Puerto Rico) is sung by Kiri (a native English speaker with not much of a Spanish accent when singing this role) and that the native New Yorker Tony character is is sung by Jose from Spain with an obvious Spanish accent? Anyway, the music is a masterpiece.

[ejrouge]

I have tought about that a lot of times... ha ha. Jose pronounces MARIA perfectly, and not with the classical english accent.

[abelitro12]

You cannot hear Kiri Te Kanawa's high note at the end here, which you can in the recording, maybe added later...

[operaticbaritone]

where can I get all of these recording sessions?

[hayama317]

go to my profile and click subscriptions. then, search for the username: olfux.

[moosekarloff]

That's American Opera, folks. A truly thrilling piece of music.

[franimalistic]

I don't know what I could have ever done to merit Leonard Bernstein's attention, but it still seems pretty tragic that I'll never get to meet him. What an incredible musician!!!

[winrx]

2:58 Wonderful counterpoint!

[nclysander]

Wow, he sure works that orchestra into a frenzy!

[PoorJohnsHead]

My God! What excellence

[bonitaparaguaya101]

I LOVE this!!!! I love the music, the movie, and the play. It's my favorite movie!!! It's a sad movie but the, plot, action and the music is what counts. Bernstein is a genious!

[Selendomono]

that guy playing riff is gorgeous.

[saxamaphoneguy1]

Wow! TOTALLY agree haha. Lenny got a bit annoyed at him for coming in early though....

[Selendomono]

musicians must have quite an ear for those things cause i didnt notice until i went back and listened.

[operaticthrottle]

hehee...i agree.

[orfeo2003]

Personally, I preffer the guy with the trumpet at the end of the video. So cute!

[BEVERYCUMMINS]

this has given me chills all my life 1951 to now

[swanningaround]

busingkwet . Yes. I think they are wonderful Have a look yourself:

Larry Kert & Carol Lawrence ~ 'Maria' & 'Tonight'

(Tell me what you think.)

[Federicopera]

such crap

[busingkwet]

if you think it is crap, please dont watch it.

[swanningaround]

No. The originals were Larry Kert as Tony and Carol Lawrence as Maria.

[busingkwet]

i see. were they good?

[busingkwet]

are they the first maria and tony?

[swanningaround]

Wow! Jose and Kiri, the ultimate Tony and Maria. Just perfect!

[amartineugen]

Oh my god, what a wonderful music! Thanks for posting it. Now I finally understand why Lenny was so proud of this music

[Swedetres]

I pleasure at looking at the Maestro's demeanor, imagine having a dance with Lenny.

[impishanchor]

this gave me chills.  and may i mention how good looking riff is? lol

[joanyee0]

this is beautiful

[matthewtilley1985]

Carreras is a wonderful singer and his Tony has never been surpassed. Warm, intelligent, exciting, and with quiet singing to die for.

[robelee4484]

Brilliant!!!!!!!

[jdpcpunta]

Pues yo tengo los pelos de punta, y puede ser como decis que jose c. no es como toni pero es una version distinta y no se cual de las dos me gusta mas aunque lo mejor seria escuchar el concierto de este ensayo.

arriba jose carreras de una compatriota.

[funky50something]

wonderful- sends shivers down my spine

[richow]

BRILLIANT

[kelly6739]

ppl should just sit back and enjoy this instead of looking for faults.

[Boerenfox]

I think people forget that Tony and Maria in West Side Story are hispanic Americans. It would be weird of these two would have sung it in Queen's English.

I thought the result was won-der-ful and the Maestro himself would not have invited José, if he was not sure.

[jetsetjordan]

Tony is polish.

[BroadwayVBtime]

Tony is supposed to be Northern European

Maria is Puerto Rican

[evans54]

Carreras was really not the right person for this

[hoogestefan]

Maybe. But the result is fantastic. And in the end that's all that matters.

[evans54]

I dont agree. Its very awkwardly done and the accent is very distracting

[hoogestefan]

Well. I do know what you mean. But I don't think the accent is distracting, and also I don't think it's awkwardly done. But it's okay if you think so.

I think Carreras did a good job. But that's my personal opinion.

[evans54]

I agree - he's fine as a singer just not as Tony. Tony should be more Anglo IMHO

[evans54]

and the late Tatiana Troyanos

[StellaTheLadyLuck]

Finally, there's Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and young Jose!

Missing Leonard~~ Very nice.

[Karlitten]

Great! Nice to see Lenard