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The Making of West Side Story - Leonard Bernstein | 
 enlarge | Director: Christopher Swann
Actors: Leonard Bernstein, Kiri Te Kanawa, Josep Carreras, Tatiana Troyanos, Kurt Ollmann
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $19.75
You Save: $10.23 (34%)
New (5) Used (3) from $17.39
Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 24933
Format: Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Japanese (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 89
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 000466609
UPC: 044007340547
EAN: 0044007340547
ASIN: B0009DBXXG
Theatrical Release Date: May 1985
Release Date: August 9, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Filmed in 1984, the feature-length documentary Leonard Bernstein Conducts "West Side Story" follows the composer as he records the first-ever complete recording of his musical-theater masterpiece. Virtually the entire documentary takes place in a New York recording studio with a pick-up orchestra, session singers, and headliners Kiri Te Kanawa (Maria), Jose Carreras (Tony), Tatiana Troyanos (Anita), and Kurt Ollmann (Riff). The 89-minute program alternates rehearsal footage with complete final takes of the main numbers--including "Tonight," "America," and "Maria"--with limited comments from the principal players. Te Kanawa explains how much the music means to her, Troyanos notes how she grew up in the very streets depicted on stage, and Carreras provides a rare moment of tension when a session ends unsatisfactorily. Bernstein himself is by turns commanding, charming, enthusiastic, and weary. This is a fascinating insight into what happens as a major album is recorded. --Gary S. Dalkin
Description
1. Arrival of the principal singers, blending off 2. I feel Pretty (Piano rehearsal) 3. First session: introduction of the principals 4. Tonight (ensemble) (rehearsal) 5. Jet Song (recording) 6. Cool (recording) 7. Tonight (Piano rehearsal) 8. Something's Coming (recording: take, playback, retakes) 9. Troyanos on working with Bernstein "Tonight (Ensemble)" (recording) 10. Tonight (Ensemble) (recording- contd.) 11. Bernstein talks about the orchestra, "I feel pretty" (recording) 12. Te Kanawa on working with Bernstein 13. Problem passages, "Dance at the Gym" (recording & playbacks) 14. Bernstein talks to the press "Dance at the Gym" (recording-contd.) 15. Recording Nina and Alexander Bernstein ("Meeting Scene" - "Dance at the Gym") (recording- contd.) 16. Te Kanawa on West Side Story, "Somewhere" (recording) 17. Troyanos on recording, "America" (rehearsal and recording) 18. One Hand, One Heart (recording) 19. Te Kanawa on singing Bernstein's music 20. Maria (piano rehearsal) 21. Maria (recording) 22. Carreras on the Interruption, "Maria" (recording- contd.) 23. Te Kanawa on working with Berstein 24. A Boy like that "I have love" (recording) 25. Gee, Officer Krupke (recording) 26. Balcony Scene (recording) 27. Berstein on recording West side Story, "Balcony Scene" (recording) 28. End titles
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 The maestro conducts his own December 6, 2008
Anyone who fell in love with the Movie Westside Story in the early sixties must view this fabulous dvd of Leonard Bernstein conducting his most popular composition. He wanted his masterpiece to be performed by singers with the range expected of great operatic performers. Listen and see Kiri Te Kanawa and Jose Carreras as they strut their stuff under the stern but discerning eye of the master. The interaction between Bernstein and Karreras is an eye-opener. This is top quality entertainment.
Wonderful and fun documentary November 21, 2008
I just watched this on a Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt and was mesmerized. Wonderful to see a wilder side to Lennie, to listen to the heart melting songs, to see Jose struggle with the rapid fire English lyrics and the thrilling orchestra. I rarely buy DVDs given how easy it is to rent or download these days but I bought this one.
the maestro September 23, 2008
Hello, Back in the 80's I saw the original showing on TV of this and tried to buy a video of it without success. This year is tha Anniversary of West Side Story and I just wondered if maybe ther was a DVD of it. Of course, here it is. West Side Story was what gave me my love of musicals and in my opinion it has never been surpassed and Leonard Bernstein is the tru Maestro- so charismatic as are all of the participants. A must see.
 Big Voices for Lighter Music June 18, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Loved watching the rehearsal process in the video! The singers being opera stars have very different voices than are usual for this style of "Broadway show tunes". Wish they had identified by name the orchestra members and chorus. They are all terrific! The conflicts between Maestro Bernstein and Jose Careras were amusing to watch, though I know it wasn't funny for them! Enjoyed seeing the producers and engineers at work, too. Both "I Feel Pretty" and "Gee, Officer Krupke" are stunningly beautiful and hilarious. It is fascinating to think that four gay, Jewish men came up with this astounding, macho, and even violent "Romeo & Juliet"- inspired musical about gang rivalries between Italians and Puerto Ricans in New York. Great stuff!
Learning with the Master March 6, 2008
The absolute genious of L. Bernstein drives us constantly to tears of emotional joy. Paraphrasing Dame Kiri te Kanawa "...it's like having Mozart in front of you..."
I've always been learning music with Bernstein especially when, as young piano student back in the 70', I watched astonished and marvelled at the "Concerts for Young people". I'll never forget his performance, as conductor and pianist, of Rhapsody in Blue (live in Paris) and his sublime interpretation (also as soloist and conductor) of Beethoven's 1st Piano concerto in Vienna.
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