Leonard Bernstein Conducts’West Side Story’

Synopsis: Television documentary that follows conductor Leonard Bernstein as he records, over four days, the first complete recording of West Side Story. Filmed in a New York recording studio with a pick-up orchestra, session singers, and singers Kiri Te Kanawa (Maria), José Carreras (Tony), Tatiana Troyanos (Anita), and Kurt Ollmann (Riff). 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 and he walks out. Bernstein himself is by turns bullying, charming, enthusiastic, and weary. Carreras’ singing of ‘Maria’ is joyous.
Series: Omnibus
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Television
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Transmission details: 10 May 1985 (Channel: BBC1)
Duration: 88 mins