GREAT PERFORMANCES: BERNSTEIN CONDUCTS "WEST SIDE STORY" (TV)
Summary
One in this series of arts programs. In a 1985 recording session, Leonard Bernstein conducts a performance of his entire score for the musical "West Side Story" for the first time, with opera singers Kiri Te Kanawa, Tatiana Troyanos, Jose Carreras, and Kurt Ollman in the principal roles. At a press conference, Bernstein discusses the musical's enduring vitality, and in interviews interspersed throughout, the four principal performers discuss the international appeal of "West Side Story" and the significance that the musical had for them in their youth. They also discuss the advantage of having the composer of the score conduct it. Musical highlights include "Tonight," "America," "I Feel Pretty," and "Maria." During the recording session, Carreras becomes frustrated when he is repeatedly instructed to disguise his Spanish accent in order to perform the role of Tony.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: May 17, 1985 Friday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:26:33
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:06769
- GENRE: Music; Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Composers; Interviews; Music - Analysis, appreciation; Musical revues, comedies, etc.; Opera singers
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- Ian Squires … Executive Producer
- Harry J. Kraut … Executive Producer
- Peter Weinberg … Series Producer
- John Walker … Associate Producer
- Humphrey Burton … Producer
- Thomas P. Skinner … Producer
- Christopher Swann … Director
- Leonard Bernstein … Composer, Conductor, Orchestration by
- Arthur Laurents … Librettist, Book by
- Stephen Sondheim … Lyricist
- Jerome Robbins … Musical based on a conception by
- Sid Ramin … Music (Misc. Credits), Orchestration by
- Irwin Kostal … Music (Misc. Credits), Orchestration by
- Te Kanawa, Kiri … Cast, Maria, Singer
- Jose Carreras … Cast, Tony, Singer
- Tatiana Troyanos … Cast, Anita, Singer
- Kurt Ollman … Cast, Riff, Singer
- Nina Bernstein … Performer
- Louise Edeiken … Performer
- Angelina Reaux … Performer
- Stella Zambolis … Performer
- Alexander Bernstein … Performer
- Stephen Bogardus … Performer
- Richard Harrell … Performer
- Todd Lester … Performer
- David Livingston … Peformer
- Marty Nelson … Performer
- Peter Thom … Performer
- Adrienne Albert … Chorus member
- June Magruder … Chorus member
- Juliana Gondek … Chorus member
- Carmen Cornier … Chorus member
- John Kuether … Chorus member
- Darryl Tookes … Chorus member
- Charles Magruder … Chorus member
- Tony Wells … Chorus member