“West Side Story” San Francisco Symphony Live Recording (Released on June 10, 2014)
“West Side Story” San Francisco Symphony Live Recording (Released on June 10, 2014) Score by Leonard Bernstein, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Directed by Michael Tilson Thomas Reviewed by David Roberts Theatre Reviews Limited
San Francisco Symphony Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas had a long-standing professional and personal relationship with “West Side Story” composer Leonard Bernstein making the June 10, 2014 release of the live recording of the first-ever concert performance of Mr. Bernstein’s complete score for the iconic musical quite significant. Equally significant is the recording itself. Mr. Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony not only do justice to the score but excel beyond any expectation at providing the most accessible and enjoyable recording of the iconic musical since its Broadway staging and subsequent recordings.
The overall quality of this live recording is excellent and invites recurrent listening. The CDs received excellent engineering support resulting in a recording of the highest quality. This is a set to own and enjoy for years.
Cheyenne Jackson (Tony), Alexandra Silber (Maria), Jessica Vosk (Anita), Julia Bullock (A Girl), and Kevin Vortmann (Riff) lead the all-star soloists who, along with the Symphony Chorus, bring to Bernstein’s score a renewed vitality and authenticity which attest in a dramatic way to the enduring nature of the score of this iconic musical.
Because this is a studio recording, the tone of the performances is necessarily more precise and more polished than a live stage performance. Much of the “feel” of the streets and neighborhoods of the feuding gangs is evident; however, many of the chorus numbers have an appropriate operatic color and disposition.
Act I tracks that are impressive are: Tony’s “Something’s Coming;” the “Dance at the Gym/Meeting Scene;” Tony and Maria’s “Balcony Scene” and the following “Only You;” and Rosalia (Juliana Hansen) and Anita’s impeccably authentic “America” are particularly memorable. “One Hand, One Heart” and “Tonight” close out Act I with emotional integrity and power.
In Act II, the “Ballet Sequence/Lo Stesso Tempo,” the “Procession and Nightmare,” and “I Have A Love” emerge as tracks of superior performance. And even lacking a visual presence, Mr. Jackson and Ms. Silber create impressive images in their vocal renditions in the “Finale.”
This San Francisco Symphony recording of “West Side Story” is a gift of enduring love and craft for all who hold the musical in a special place in memory and heart. It is a must-have for musical theatre lovers.
WEST SIDE STORY LIVE RECORDING BY SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY
“West Side Story” was recorded live at Davies Symphony Hall on June 27-30 and July 2, 2013.
In addition to the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, the cast of the live recording includes soloists Julia Bullock (A Girl), Louise Cornillez (Consuelo), Zack Ford (Diesel), Juliana Hanson (Rosalia), Cheyenne Jackson (Tony), Justin Keyes (Action), David Michael Laffey (Big Deal), Kelly Markgraf (Bernardo), Chris Meissner (Baby John), Louise Pardo (A-rab), Alexandra Silber (Maria),Cassie Simone (Francisca), Kevin Vortmann (Riff), and Jessica Vosk (Anita).
The collector’s edition two-disc set available from the SFS Media label includes a 100-pagw booklet featuring a new interview with Michael Tilson Thomas, noted from Rita Moreno and Jamie Bernstein. This set can be ordered at http://www.shopsfsymphony.org/shop/home.php
The download version of the recording is available for purchase at the same Symphony website.
Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Sunday, June 1, 2014
CEOExpress
