Welcome to a new Musical Theatre Monday! This month, we’re celebrating the 105th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth by spotlighting his masterwork score for West Side Story (1957), which features lyrics by the young Stephen Sondheim. West Side Story has remained a staple of our culture, thanks to film adaptations from both 1961 and 2021. (I loved both — in fact, I was surprised by how much I thought Steven Spielberg’s remake honored the material.) It’s also been revived on Broadway several times, most recently in 2020.
Personally, I can never get enough of this rousing, soaring, affecting score, and so — for subscribers who comment below to alert me of their private non-commercial interest — I’m offering access to a good-quality soundboard audio of a March 1962 performance that took place in Copenhagen. It was part of the European tour that followed West Side Story’s initial West End production, and it’s got some great performances. Take a listen for yourself — here’s the brilliant “Quintet,” a tribute to Stephen Sondheim, and of course, Leonard Bernstein.
Come back next month for another musical rarity! And stay tuned for more sitcom fun!
Hi Jackson
I would love to hear the live audio performance of “West Side Story”. I have never seen it on the stage but only seen the first movie and have both the original Broadepway cast and movie recordings. It wiill be wonderful to hear the live performance.
Thank you.
Donna
Hi, Donna! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your CS address.
Would love to hear this rare recording of the perfekt musical from two of the greatest minds in music history. Many thanks on advance and have a good day.
Hi, Mat! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your richter-fr address.
Would love to hear this show.
Hi, Bob! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
I’d love to have a copy of this. I am old enough to have seen the touring cast of the original London cast (probably third cast by the time it reached Bristol) and didn’t think much of it, until several years later I saw the film and my eyes and ears were opened.
Hi, David! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I can’t find you in my list of subscribers. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please do so, so I can send a link to your preferred email address. If you have already subscribed, please let me know the date you subscribed so I can find you in the database.
Wow! Great sound! Please send me a copy! I played A-Rab in WSS in 1970, so many years ago… Today, I count Grover Dale as one of my favorite Facebook Friends. Grover originated the role of Snowboy in the Original Broadway Cast.
Hi, Michael! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your AT&T address.
I would love to hear this recording.
Hi, John! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your gmail address.
Hello,
Please send this recording of “West Side Story”
Thank you,
F. R.
Hi, F.R.! Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have emailed you at your sascholar address.