West Side Story (1997 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) [Extra tracks, Cast Recording]

Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story (Related Recordings), Paul Manuel, Tinuke Qlafimihan, Nicholas Warnford, Nick Ferranti | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Cast Recording
• Label: Jay Records
• ASIN: B000005BHB
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,988 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #5 in Music > Indie Music > Opera & Vocal

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. West Side Story, musical

2. West Side Story, musical: Act One: Overture

3. West Side Story, musical: Act One: Prologue

4. West Side Story, musical: Act One: Jet Song

5. West Side Story, musical: Act One: The Dance At The Gym: Blues/Promenade/Mambo/Cha Cha/Jump

6. West Side Story, musical: Act One: Maria

7. West Side Story, musical: Act One: Balcony Scene (Tonight)

8. West Side Story, musical: Act One: America

9. West Side Story, musical: Act One: Cool

10. West Side Story, musical: Act One: One Hand, One Heart

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: entr'acte (I Feel Pretty)

2. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: I Feel Pretty

3. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: Ballet: Intro To Ballet/Transition To Scherzo/Scherzo/Somewhere/Procession And Nightmare/A

4. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: Gee, Officer KrupkeScherzo

5. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: A Boy Like That

6. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: I Have A Love

7. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: Taunting Scene

8. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: Finale

9. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: Something's Coming

10. West Side Story, musical: Act Two: America

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! The quintessential WSS recording., February 13, 2003

By 

Ramon Grupe Cacho "oligodermie" (Makati, Metro Manila, The Philippines) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: West Side Story (1997 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) (Audio CD)

I don't know what took me so long to order this terrific recording. This is the best recording of West Side Story to date. The casting is perfect, unlike Jose Carreras's and Kiri Tekanawa's version. I also enjoyed the bonus tracks, which are ideal versions for a Broadway anthology compilation. Grab this while you still can, you won't regr this great experience of one of the best-loved musicals of all time.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, September 6, 2000

By 

Brandon Langeland (Fort Wayne, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Side Story (1997 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) (Audio CD)

I am a huge West Side Story fan and I just love this recording. This is definitely the one to buy, because even if you like some of the movie versions of the songs, hey, they're right here too! I don't know what they're talking about when they say Paul Manuel has a "smallish" voice. He blew me away throughout this whole recording, especially that inconceivable high note during "Maria." Anyone who's heard this recording knows what I'm talking about. Caroline O'Conner was great, the orchestra was great, the cast in general was great. I only have one minor quibble and that is, while Tinuke Olafimihan is a fantastic singer, she does sound a little ridiculous in some of the acting scenes, particularly at the beginning of the "Somewhere" ballet. But other than that, this is darn near perfect and should be the only recording anyone ever really needs of this incredible play.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, May 9, 2004

By 

Mr. Plow (Springfield, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West Side Story (1997 Studio Cast) (First Complete Recording) (Audio CD)

This record is perfect beyond compare, which justifies its price.
Caroline O'Connor as Anita is wonderful ("a voice like a Porsche", as sb said).
If you have survived the London cast, you will happily recognize the caracters in this recording.

However, I do not share the opinion that
Riff's 'COOL' be lacking of vocal style
and Maria be even "ridiculous" in 'SOMEWHERE'.

The symphonic dances have their own unique style
different from the Bernstein recording with Los Angeles Philharmonic.