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Track Listings
| 1. Prologue |
| 2. Jet Song |
| 3. Something's Coming |
| 4. Dance at the Gym |
| 5. Maria |
| 6. Tonight |
| 7. America |
| 8. Cool |
| 9. One Hand, One Heart |
| 10. Tonight (Quintet) |
| 11. The Rumble |
| 12. Me Siento Hermosa (I Feel Pretty) |
| 13. Somewhere |
| 14. Gee, Officer Krupke |
| 15. Un Hombre Así (A Boy Like That)/I Have a Love; Un Hombre Así (A Boy Like That)\ I Have a Love |
| 16. Finale |
Editorial Reviews
Arthur Laurents, who penned the script to the original West Side Story , directed this 2009 revival, which made waves for its integration of Spanish into the dialogue and songs. Behold these fresh new spins on I Feel Pretty (Me Siento Hermosa); Maria; Cool; Tonight; America; Somewhere , and more beloved Bernstein/Sondheim songs!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've yet to see this revival of "West Side Story," but if this beautifully produced, powerfully performed album is any indication, the show is as marvelous as everyone says it is. I have to admit that I'm one of those who's taken this landmark musical for granted over the years. "Oh yes, it's 'West Side Story,' been there done that." But listening to this CD, one is reminded WHY it's become a part of all of our lives since it's debut some 40 years ago. Perhaps there have been better sung versions, but I can't recall one that's made such a strong case for this work's continued validity. Chalk it up, certainly, to the combined genius of Sondheim and Bernstein, but also, this time around, to a young, vibrant cast that seems to have been born to play these roles. Simply put, Matt Cavenaugh and Josefina Scaglione ARE Tony and Maria. Regardless of what one may think of their voices (Cavenaugh's is a tad nasal, Scaglione's a bit thin at the top), the honesty, passion and intensity of the performances cannot be denied. Some here have found their spoken dialogue unconvincing, but I find it highly effective and touching, due in great part to the authenticity of Scaglione's accent. To hear her say how she'll never joke about love again is to relive one's memories of youthful longing and the ways in which one's first love defines all others. As for the supporting cast, it's uniformly terrific. Karen Olivo, as Anita, miraculously makes as strong an impression as have her predecessors, which is saying a lot.
Of course, the new Spanish lyrics are the big news here, and while I never found them a distraction, I'm not sure they serve as great a purpose as they were meant to. (Particularly when the Sharks, in the "Tonight" quintet, still sing the word "tonight" in English.) Perhaps it has more of an impact in live performance. That said, Lin-Manuel Miranda seems to have done a terrific, if not literal, translation. (Sondheim's only demand was that Miranda retain his rhyme schemes.) When Anita sings "cabron...Americano," it actually has more impact that simply "a boy like that..." Personally, I did find Tony's singing in Spanish during the finale a trifle politically correct; it's doubtful he would know enough of the language to do a spontaneous translation as he's dying. On the other hand, the decision to have a boy soprano sing "Somewhere" is an inspired one. Like so much else on this remarkably successful recording, it demands of us that we listen with new ears. For those willing to do so, the rewards will be immense; a very moving reminder of why "West Side Story" is going to be with us for as long as its source material.
Of course, the new Spanish lyrics are the big news here, and while I never found them a distraction, I'm not sure they serve as great a purpose as they were meant to. (Particularly when the Sharks, in the "Tonight" quintet, still sing the word "tonight" in English.) Perhaps it has more of an impact in live performance. That said, Lin-Manuel Miranda seems to have done a terrific, if not literal, translation. (Sondheim's only demand was that Miranda retain his rhyme schemes.) When Anita sings "cabron...Americano," it actually has more impact that simply "a boy like that..." Personally, I did find Tony's singing in Spanish during the finale a trifle politically correct; it's doubtful he would know enough of the language to do a spontaneous translation as he's dying. On the other hand, the decision to have a boy soprano sing "Somewhere" is an inspired one. Like so much else on this remarkably successful recording, it demands of us that we listen with new ears. For those willing to do so, the rewards will be immense; a very moving reminder of why "West Side Story" is going to be with us for as long as its source material.
11 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Cometkazie
Format:Audio CD
West Side Story came out the year I graduated prep school. I saw it on Broadway at the Winter Garden in August 1960, which was an experience that still resonates within me. I love the show and I love the music, and it struck me as a bit unusual that there is such a diversity of opinion in the reviews here at Amazon.
Not wanting the whole CD particularly, I downloaded two songs, Tonight and One Hand, One Heart, in an attempt to evaluate the leads, and I have to concur with the critics that find fault. Scaglione's voice does not have the quality I would expect in a lead of a show of this magnitude. Not only does it thin as the pitch goes higher, she seems to have trouble hitting notes right, and her vibrato comes when it detracts from the song. I assume she must be miked for the production as I can't see that voice filling a theater. When I saw the show, Lawrence and Rivera had departed, but the woman doing Maria had a fine voice, and once I accepted that she wasn't Carol Lawrence, I was totally engrossed in the show.
Cavenaugh comes across better, but his voice is nasal and he sings tentatively as if he was not comfortable with the part. There is a sense of urgency, a tension, in many of the WSS songs and this was particularly lacking in Tonight.
It seemed to me, particularly in Tonight, that there was much more orchestra than was needed. The OCR sounds as if they used the pit band and this track sounds like they have the whole symphony and it dominates when the singers should be front and center. Perhaps this is just poor engineering and mixing. I wonder also about the tempi. It seems to me they are slow.
A reviewer mentioned that instead of using the cast to snap their fingers, an electronic device is used. That probably says more about current performers than needs to be said and the use of Spanish is a bad idea. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but it seems to me, in trying to make it better, they broke it. There apparently isn't a Jerome Robbins to get it done right.
One question: I would love to see the original production, if only to see the dances, even if it wasn't the whole show. Is any of it available on DVD?
Not wanting the whole CD particularly, I downloaded two songs, Tonight and One Hand, One Heart, in an attempt to evaluate the leads, and I have to concur with the critics that find fault. Scaglione's voice does not have the quality I would expect in a lead of a show of this magnitude. Not only does it thin as the pitch goes higher, she seems to have trouble hitting notes right, and her vibrato comes when it detracts from the song. I assume she must be miked for the production as I can't see that voice filling a theater. When I saw the show, Lawrence and Rivera had departed, but the woman doing Maria had a fine voice, and once I accepted that she wasn't Carol Lawrence, I was totally engrossed in the show.
Cavenaugh comes across better, but his voice is nasal and he sings tentatively as if he was not comfortable with the part. There is a sense of urgency, a tension, in many of the WSS songs and this was particularly lacking in Tonight.
It seemed to me, particularly in Tonight, that there was much more orchestra than was needed. The OCR sounds as if they used the pit band and this track sounds like they have the whole symphony and it dominates when the singers should be front and center. Perhaps this is just poor engineering and mixing. I wonder also about the tempi. It seems to me they are slow.
A reviewer mentioned that instead of using the cast to snap their fingers, an electronic device is used. That probably says more about current performers than needs to be said and the use of Spanish is a bad idea. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, but it seems to me, in trying to make it better, they broke it. There apparently isn't a Jerome Robbins to get it done right.
One question: I would love to see the original production, if only to see the dances, even if it wasn't the whole show. Is any of it available on DVD?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Execelsior
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw the original London production of 'West Side Story' when I was 15 years old and was totally bowled over by it. Over the years, I have learned to appreciate the movie version, although I always liked ANITA and BERNARDO and found it better that they did the 'America' number. I also enjoyed 'Dance at the Gym' in the movie - the 'Mambo' is exilerating.
I no longer live in New York City now BUT I made a special trip up in order to see the new production of 'West Side Story' during its first week. The production is excellent - the woman that plays Anita is great - sadly, she and Bernardo do not play-off each other in 'America' although other changes inspired by the movie have been included. The 'hispanic' dialogue is a definite plus - wouldn't Anita and Maria not speak to each other in their own dialect???? So it was with much excitement that I awaited my copy of the CD of the new cast recording.
I hate to say it BUT sadly I was very disappointed by it.
Most of the songs are good but 'Dance at the Gym' is too short and lacks the excitement that it had on stage. 'America' is also too short and totally lacks the tension that it would have had were Anita and Bernado been allowed to play-off each other.
Tony is good and so is Maria. But it is the music and the lyrics which are the real stars of any album. On stage, this would be enhanced by the dancing.
Sadly, for me, this recording does not measure up to the stage production. It needed alot more ZEST! Sorry.
I no longer live in New York City now BUT I made a special trip up in order to see the new production of 'West Side Story' during its first week. The production is excellent - the woman that plays Anita is great - sadly, she and Bernardo do not play-off each other in 'America' although other changes inspired by the movie have been included. The 'hispanic' dialogue is a definite plus - wouldn't Anita and Maria not speak to each other in their own dialect???? So it was with much excitement that I awaited my copy of the CD of the new cast recording.
I hate to say it BUT sadly I was very disappointed by it.
Most of the songs are good but 'Dance at the Gym' is too short and lacks the excitement that it had on stage. 'America' is also too short and totally lacks the tension that it would have had were Anita and Bernado been allowed to play-off each other.
Tony is good and so is Maria. But it is the music and the lyrics which are the real stars of any album. On stage, this would be enhanced by the dancing.
Sadly, for me, this recording does not measure up to the stage production. It needed alot more ZEST! Sorry.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe the best B'way show of all time.
Bernstein's music, Shakespeare's story and the gritty NY of the 1950's-60's combine to make this perhaps the most moving of all broadway's products. Read more
Published 1 month ago by guidepost41
3.0 out of 5 stars
A worthy (but failed) experiment
I just saw the touring company in Dallas last night, and we picked up the 2009 Broadway Cast recording that they were selling in the lobby. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Just another guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Soundtrack
This is a great soundtrack, it is fun and enjoyable to listen to. the best songs on this cd are all of them. if you have not listened to this cd then i recommend you should.
Published 22 months ago by David A. Smith
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dear Matt Cavenaugh
Deaaaar
Deaaaar
Deeeeear Kindly Sgt. Cavenaugh,
You gotta understand,
It's your god-awful singing
that nobody can stand
You ruined the role of... Read more
Deaaaar
Deeeeear Kindly Sgt. Cavenaugh,
You gotta understand,
It's your god-awful singing
that nobody can stand
You ruined the role of... Read more
Published on January 25, 2011 by Renfield
5.0 out of 5 stars
Farewell to a Great Show
This weekend West Side Story unfortuately closed its run in New York -- a transporting experience with a superb cast that gave everything they had, with great energy and talent. Read more
Published on January 2, 2011 by bret53
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still a Great Story
Complaints about the bilingual lyrics seems downright curmudgeonly: Far fixing something that isn't broken, Arthur Laurents has enhanced a great book in a way that would have... Read more
Published on December 26, 2010 by pkgoode
5.0 out of 5 stars
pure aweomeness
these people can sing (especially Matt Cavenaugh) beats any recording of west side story i've ever heard. especially the movie by a long shot. Read more
Published on September 5, 2010 by fgxdbli
3.0 out of 5 stars
adequate
I saw this live at the National Theatre (I believe) and I felt the same way about the production as I do the soundtrack: The talent is absolutely fantastic, Tony and Maria were... Read more
Published on February 9, 2010 by lilybit
4.0 out of 5 stars
Should be 4.5
After many years of disappointments as recording after recording was issued, I thought this was the one to equal the original cast until the unfortunately truncated last scene. Read more
Published on January 20, 2010 by wdhspg
5.0 out of 5 stars
WSS CD
I saw West Side Story on Broadway. Loved the music and bought the CD on Amazon. I received the CD on time.
Published on October 17, 2009 by C. Hill
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