Classics reconsidered: West Side Story
Classics reconsidered: Leonard Bernstein’s 1984 DG recording of West Side Story Edward Seckerson and Edward Breen return to Leonard Bernstein’s 1984 DG recording of West Side Story [ES] I fear I’m going to be the bad cop in these exchanges Edward. With the benefit of hindsight I think it’s now clear what actually drove this misguided project. The idea of ‘operatising' West Side Story can be traced all the way back to the genesis of the show when Bernstein locked heads with his collaborators over Maria’s big speech in the final scene. He very much wanted it to be through-sung in the manner of an operatic scena. Laurents and Robbins rightly resisted. This was a ground breaking piece of musical theatre - a book/song musical with a heavy dance element - and the idea that it might in some way be elevated by calling it an ‘opera’ clearly stayed with Bernstein through the decades. He always downplayed the importance of his five Broadway shows - it was more important to be taken ’seriousl...
