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Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [DVD] [1985] [NTSC]
 
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Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [DVD] [1985] [NTSC]

DVD ~ Leonard Bernstein
3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

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Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [DVD] [1985] [NTSC]
61% buy the item featured on this page:
Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [DVD] [1985] [NTSC] 3.2 out of 5 stars (5)
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Product details

  • Actors: Leonard Bernstein, Kiri Te Kanawa, Josep Carreras, Tatiana Troyanos, Kurt Ollmann
  • Directors: Christopher Swann
  • Producers: Humphrey Burton, Thomas Skinner
  • Format: NTSC, Colour, DVD-Video, PAL
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: French
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: Exempt
  • Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
  • DVD Release Date: 11 Feb 2002
  • Run Time: 89 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005UDFZ
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 49,954 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in this category:

    #25 in  Music > Classical Instrumental > Composers > A-B > Bernstein

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Filmed in 1984 for the BBC, the feature-length documentary Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story follows the composer through one week as he records the first-ever complete album of his musical theatre masterpiece. (The previous Broadway cast and original soundtrack albums had both been cut down to single LP length.) Virtually the entire documentary takes place in a New York recording studio with a pick-up orchestra, session singers and headliners Kiri Te Kanawa (Maria), José Carreras (Tony), Tatiana Troyanos (Anita) and Kurt Ollmann (Riff). The 89-minute programme alternates rehearsal footage with complete final takes of the main numbers--including "Tonight", "America", and "Maria"--with a limited amount of comment from the principal players. Te Kanawa explains how much the music means to her, Troyanos notes how she grew-up in the very streets depicted on stage and Carreras provides a rare moment of tension when a session ends unsatisfactorily. Bernstein himself is by turns commanding, charming, enthusiastic or weary. For anyone wanting an extensive insight into what happens as a major album is recorded this is fascinating, though others who just want to enjoy the wonderful music will be better served by the resultant two-CD set.

On the DVD: Though filmed for British television, Deutsche Grammophon have chosen to release a single region-free (Region 0) DVD for the entire world. Unfortunately this means the disc is in NTSC format rather than PAL, and requires an NTSC-compatible television for playback. It also means that while the sound has been effectively remastered for PCM stereo the picture shows all the signs of a bad NTSC copy--weak, washed-out colours and poor definition with a serious lack of detail. Most videos are far better. The DVD has subtitles in German, French, Spanish and Chinese. There are no extras, though the booklet adapts an interesting article by producer Humphrey Burton which originally appeared in Gramophone magazine in 1985.--Gary S Dalkin

Video Description
Picture: 4:3
Format: NTSC
Region code: 0 (worldwide)
Sound: PCM Stereo
Subtitles: German, French, Spanish, Chinese

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Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
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 (2)
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3 star:
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1 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVED IT!, 13 Mar 2004
By Val De Beer "Val De Beer" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
I came to this film when I had just begun to know about Kiri te Kanawa's beautiful singing, and it was recommended to me. Of course, I'd seen the film of the original West Side Story, but this was something quite different.
Every singer was passionate about giving of his/her very best, and it is interesting to see just how much this exhausted them especially Jose Carreras, who became utterly despairing and then of course, turned in a fine performance.
Leonard Bernstein showed his utter dedication to his music and there were interviews with some of the stars and it was interesting to hear Kiri te Kanawa say how awe-inspiring it was to have the maestro himself to conduct his own music, like Mozart being there to tell you what he had wanted.
The prevailing memory of the experience is the energy of the singers, their professionalism and their camaraderie.
It was as though we were privileged to have a glimpse into a world which is usually shut off from us, and then we only see the finished product, but here we sweated and cried with the best of them, as they battled to maintain Bernstein's own standards.
Some of the tracks were very moving and also knowing that this was a performance by the late Tatiana Troyanos made it even more sad, but sadness was certainly not the keynote. The keynote was joy and friendship among the cream of singers.
I thoroughly recommend it!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A very poor offering for a DVD., 7 Nov 2006
By Mr. Martin Eccles (Blackburn, Lancashire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The musical West Side Story is a classic of the 1950's and the late Maestro Bernstein was quite justly very proud of it.This very important musical milestone of the conductor/composer recording for the very first and last time his own work is marred by this extremely eye wateringly difficult to watch video transfer to DVD.I will not comment on the content as it speaks for itself and you are either a devotee of Bernstein or you can't stand him but which ever camp you are in, I personally feel cheated with this DVD. As other reviewers have stated,the picture quality is awful and has done the reputation of those responsible for producing such a bad DVD no good at all.As a documentary it speaks the truth so surely it was worth remastering and enhancing the picture to an acceptably high enough standard for modern day public expectations. I was very disappointed with this DVD having expected a marked improvement from the video shown on television in 1985.I think the live pictures of the moon landings of July 1969 were of a better standard than this and it is such a pity.

If you do choose to buy it - Happy viewing and listening !
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic., 5 Nov 2007
By A. Cooksley (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Apart from the actual picture and audio quality not being wonderful on this DVD, the actual content, which is what it is here for, is awesome. Bernstein gets slated a lot for being too harsh on people, or a bully, nothing could be further from the truth. I work in this field full time and Bernstein's approach can defiantly be termed "old school" but not too harsh by any means. As for Jose Carreras being bullied by Bernstein? Hardly. Carreras didn't do his homework, plain and simple, the fact that "Something's coming" had to have take after take and Jose was still unaware that he was miles ahead of the orchestra is proof if proof were needed. Don't get me wrong, I love Carreras, he was just totally unprepared for what was expected of him.
This is a fantastic documentary of one of the all time great works, conducted by a man of immeasurable talent and ability. A true gem that is becoming less and less likely to be repeated in the world these days. If you are worried about the poor quality of the picture then I wouldn't bother with this DVD, if however you want an insight into genius in progress, then dig in!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars allas - the video was better looking!!
Years ago I recorded this pascinating document on video from a TV broadcast. Fulishly I now invested in this DVD, hoping - naturally enough - for a much better sight & sound. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2006 by el duderino lebovsky

1.0 out of 5 stars TERRIFYING!
I was appalled when I saw this programme years ago on TV. Bernstein makes music making hell for the singers and orchestra - a sarcastic bully who insults all and sundry. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2006 by Roger Clark

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