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| WEST SIDE STORY (1996) Netherlands Cast Maaike Widdershoven, Addo Kruizinga, Hilde Norga, Perry Dossett, Daan Wijnands Harry van Hoof Conductor Performed in Dutch by Netherlands stage cast Translation by Koen van Dijk. Opened September 8, 1996 Youthful energy and a bull's-eye of a Quintet. |
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| WEST SIDE STORY (1957) Original Cast Recording Carol Lawrence, Larry Kert, Chita Rivera, Mickey Calin and members of the Original Broadway Cast Max Goberman, Conductor The premiere recording is as exciting today as the day it was released. The re-mastered CD includes the New York Philharmonic's magnificent "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story" conducted by Leonard Bernstein. |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1993) Studio Recording Paul Manuel, Caroline O'Connor, Tinuke Olafmihan, Nicholas Warnford, Sally Burgess with members of the 1992 Leicester Haymarket Cast John Owen Edwards Conducting the National Symphony Orchestra This musically abundant recording includes the rarely heard stage Overture, the complete Entr'acte and the music of the "Taunting." |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1961) Original Soundtrack Recording Johnny Green, Conductor The film soundtrack includes the sections of "The Dance at the Gym" that had been omitted from the Broadway cast recording. "Cool" is delivered in all its post-rumble grit and glory. The 2004 re-issue includes several previously unreleased tracks, including the accompaniment to the closing credits. |
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| WEST SIDE STORY (1997) Swedish cast album Petra Nielsen, Karl Dyall, Maria Hydberg, Martin Stenmarck Jan Radesjo, Conductor Sung in Swedish On the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the masterwork comes this superlative recording, an extraordinary blend of voices, orchestra and studio engineering. |
BAYLESS MEETS BERNSTEIN : The West Side Story Variations (1999) John Bayless "An album of transcriptions and improvisations." |
| Dave Brubeck |
| Buddy Rich |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1985) Deutsche Grammophon Studio Recording Kiri Te Kanawa, Jose Carreras, Tatiana Troyanos, Kurt Ollman, Marilyn Horne Leonard Bernstein, Conductor The Maestro conducts his score for records for the first time Musical changes made for this recording become standard for future stage productions. [Note: A separate single-disc recording of "Highlights" was also released.] |
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| Johnny Mathis |
| Barbra Streisand |
| RECORDINGS (A Selective Discography) |
| WEST SIDE STORY ON STAGE WEBMASTER'S RATINGS |
| Wayne Marshall |
| Peter Nero |
| Andy Williams |
| Julie Andrews |
| Perry Como |
| Neil Diamond |
| Sammy Davis Jr. |
| WEST SIDE STORY (2001) Nashville Symphony Orchestra Studio Recording Mike Eldred, Betsi Morrison, Marianne Cooke, Michael San Giovanni, Robert Dean Kenneth Schermerhorn, Conductor The Bernstein score is reverently presented in this entry to the American Classics series Click here for more information on this recording |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1993) U.K. Studio Recording Michael Ball, Barbara Bonney, La Verne Williams, Chris Howard Barry Wordsworth, Conductor The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performs at concert tempo for a vocal presentation that is more pop than theater or jazz. |
| Barbara Cook |
| The Bee Gees |
| Audra McDonald |
| Eddie Fisher |
| Malcolm Gets |
| Mandy Patinkin |
| Colm Wilkinson |
| Gloria Estafan |
| Nancy Wilson |
Sergio Franchi |
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| WEST SIDE STORY (1959) Studio Recording Bruce Trent, Lucille Graham Lawrence Leonard, Conductor Misleadingly touted as the "Original English Cast" album, this studio recording includes a rare track of the stage Overture. |
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| Robert Goulet |
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| WEST SIDE STORY (1977) Original 1977 Tokyo Cast Recording Takesi Kaga, Akiko Kuno, Masachika Ichimura, Osami Iino, Mari Tachikawa, Haruyoshi Nishikubo. Sung in Japanese -- Lyrics by Tokiko Iwatani |
| Betty Buckley |
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Placido Domingo |
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| Dionne Warwick |
| THE SONGS OF WEST SIDE STORY (1996) Various performers Conceived and produced by David Pack The score gets the all-star treatment in this unconventional presentation: Singers include Aretha Franklin, Phil Collins, Selena, Kenny Loggins, Wynonna, Natalie Cole, Patti La Belle, Sheila E., Little Richard, Trisha Yearwood and many others. |
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| Manny Albam |
| Ferrante and Teicher |
| Shirley Bassey |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1962) The Oscar Peterson Trio Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen The jazz legend lets out all the stops in this definitive rendition. |
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| Judy Garland |
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| KENTON'S WEST SIDE STORY (1961) Stan Kenton A Grammy was awarded to this timeless recording, thanks to Kenton's masterful expression of jazz and Latin sounds. Click here for information on Stan Kenton. Click here for 1961 Grammy winners. |
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Pet Shop Boys |
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| WEST SIDE STORY (1959) Andre Previn and His Pals Andre Previn, Shelley Manne, Red Mitchell The composer and conductor of popular and classical music takes on the jazz world as well. Click here for a review of this album. |
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| Robert Prince |
| WEST SIDE STORY SUITE (2001) Joshua Bell An extraordinary presentation by the virtuoso violinist |
| Grammy winner! |
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| Several of the recordings listed here are available at Footlight Records and Amazon.com |
| FOUR STARS Outstanding Recording TWO STARS Above Average |
| THREE STARS Great Listening ONE STAR Just OK |
| DAVE GRUSIN PRESENTS WEST SIDE STORY (1997) Dave Grusin The noted film composer takes on the Bernstein score accompanied by a roster of special guests. |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1959) Members of the Original London Cast Don McKay, Marlys Watters Lawrence Leonard, Conductor The romantic leads from the Original London Cast perform four songs from the score. |
| Alice Cooper |
| WEST SIDE STORY (1995) Leandro Amato, Annalena Lombardi Richard Parrinello, Conductor Italian lyrics by Michelle Renzullo Italian cast recording. |
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| Michael Crawford |
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| John Williams & The Boston Pops |
| Cal Tjader |
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| Roger Williams |
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| Earl Hines |
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| WEST SIDE STORY "YOU SING THE HITS" (2004) The National Symphony Orchestra, John Owen Edwards, Conductor and members of the 1993 Leicester Haymarket cast (Disc Two) While it's easy to dismiss this and other karaoke discs as mere props for a party or Happy Hour stunt, resisting the urge to sing along with this recording will provide the listener a rare and quite remarkable opportunity to hear the score exactly as it is played in the theater, without the lyrics. Yet another testament to the astounding genius of Leonard Bernstein, this package also includes an alternative presentation with the customary vocals. |
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A PLACE FOR US A Tribute to 50 Years of West Side Story (2007) Various Artists This compilation of historical recordings from the archives of Columbia and RCA as performed by Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Andy Williams, et.al, also includes a new version of "Tonight" sung by Kristen Chenoweth and Hugh Panaro, Eldar’s jazz-piano rendition of “Cool,” as well as a previously unreleased "Gee, Officer Krupke" by Andre Previn and company. Recorded at different times over the course of almost the full fifty-year stretch and performed in a variety of styles, this uneven collection is more likely to please fans of the artists than fans of the musical. |
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WEST SIDE STORY (2007) Hayley Westenra, Vittorio Grigolo, Melanie Marshall, Will Martin, Connie Fisher Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Nick Ingman, Conductor The score that expertly embraces several musical genres is once again turned over to classical artists for this ambitious fiftieth anniversary tribute album. This black-tie performance of the blue-jeans score succeeds only occasionally—specifically, perhaps predictably, in the love songs performed by the romantic leads—and in the tender solo rendition of “Somewhere.” |
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| WEST SIDE STORY 2009 Broadway Revival Cast Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, Karen Olivo, Cody Green, George Akram; Patrick Vaccariello, Conductor As is frequently the case, the cast recording of this so-called "radical" revival has as its star the Bernstein music. The exception to the otherwise uninspired vocal presentation is an exciting "Quintet," an electrifying rendition whose freshness is only partly due to the introduction of Spanish lyrics. |
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| WEST SIDE STORY SUITE (2001) Joshua Bell An extraordinary presentation by the virtuoso violinist |
| Grammy winner! |
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| Grammy Winner! |