Off The Bookshelf UK - DVD Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [1985] (NTSC) Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [1985] (NTSC) New & Used Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [1985] (NTSC)

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Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [1985] (NTSC)
starring: Leonard Bernstein, Kiri Te Kanawa, Josep Carreras, Tatiana Troyanos, Kurt Ollmann
directed by: Christopher Swann

Price: £29.94

Prices subject to change.

Third Party New Price: £29.94

Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Exempt
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0044007301791
Format: NTSC, Colour, DVD-Video, PAL
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
Number Of Discs: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Deutsche Grammophon
Release Date: February 11, 2002
Running Time: 89 minutes
Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
Theatrical Release Date: 1985-05
Sales Rank: 19779

Related Items:

West Side Story (Special Edition) [1961]

Leonard Bernstein - The Gift Of Music [1993]

Editorial Review:

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

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Fantastic.
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.
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Rating:

- A very poor offering for a DVD.
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 ... Read More:

Rating:

- 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. What a disappointment to find this DVD almost identical to that old video recording - blurred, hazy, yellowish-greenish hued, with even the sound not a great deal better! Indeed, I think my old video got it better!!
In these times of restored films and concerts into digital, and with DTS or 5.1 surround re-mixing - plus enlightening "specials", bonuses and exstras on DVD - this meagre 90 min. DVD is a very poor deal. A mere (poor) straight copy from video. With No bonuses and no better technical advantages - this interesting documentary is recommended to only those ... Read More:

Rating:

- 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. One of the singers was suffering from cancer at the time. Bernstein was merciless. The guy has tears in his eyes. I've never been able to admire Bernstein or his music since. This is one of the most terrifying documentaries ever made at a recording session. There are more frightening moments here than you'll find in a Hitchcock movie. Deeply embarrassing. Be warned!

Rating:

- I LOVED IT!
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.
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DVD : Leonard Bernstein conducts West Side Story -- The Making of the Recording [1985] (NTSC)