What a wonderful thread brought back up.
Bernstein was an absolute genius, and I get frustrated when his name isn't brought up with the greatest composers for musical theatre, though I've learned that comes from not writing as many musicals as Rodgers or Sondheim. Still frustrates me though.
To me, West Side Story is without a doubt the greatest Broadway score of all time. The score is a drama onto itself, and if you study the way the music creates the drama, only Porgy & Bess is in the same level. But I've said much about that in the past.
I love Candide, and from the different productions I've seen, I think the original was actually the best. I know they kept trying to "fix" it, and changed it and stuff, but I think the original just tells the story the best. And of course, another amazing score. You talk about a song that induces major chills, look no further than "Make Our Garden Grow." And just such a great all-around score, conveying everything the musical wants -- from the "Best of All Possible Words" to the rougher times. A through-in-through brilliant opera.
On the Town is amazing considering how early it came along in musical theatre history. This thread has been compared to Rodgers, and I think it's amazing that On The Town came along when Oklahoma! was the only musical that came out of the Rodgers & Hammerstein cannon (In my opinion, On the Town is certainly the superior musical, but then R&H's best, Carousel, came out just after). The musical certainly tells a story, and the way the music is used as a symphony for all the dance pieces, it' s just beautiful. From the comedy to the longing, to the denying of the sadness of "Some Other Time" and what a lullaby to New York -- a hell of a town!
(Admittently, I am not as familiar as Wonderful Town, Peter Pan or 1600 Pennnsylvania Avenue as I should be, I hope to remedy that in the future)
I, for one, LOVE Trouble in Tahiti, not just admire. I would love to see a live production, but I have only seen one of the video versions. Still, what they did in that video was brilliant -- the way the first song/opening credits portrays the idea that this is your classic, suburban '50s, happy family, and then you get into the opera and...yeah. "A Quiet Place" is just a song that gives me chils, and again, it seems as the kind of opera that not many people would think of making a good subject. I've only listened to "A Quiet Place," but it does seem as though TIT is the better piece. I love the additional songs and stories, but I think TIT stands out best as a one-act.
I saw Mass at Carnegie Hall and was so impressed with its symphonic quality -- loved "A Simple Song," loved the question the priest faces about faith, and was really impressed with the variety in the music. Only Bernstein could pull off such a variety.
Suffice, to say, I love Bernstein, he's a genius, and in terms of the question, who in the world that you haven't met would you love to have a meal with, alive or dead, my answer without a doubt would be Bernstein.
"If there was a Mount Rushmore for Broadway scores, "West Side Story" would be front and center. It snaps, it crackles it pops! It surges with a roar, its energy and sheer life undiminished by the years" - NYPost reviewer Elisabeth Vincentelli
