LEONARD BERNSTEIN- Page 2

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/13/03 at 12:02pm

WEST SIDE STORY

his score is a haunting masterpiece.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 6:26am

I'm bumping this because I have the opportunity to see Trouble in Tahiti next month, which I know little about and haven't heard the score for, and was wondering if anyone here had seen it and what their thoughts were?



If nothing else, it seems to have a good marketing image.

[binau]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 6:46am

Oh my god. It's possible to bump topics from so long ago? Amazing!!

Updated On: 6/5/10 at 06:46 AM

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 8:30am

It is a great image, but (POSSIBLE SPOILER) it sends the wrong messages about the family.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 8:33am

Oh, how I miss the posts from Miriam!

[Miriam4]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 11:12am

Still here - under a different name. have not posted in a long time, received a lot of nasty responses, got tired, then said what the hell, who is going to scare an old lady. Was in NY recently, saw my beloved NYC Ballet and cried through most of the Balanchine ballets. You never forget genius!!!I'll be 90 next year, but still in good shape, can type, have ny marbles and can even do a great Powerpoint presentation.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 11:16am

LOL @ Powerpoint. Go Miriam!

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 6/5/10 at 1:24pm

Composed the greatest musical ever written...'nuff said.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 4:54am

Happy to have effected a reunion!

Thanks Chewy - I don't mind spoilers - the more I know about something before I go into the theatre the more I appreciate what I see when I'm there.

Do we know if I should expect a more operatic score than his musical theatre repertoire?

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 6:45am

The score is a cross between musical and opera, however it will most likely be sung in an operatic style, which suits the music better.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 9:54am

Leonard Bernstein was a genius, excelling in so many fields. I find all of his Broadway shows accessible and my favorite is his first, ON THE TOWN. If you don't have a recording, get the studio cast CD with Bernstein conducting--it contains all of the dance music.

Some of his concert music is accessible, particularly the seldom performed "Chichester Psalms" for chorus and orchestra. For me, Bernstein's "Mass" is problematic and can only be appreciated by seeing a live performance. It is a self indulgent work and does not bear repeated hearings.

I thoroughly enjoyed his biography written by Humphrey Burton. You will learn all you need to know about this 20th century giant.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 3:07pm

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.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 4:02pm

"...would you love to have a meal with, alive or dead, my answer without a doubt would be Bernstein."

I would agree, but he'd probably hate me...he was good at that!

[sparrman]

Posted: 6/6/10 at 6:53pm

Trouble in Tahiti is great, as accessible as anything Bernstein ever wrote for Broadway. My choice would be musical theatre singers with voices on the legit side, as the words are very important, and most recordings of Tahiti are ruined by clueless opera singers. Don't get me started on the TERRIBLE video version with Novacek and Daymond, it has a huge cut in the middle, eliminating an entire duet. The piece is only 45 minutes already! Shun the video like the plague.