The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
#1The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/18/20 at 6:33pm
"Maria" from WEST SIDE STORY is my all-time favorite song written for a Broadway musical. When it is sung right it always moves me to tears. With that being said my favorite part of this song is the Bb4. What's the Bb4 you ask? Well, here is a video named, "The Maria Bb4 Challenge from West Side Story" featuring some of our favorites scaling to the heights of this vocal peak, watch it and you'll know what the Bb4 is. So disappointed it was never sung like this on the Original Broadway Cast recording or even the 1961 film version, and I am curious if it will be sung this way for the upcoming remake.
In any event, here is the video for you to enjoy, and if you care to let me know who you felt was the best in hitting the "Bb4".
Looking forward to reading your comments and if you have any other videos of singers hitting the perfect Bb4 please post them to this thread!
I'm all ears!
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#2The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/18/20 at 7:18pm
I was there that lovely New Year's Eve three years ago, and I knew how incredibly talented Aaron was but when he sung this song it was just otherworldly. The applause was well earned. Wowza!
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#4The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/18/20 at 8:07pm
Oooh, very nice choices Sutton Ross, I especially love Aaron Tveit's rendition...I re-watched it 3 times!
Sutton Ross
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#5The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/18/20 at 9:49pm
He's soooo dreamy! Haha. Thank you so much for creating this post, bb. All of those men (with the exception of one dude who didn't have the range) were SENSATIONAL!!!!
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#6The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/18/20 at 10:38pm
I love Julian Ovenden's performance of the song. He makes it all look effortless.
Julian Ovenden's complete performance of Maria
chewy5000
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/1/09
#7The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/19/20 at 7:16amSondheim mentioned this in an interview, even though Bernstein wrote the role for a tenor, apparently they just couldn't find anyone believable, hence why they ended up casting a lyric baritone.
#8The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/19/20 at 1:10pm
morosco said: "I love Julian Ovenden's performance of the song. He makes it all look effortless.
Julian Ovenden's complete performance of Maria"
I love, love, love Julian Ovenden and his rendition of "Maria". I wish my name was Maria...lol
#9The Maria Bb4 Challenge from "West Side Story"
Posted: 11/20/20 at 11:12am
I go either way with how people sing Maria. I understand and agree entirely with Bernstein choosing to have the melody shoot up to the Bb4 to represent Tony's astronomical excitement/love for Maria, it's very cathartic. But I think so long as the singer is hitting the peak of their tessitura, it accomplishes the same sensation. Therefore, I don't mind Larry Kert doing a lower option because his G (I think?) feels the same as the Bb4 due to his baritone range.
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