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Review by wilbur June 7, 2014 (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
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This is magnificent. Everything in the main detailed review is true, but mostly the main characters now sound believable in a non-operatic way (which tarnished Bernstein's own 1984 version). It would be easy to go too far the other way and have the main characters sound like Musical Theater belters, but that is not the case here either. The singing is wonderful and beautifully in tune. The playing is absolutely first-rate.
So, finally a West Side that sounds right, and what an amazing score it is.
The recording is excellent. It does not sound like an acoustic performance, and there is a great deal of use of left-right balance extremes (Tony and Maria's duets, for example have Maria strongly in the left channel and Tony in the right), but this actually helps the dialogue, in particular, become actually more emotionally engaging. Back channels are discreet.
This is not cheap, but its worth it! Enthusiastically recommended!
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Review by Luukas June 10, 2014 (4 of 6 found this review helpful)
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Wow, this is absolutely the best recording of Bernstein's much-loved musical "West Side Story". Bernstein's own recording with excellent vocal casts (Carreras, Kanawa, Horne, Oltmann) was the only "complete" version of this work. But this includes many unheard instrumental intermezzos and entr'actes, so this is the original full Broadway score.
It is interesting, that this recording is made in several concerts at the Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco. The singers are young excellent soloist, and SFS plays magnificently: the result is outstanding.
Avie label's recording quality is also outstanding (it surrounds the listener) and the booklet and two SACDs are packaged beautifully. Excellent purchase of all Bernstein fans!
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