Friday, February 02, 2007

Maria: Bernstein and Carreras

This is a fascinating clip of Leonard Bernstein rehearsing Jose Carreras in the 1984 recording of West Side Story. As an amateur musician, it's interesting to watch the pettiness and egoism creep in while two masters struggle to get the performance perfect. Carreras is one of the "Three Tenors" and I always thought he was the best of the three, the least bloated musically and physically (and he is hot here in his five 0'clock shadow -- I seem to be developing a thing for the slightly unshaven). The one thing that drives me nuts, though, is Carreras' emphasis of the last syllable of "never," as in "nev-URR." Ugh.

This is a long clip, but worth watching to the end.

1 comment:

Matty said...

After we get through the bickering and the egos, it ends beautifully. I have chills and a few tears. Thanks KSB.