Leonard Bernstein's 'A West Side Story'

Program Title: Flat Baroque: High Brow Radio by Low Brow Folks
Description: In this episode, we’re doing something just a bit different and instead of Opera, we’ll enjoy the musical West Side Story composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

West Side Story is a Romeo and Juliet inspired story set in mid-century New York’s Upper West side that explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two New York City teenage street gangs. The Sharks are a Puerto Rican gang and the Jets are white. One of the Jets former members Tony, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, leader of their rival, The Sharks. Along with Tony and Maria, the other primary characters include Riff, leader of the Jets and Tony’s best friend, The Sharks leader Bernardo, Anita, Bernardo’s girlfriend, Doc, owner of a neighborhood drugstore and soda shop, Lt. Schrank a cop and Krupke, his partner.

The version of West Side Story we’ll listen to today was performed in 2014 by the San Francisco Symphony and San Francisco Symphony Chorus conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas starring Alexandra Silber and Cheyenne Jackson also known for his television roles in 30 Rock, Glee and American Horror Story.

Host(s): Dinah Jansen
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Listen (h:mm:ss) 1:06:40	West_Side_Story_Pt._2.mp3	Download (10)
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