“West Side Story” at the Bowl

One performance remains for West Side Story — possibly the greatest musical ever created, now being given a dynamic concert treatment at the Hollywood Bowl.

A modern version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the story is set on the mean streets of New York during the turbulent fifties. An exceptional musical, this production boasts a gifted young cast and an experienced orchestra, and is handsomely presented and full of vitality, grace and passion.

Leading the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel conducts the soaring music by Leonard Bernstein, matched by tender lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, gripping story and book by Arthur Laurents — here is a case where the confluence of exceptional talents created magic; West Side Story is “lightning in a bottle.” (The movie version features brilliant and ground-breaking choreography by Jerome Robbins.)

This music is so glorious in so many ways, from American Pastoral themes to Jazzy swing to raunchy burlesque tunes contrasted with sweet romance. Crisp and precise conducting from Dudamel is complemented by superb sound mixing. The electric and super-fast tempo of the Mambo sequence demonstrates the expert Latin chops from the LA Phil. 

The exquisite voices from this young cast max out the emotion of this marvelous work. All in all, the superlative musicianship and vocals makes up for the absence of Jerome Robbins’ outstanding choreography.

There is a very nice and simple staging of performers on a raised catwalk, upstage of the orchestra which very effective apart from the strange staging that has the guys mask the violent action of the rumble.

Don’t miss this show!

“West Side Story”

Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 8PM

Based on a Conception of JEROME ROBBINS

Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS

Music by LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM

Conducted by GUSTAVO DUDAMEL

Los Angeles Philharmonic

Los Angeles Master Chorale

         Grant Gershon, artistic director

David Saint, book director

Solea Pfeiffer, Maria

Jeremy Jordan, Tony

Karen Olivo, Anita

George Akram, Bernardo

Matthew James Thomas, Riff

Drew Foster, Action

Kyle Selig, Baby John

Anthony Chatmon II, A-rab

Mike Schwitter, Big Deal

Jennifer Sanchez, Rosalia

Brit West, Francisca

Erica Dorfler, Consuela

Julia Bullock, A Girl

Jeff Smith, Diesel

Jose Moreno Brooks, Chino

Kevin Chamberlin, Schrank/Doc/Krupke

Principals List

July 14 & 19, 2016

Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor

CONCERTMASTER:                        Martin Chalifour

PRINCIPAL SECOND VIOLIN: Lyndon Taylor

PRINCIPAL CELLO:                        Robert deMaine

PRINCIPAL BASS:                          Christopher Hanulik

PRINCIPAL FLUTE:                        Catherine Ransom Karoly

PRINCIPAL OBOE:                         Marion Arthur Kuszyk

PRINCIPAL CLARINET:          Boris Allakhverdyan

PRINCIPAL BASSOON:         Shawn Mouser

PRINCIPAL HORN:                         Andrew Bain

PRINCIPAL TRUMPET:          Thomas Hooten

TROMBONE:                        James Miller

PRINCIPAL TIMPANI:            Joseph Pereira

PRINCIPAL PERCUSSION:              Raynor Carroll

KEYBOARDS:                       Joanne Pearce Martin

SAXES:                                Daniel Higgins

                                           Gregory Huckins

Damon Zick

GUITAR:                              Paul Viapiano

DRUMSET:                                    Wade Culbreath

For more information, please visit the official site here.

Subscriptions and single tickets for performances during the Hollywood Bowl 2016 summer season are available now at HollywoodBowl.com, or via credit card phone order at 323.850.2000, and in person at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office.

One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922, and plays host to the finest artists from all genres of music. It remains one of the best deals anywhere in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many classical and jazz offerings. The venue offers something for everyone, from its sizzling summer evening concerts to the daytime arts festival for children, “SummerSounds: World Music for Kids at the Hollywood Bowl.” In February 2016, the Hollywood Bowl was named Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue for the twelfth year in a row at the 27th Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards. For millions of music lovers across Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with summer. www.HollywoodBowl.com