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8 Performance-Ready Scores for Leonard Bernstein - West Side Story

How did Bernstein blend jazz and classical music to redefine the American musical in West Side Story?

West Side Story is a landmark musical, modernizing Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet into a tale of rival gangs in 1950s New York. Bernstein's score combines symphonic complexity with jazz, Latin rhythms, and Broadway showtunes.

How did Leonard Bernstein reimagine Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for 1950s New York?

West Side Story is a landmark American musical that transposes the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet to a backdrop of gang rivalry between Puerto Rican and white working-class communities in Manhattan.

What groundbreaking dance scene made the Mambo from West Side Story iconic?

The electrifying "Mambo" from Bernstein's West Side Story revolutionized musical theatre by blending Latin jazz rhythms with symphonic complexity. Its frenetic energy captures the Sharks vs. Jets rivalry through driving percussion and brass.

What Shakespearean tragedy inspired the plot of West Side Story?

A groundbreaking musical blending jazz, classical, and Latin rhythms, West Side Story reimagines Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York, exploring themes of love and gang violence.

How did Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet inspire the plot of West Side Story?

West Side Story is a landmark American musical that reimagines the Romeo and Juliet tragedy in 1950s New York, blending jazz, Latin, and classical motifs. Its orchestral "Selection" highlights key themes like "Maria" and "America".

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