一听音乐网

　　今年是宏伟的美国音乐剧《西区故事》50周年生日。为纪念此，UCJ (Universal Classis & Jazz) 在新世纪重新录制了《西区故事》，此次50周年诞辰之际重新演绎托尼和玛丽娅绝不是简单的翻演。天才的演员们必须年轻，充满热情以演好这部倍受喜爱的音乐剧，并配得上曾经拥有的名誉。因此由谁来出演担当如此的荣誉？当今古典跨界的两位最年轻的耀眼明星—— Vittorio (饰演 Tony) 和 Hayley Westenra (饰演 Maria)，给你带来最神秘美妙的音乐。与二位同台演出的还有 Connie Fisher 饰演西区之星，新兴跨界巨星 Will Martin 饰演 Riff。

　　至今为止最受赞誉的音乐剧《西区故事》是以罗密欧与朱丽叶为蓝本创作的。是少数几个永不过时的音乐剧之一，至今仍旧受到大众喜爱。在其50周年诞生之际，环球公司集结了世界上最著名的古典跨接歌手，全新录制了这一璀璨耀眼的音乐剧。

　　这一版本里，来自新西兰的歌手 Hayley Westenra 领衔主演女主角玛丽亚，其搭档将由意大利男高音 Vittorio Grigolo 扮演。其他明星包括 Connie Fisher 和 Melanie Marshall（目前正领衔主演歌剧Porgy and Bess）。如此光鲜年轻的演员阵容，能好的表现罗密欧与朱丽叶、玛丽亚与托尼，永恒的旋律也将注定使之成为新世纪里《西区故事》爱好者的最佳选择！

A 2007 recording is being released by UCJ (Universal Classics & Jazz) in honor of West Side Story's 50th anniversary. This album stars Hayley Westenra as Maria and Vittorio Grigolo as Tony. The Bernstein Foundation in New York has authorized the recording

ONE of the most popular musicals of all time has had a makeover. This 50th Anniversary recording features Hayley Westenra as Maria, Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo as her forbidden beau, Tony and our very own Maria from The Sound Of Music, Connie Fisher - as the girl.

Slick and nostalgic, this album stays true to the original version in every other respect. The timeless, classic tunes such as Maria, Tonight and I Feel Pretty all sound very fresh and incredibly moving as the production values are extremely high.

Made with authorisation of the Leonard Bernstein foundation in New York, this is no mere cash in. You are reminded of the epic nature of the original recording.

Westenra

The only problem for me is the inclusion of new stars Westenra and Fisher. They just do not sound experienced enough to take you on the epic journey. Somewhere, for example is a huge, sweeping song, designed to get the tear ducts flowing.

But in Fisher's hands, it sounds very workmanlike and robotic. Technically she is superb, but she fails to move you like she should.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra more than make up for this lack of emotion as they play beautifully, giving the album the cinematic treatment that it deserves.

Worth a listen if you own no other version.