Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores a journey to Bernstein's electrifying Symphonic Dances from his musical West Side Story, with stops for Cuba and star-crossed lovers along the way.

Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores a journey to Bernstein's electrifying Symphonic Dances from his ground-breaking musical West Side Story. There are stops for Tchaikovsky's swooning star-crossed lovers, Saint-Saens's sinister Danse Macabre and for a global smash hit from Cuba. Along the way, Rameau gets percussive and there's a nod to Bradley Cooper's 2023 biopic Maestro too.

To listen to this programme (using most smart speakers), just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Music Map.'

1 hour, 29 minutes

Music Played

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Romeo & Juliet: The Dance of the Knights

    Orchestra: The Cleveland Orchestra. Conductor: Lorin Maazel.
    • UME.
  • Craig Armstrong

    Romeo & Juliet: The Balcony Scene

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Bateman.
    • Sony.
  • Charles Gounod

    Je veux vivre

    Singer: Renée Fleming. Orchestra: Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Decca.
  • Duke Ellington

    The Star-Crossed Lovers

    Ensemble: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra.
    • Columbia / Legacy.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Romeo & Juliet: Love Theme

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Semyon Bychkov.
    • Decca.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Danse Macabre

    Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Keith Clark.
    • Naxos.
  • Björn Ulvaeus

    The Winner Takes It All

    Composer: Benny Andersson. Singer: Solveig Slettahjell.
    • Universal.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Candide (Overture)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • DG.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F minor: II Largo

    Performer: Lukas Foss. Ensemble: Elysium String Quartet.
    • ELYSIUM.
  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Zais (Overture)

    Ensemble: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.
    • L’oiseau Lyre.
  • Aaron Copland

    Fanfare for the Common Man

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: John Wilson.
    • Chandos.
  • Meredith Monk

    Ellis Island

    Performer: Katia & Marielle Labèque. Performer: Bryce Dessner. Performer: David Chalmin.
    • Decca.
  • Buena Vista Social Club

    Chan Chan

    Ensemble: Buena Vista Social Club.
    • World Circuit.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.
    • Sony Classical.

Broadcast

  • Sun 7 Dec 202513:30