“Maria” and “Tonight”–Love Versus the Reality of Immigration

In the last post, we said that today we would start with two of the great love songs of all time, “Maria” and “Tonight.” In the featured image, we are showing you a picture of Jerome Robbins rehearsing the dancers, with Chita Rivera at his side. Please click on the link so that we can share with you various renditions of the two love songs, after which, we will close with an immigrant’s anthem–“America.”

In the gym, over the sound of the cha-cha version of “Maria,” Tony and Maria meet and hold hands, then gently kiss. They cannot believe that they have both fallen in love in one instant. However, they are soon separated by Bernardo; but, as Bernardo sends her home with an escort, he calls her by name. Tony hears the name for the first time and cannot stop repeating it, over and over, as though it was a prayer. He had expected something big; he got a miracle; so perhaps the name is a prayer, a prayer of thanksgiving. Don’t be put off by the following audio clip, featuring Larry Kert singing, “Maria.” Yes, it will show pictures of the cast from the movie, but trust us, this is Larry Kert from the original cast recording.

We would like you to appreciate Kert’s incredible performance in 1957 by comparing it to two other versions. First, we have a clip from Jerry Hadley’s performance with the Boston Pops (yes, that is John Williams conducting) in 1992. Recall that Hadley was a beloved tenor with the Met.

Next, we have the version sung by Jose Carreras in the 1984 PBS special. Again, Carreras was an internationally renowned tenor at the time.

Tony feels that he must see Maria again; must be sure she exists; must tell her that he loves her. He goes to her apartment building and calls to her from the street. She appears but cautions him to be quiet. She tells him that there is “Nothing else but you, ever.” He replies and tells her that “there is nothing for me but Maria.” She is his miracle. Watch as Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert declare their undying love on her balcony, from the Ed Sullivan show recording.

We can appreciate just how good Lawrence and Kert were in 1957 when we compare their performance with the duet in 1984 between Kiri Te Kanawa, the internationally acclaimed soprano, and tenor, Jose Carreras.

Maria and Tony plan to meet the next day at the bridal shop where Maria works. But as Tony and Maria part, a verbal fight breaks out among the occupants of the apartment building. Anita is tired of hearing Bernardo complaining about discrimination against Puerto Ricans in New York City, but Bernardo and others continue to complain and to brag about the riches that they will have when they return to San Juan. Anita has had enough and tells them so in a wonderful song, called “America.” We have a clip from the 1984 PBS special.

This brings us to the conclusion of today’s post; we hope that you are enjoying the music as much as we are. In our next post, we will conclude our look at West Side Story. In many ways, we will be sad to see this exploration end.