Overview

• Gustavo Dudamel conducted a semi-staged symphonic version of West Side Story at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu on July 29, concluding the opera house’s season.
• The expanded orchestration mirrored Bernstein’s 1984 recording by incorporating drums, electric and Spanish guitars, mandolin, Latin percussion and jazz instruments.
• Soprano Nadine Sierra’s performance as María was praised for musicality and dramatic depth, while tenor Juan Diego Flórez won ovations in his debut as Tony after perfecting his English accent.
• Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky made an unannounced appearance on “Somewhere,” drawing a standing ovation and highlighting the concert’s cross-genre collaborations.
• Dudamel framed the production as an enduring allegory for global immigration tensions, underlining West Side Story’s continued social and political relevance.