Leonard Bernstein's New York / Mandy Patinkin, Dawn Upshaw, Donna Murphy
Leonard Bernstein's New Yorkis a video companion to the 1996CD of the same name, which collects songs from the three Broadway musicals Bernstein wrote that were set in--and celebrate--New York City:West Side Story,On the Town, andWonderful Town.  In the documentary, the singers--Mandy Patinkin, Judy Blazer, Donna Murphy, Audra McDonald, Richard Muenz, and Dawn Upshaw, the most glorious voices in musical theater at the time--explain their affinity for Bernstein's music and how it captures the heart and soul of the city.  Additional comments by Bernstein scholars and director Hal Prince are interspersed with songs performed by the singers in evocative New York locales--Patinkin singing "Some Other Time" at Coney Island, Blazer driving Patinkin in a cab in "Come Up to My Place"--in the recording studio, or alongside pianist Eric Stern (who also conducted the orchestral numbers)--such as Murphy in a slinky yellow gown torching up "Ain't Got No Tears Left" or Upshaw making "Lonely Town" one of the most achingly beautiful things you'll ever hear.  The music is so good, the only thing a viewer could wish for would be more of it.--David Horiuchi