West Side Story is Leonard Bernstein’s answer to America’s critical question: how can American musical culture compete with the European history of opera?

The musical is in many ways, alongside jazz, America’s greatest musical achievement, and Bernstein here weaves this history together with broader symphonic traditions in Europe. The music, at times fiendishly well conceived, as with the famous polyrhythmic pulse of “America”, reflects Bernstein’s twin identity: as a pioneer for the Austro-German musical tradition, and as a decidedly American composer.

The plot of West Side Story is a tale as old as time, based as it is on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. No Montagues and Capulets here, though: rather, we have the Jets and the Sharks. And instead of feuding families, Bernstein writes of the racial divides between the American Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks. While the main story, of Tony (a Jet) and Maria (a Shark) falling in star-cross’d and ill-fated love, is the emotional heart of the piece, the subthemes of police violence and racism similarly resound with modern audiences.

Opera Australia’s brilliant dancers turned out in full force for this production, with revival choreography by Kiira Schmidt Carper. Mesmerizing dance routines take place throughout the whole performance. A particular highlight was the famous quintet, “Tonight”, with the music curling round different characters as they prepare for a night that will change their lives forever.

Watch trailer here.