This program features the music of Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim in a 1992 performance at Carnegie Hall. An American Musical Theatre writer for over 40 years, Stephen Sondheim has created the scores for hits such as Passion, Assassins, Bounce, Into The Woods, Sunday In The Park With George, Merrily We Roll Along, Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures. Featuring: Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Glenn Close and many more.

西区是纽约的贫民窟集中地。那里有两个少年流氓集团。一个叫“火箭”，由白人组成，头目是里弗，一个叫“鲨鱼”，由波多黎各人，头头是贝尔纳尔多。两帮势不两立。经常挑衅格斗，酿成流血事件。
　　一天夜里，西区举行了一场规模颇大的舞会。两个团伙之间展开了一场独特的“竞赛”，在众人的呼喊声中，里弗的好友托尼和贝尔纳尔多的妹妹玛丽亚相遇。两人一见钟情，就象在梦中似的一起跳着舞。贝尔纳尔多发现了他们，他暴跳如雷地扑过来，强行让手下带走了玛丽亚。
　　回到了家的玛丽亚正准备上床，忽然听见有人在呼唤她。她走近窗口，又见到了托尼。第二天，玛丽亚听说“鲨鱼”将和“火箭”决斗，便希望托尼去阻止他们。托尼答应了她。
　　晚上，“鲨鱼”和“火箭”在街头相遇。两伙人正准备动手，托尼匆匆赶到，他试图阻止他们之间的斗殴，但贝尔纳尔多却不理睬，还一拳把托尼打倒在地。里弗见状，便动了手。当里弗用刀逼住了贝尔纳尔多时，托尼要里弗停手。里弗稍一犹豫，但贝尔纳尔多的刀先捅进了里弗的胸膛。托尼奔过去抱住了里弗。贝尔纳尔多又持刀向他刺来，托尼眼明手快，拿起里弗的刀刺进了贝尔纳尔多的胸口。
　　玛丽亚对此十分伤心。贝尔纳尔多的女朋友用最污秽的话骂她，责备她，但她始终忘不了托尼。托尼不知从哪儿获悉玛丽亚忧思而想轻生，便陷入绝望。贝尔纳尔多生前曾希望妹妹嫁给他的好友奇诺。可奇诺看到玛丽亚钟爱的竟是杀兄的仇敌，一时狂怒之下，身藏手枪去找托尼算帐。玛丽亚得知之后迅速赶到托尼处报信，但就在这一刹那间，奇诺的枪响了，无情的子弹夺去了托尼的生命。玛丽亚悲痛欲绝……

Place: Stockholm, Sweden or Boston, Massachusetts
Time: March 1792 in Sweden or the end of the 17th century in Boston
Act 1
Scene 1: A public audience at Riccardo's palace, attended by his supporters, but also by his enemies who hope for his demise.
Riccardo (Gustavo) reviews the list of guests who will attend an upcoming masked ball. He is elated to see the name of the woman he loves on the list – Amelia, the wife of his friend and advisor, Renato (Count Anckarström). (Aria: La rivedrò nell'estasi / "There I will be in ecstasy to see her again"). When Renato arrives, he tries to warn Riccardo about the growing conspiracy against him (aria: Alla vita che t'arride / "Your life, so full of joy and hope"), but Riccardo refuses to listen to his words.
Next, Riccardo is presented with a complaint against a fortune-teller named Ulrica (Madame Arvidson), accused of witchcraft. A magistrate calls for her banishment, but Oscar the page defends her (Aria: Volta la terrea / "Turning her eyes from the earth"). Riccardo resolves to investigate for himself and tells the members of the court to disguise themselves and to meet him at Ulrica's lodging later that day.
Scene 2: At Ulrica's dwelling
Ulrica summons her magical powers: Re dell'abisso, affrettati / "King of the abyss, make haste". Disguised as a fisherman, Riccardo arrives before the others. He makes the fortune of a sailor named Silvano come true by spiriting a document of promotion into his pouch, convincing the crowd of the truth of Ulrica's powers. When he realizes that Amelia is coming to see Ulrica, he hides and watches. Alone with Ulrica, Amelia confesses that she is tormented by her love for Riccardo, and asks for a means to bring peace to her heart. Ulrica tells her to gather a certain herb with magical powers; Riccardo resolves to be there when she does so. Amelia leaves.
Now Riccardo presents himself again, along with all of the courtiers, and asks to have his fortune told. (Aria: Di' tu se fedele / "Tell me if the sea awaits me faithfully"). Ulrica reveals that he will be killed by the next man who shakes his hand. He laughingly dismisses her prophecy and offers his hand to the courtiers, who refuse to take it. Renato arrives and shakes Riccardo's hand in greeting. Riccardo's true identity is now revealed and he is acclaimed by the people.
Act 2
On the outskirts of the town, at the gallows-place. Midnight
Amelia, conquering her fears, has come here alone to pick the herb of which Ulrica told her (Aria: Ma dall'arido stelo divulsa / "But when I have plucked the herb"). She is surprised by Riccardo, who has come to meet her, and the two finally declare their love for each other.
Unexpectedly, Renato arrives, and Amelia covers her face with her veil before he can recognize her. Renato explains to Riccardo that the conspirators are pursuing him, and his life is in danger. Riccardo leaves, making Renato promise to escort the veiled woman safely back to town, not asking her identity. When the conspirators arrive, they confront Renato; in the struggle, Amelia's veil drops. Renato assumes that Amelia and Riccardo have been involved in an adulterous love affair. He asks the two leaders of the conspiracy, Samuel and Tom, to meet him the next day.
Act 3
Scene 1: Renato's house
Renato has resolved to kill Amelia for the dishonor she has brought on him. She protests her innocence and begs to see her son one last time. (Aria: Morrò, ma prima in grazia / "I will die, but first, a kindness"). Renato relents, and declares that it is Riccardo, not Amelia, who deserves to die (Aria: Eri tu che macchiavi quell'anima / "You were the one who stained her soul").
Samuel (Count Ribbing) and Tom (Count Horn) arrive, and Renato asks to join their plot, pledging the life of his son as proof of his sincerity. They agree to draw lots to decide who will kill Riccardo. Amelia is forced to draw the winning name – Renato.
Oscar, the page, arrives with invitations to the masked ball; Samuel, Tom and Renato agree that this is where the assassination will take place.
Scene 2: The ball
Riccardo, torn between love and duty, has resolved to renounce his love for Amelia and send her and Renato back to England (Aria: Ma se m'è forza perderti / "But if I am forced to lose her").
At the ball, Renato tries to learn from Oscar what costume Riccardo is wearing. Oscar at first refuses to tell (Aria: Saper vorreste / "You want to know"), but he finally answers: a black cloak and a red ribbon. Riccardo manages to identify Amelia and tells her of the decision he has made. As they say goodbye, Renato stabs Riccardo. The wounded Riccardo discloses that though he loved Amelia, she never broke her marriage vows. He pardons all the conspirators, bidding farewell to his friends and his country as he dies.

The 1987 Glyndebourne production of Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges, designed by Maurice Sendak and directed by Frank Corsaro.