"Tonight" was originally composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. I wish I’d had a chance to share it with these masterful creators before they left this world. It’s wonderful to finally be able to realize the arrangement that I’ve had in my head since I first saw West Side Story as a kid. I realize then and now that Bernstein wanted to reflect the excitement and anticipation of young love. But since both Tony and Maria have already had some very hard times, and we know the story so well, I always felt it could be more restrained, rich, and melancholy. Like, “finally, I found someone I really love, but who knows what will happen.” It is Romeo and Juliet, after all.
lyrics
Tonight, tonight
It all began tonight
I saw you and the world went away
Tonight, tonight
There’s only you tonight
What you are, what you do, what you say
Today, all day I had the feeling
A miracle would happen
I know now I was right
For here you are
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight
Tonight, tonight
The world is full of light
With suns and moons all over the place
Tonight, tonight
The world is wild and bright
Going mad, shooting sparks into space
Today the world was just an address
A place for me to live in
No better than all right
But here you are
And what was just a world is a star
Tonight
credits
from Tonight,
released October 20, 2023
Originally written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondhiem
Arranged, orchestrated, and sung by Anton du Preez
Soprano Saxophone: Jason Gay
Piano: Damian Martin
Drums: Gabriel Giannelli
Orchestra: Budapest Scoring
Mixing by Pascal Pahl
Mastering by Oli Morgan at Abbey Road Studios
Album art by Timothy Scahill