Carol J. Oja has written that, "with the 'Tonight' quintet, Bernstein once again created a masterpiece of ensemble, one that rivals the best of such moments in European opera.
In his review of the 1984 studio performance of West Side Story, which was conducted by Bernstein himself, Crutchfield wrote that the release of the recording "is above all an occasion for celebrating one of the great operas of our century.
The Jets and the Sharks are rival gangs anticipating the "rumble" which will settle a territorial feud that has been brewing between them for some time.
The song is used to show anticipation to the coming night, which will end up being the climactic part of the play.
The dramatically contrasting elements in this scene and their corresponding presentation in music have been compared to the trio "Cosa sento!"