Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday Prom
Tonight both Jane and I watched the Stephen Sondheim 80th Birthday Prom that was shown on BBC2. It was astonishing, really. Both of us know the vast majority of the music involved, even if not by name, as his music is all pervasive. It gets everywhere. We may not have seen the shows, but we've definitely heard the music.
Sondheim is not a name that everybody knows, I suppose. If you're involved in music in any way it really should be. As the lyricist for "West Side Story", composer for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Sweeney Todd" and "Sunday in the Park with George" (among many others) he has influence in all aspects of musical theatre.
I first came across his music in 2007 or so, when Jane and I were in London and stuck for something to do one evening. We came across "Sunday in the Park with George" playing at the Wyndham's Theatre and she persuaded me (it really isn't that hard) that we should see it. It was an amazing performance, with Jenna Russel and Daniel Evans playing the lead roles and I was hooked immediately. We immediately bought the cast recording and I've listened to it regularly ever since - I love the music so much! It has many layers of complexity, yet done in a very simple way while also being a nightmare to try and sing - it's discordant in parts and the timing is a bitch.
After this we saw the film adaptation of Sweeney Todd. Jane now has 3 separate versions of Sweeney Todd cast recordings - the original cast, the Michael Cerveris/Patti LuPone revival and the film version. She insists that the only one worth listening to is the original with Angela Lansbury. Personally, I see they all have their high points and low points but prefer the Michael Cerveris/Patti LuPone version.
Back to the point... the music performed at the prom was:
Sondheim is not a name that everybody knows, I suppose. If you're involved in music in any way it really should be. As the lyricist for "West Side Story", composer for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Sweeney Todd" and "Sunday in the Park with George" (among many others) he has influence in all aspects of musical theatre.
I first came across his music in 2007 or so, when Jane and I were in London and stuck for something to do one evening. We came across "Sunday in the Park with George" playing at the Wyndham's Theatre and she persuaded me (it really isn't that hard) that we should see it. It was an amazing performance, with Jenna Russel and Daniel Evans playing the lead roles and I was hooked immediately. We immediately bought the cast recording and I've listened to it regularly ever since - I love the music so much! It has many layers of complexity, yet done in a very simple way while also being a nightmare to try and sing - it's discordant in parts and the timing is a bitch.
After this we saw the film adaptation of Sweeney Todd. Jane now has 3 separate versions of Sweeney Todd cast recordings - the original cast, the Michael Cerveris/Patti LuPone revival and the film version. She insists that the only one worth listening to is the original with Angela Lansbury. Personally, I see they all have their high points and low points but prefer the Michael Cerveris/Patti LuPone version.
Back to the point... the music performed at the prom was:
- The Frogs Fanfare and Instructions to the Audience
- Follies Overture, Broadway Baby, Too Many Mornings
- Sunday in the Park with George Sunday in the Park with George, Move On
- Into the Woods Agony, Children will listen
- A Little Night Music Night Waltz (orchestral), Send in the Clowns, A Weekend in the Country
- Sweeney Todd Prelude (organ), The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, Epiphany, A Little Priest
- Company Being Alive
- A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum Everybody Ought to have a Maid
- Merrily We Roll Along Our Time
- Sunday In The Park with George Act 1 Finale 4
- Company Side by Side
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