Stephen Sondheim
Posted by: Tam on 09 September 2008
This forum doesn't appear to have the biggest fan base so far as musical theatre is concerned, unless it's passed me by, which is entirely possible since I'm not a huge fan of the genre either. However, in the last couple of years I've seen a few pieces that have prompted me to buy a couple of recordings.
The first piece of Sondheim I came across in full was Sweeny Todd in a production at the Royal Opera House at Christmas a few years back - it has a rather more operatic score than a lot of Sondheim and so worked very well (I'm also told that the recent film was very good though I haven't got round to it yet). I have picked up the CD of the original cast recording, and will probably discuss it later in the thread.
The second thing was Marry Me A Little which one of the youth theatre companies brought to the Fringe venue I help run at the Edinburgh festival last year. An odd piece, made up of songs cut from other works, and yet woven together into a moving story (and with what in my view is one of the more sexually charged numbers I've heard in any genre). Again, I've picked up the original cast (and, indeed, only) recording.
However, what prompted this splurge of buying was another amateur production again at the Edinburgh festival, this time just a few weeks ago. The Durham University Light Opera Group brought Assassins. It has never enjoyed commercial success in the states, the original production didn't run long, and the broadway revival was shelved as it was originally stated to go on just after 9/11. When it did make it to broadway in 2004 it again didn't last long. It tells the story of those who have either assassinated or tried to assassinate a president of America (which, along with things like John Wilkes Booth singing "damn you Lincoln" probably explains why). The songs and text is wonderfully sarcastic and subversive.
I've picked up recordings of both the original and the broadway (as both have actors who I very much admire).
So far I've only listened to the original and already comparison to the amateurs is interesting. The 'proprietor' of the bar where all the assassins meet is rather weak (character wise, rather than vocally) on the recording. It's also a shame that all we're getting is the songs and not the text, as much of the context goes with it. Victor Garber is excellent though as John Wilkes Booth as is Patrick Cassidy as the Balladeer (though in fairness so to was Durham's, but they provided no programme so I cannot credit him). Of course, in many ways the recording is superior - for example nearly every word is clear in the fast paced chorus number where the crowd describe how thanks to their quick thinking each save Roosevelt.
So, anyone else here like Sondheim?
regards, Tam
The first piece of Sondheim I came across in full was Sweeny Todd in a production at the Royal Opera House at Christmas a few years back - it has a rather more operatic score than a lot of Sondheim and so worked very well (I'm also told that the recent film was very good though I haven't got round to it yet). I have picked up the CD of the original cast recording, and will probably discuss it later in the thread.
The second thing was Marry Me A Little which one of the youth theatre companies brought to the Fringe venue I help run at the Edinburgh festival last year. An odd piece, made up of songs cut from other works, and yet woven together into a moving story (and with what in my view is one of the more sexually charged numbers I've heard in any genre). Again, I've picked up the original cast (and, indeed, only) recording.
However, what prompted this splurge of buying was another amateur production again at the Edinburgh festival, this time just a few weeks ago. The Durham University Light Opera Group brought Assassins. It has never enjoyed commercial success in the states, the original production didn't run long, and the broadway revival was shelved as it was originally stated to go on just after 9/11. When it did make it to broadway in 2004 it again didn't last long. It tells the story of those who have either assassinated or tried to assassinate a president of America (which, along with things like John Wilkes Booth singing "damn you Lincoln" probably explains why). The songs and text is wonderfully sarcastic and subversive.
I've picked up recordings of both the original and the broadway (as both have actors who I very much admire).
So far I've only listened to the original and already comparison to the amateurs is interesting. The 'proprietor' of the bar where all the assassins meet is rather weak (character wise, rather than vocally) on the recording. It's also a shame that all we're getting is the songs and not the text, as much of the context goes with it. Victor Garber is excellent though as John Wilkes Booth as is Patrick Cassidy as the Balladeer (though in fairness so to was Durham's, but they provided no programme so I cannot credit him). Of course, in many ways the recording is superior - for example nearly every word is clear in the fast paced chorus number where the crowd describe how thanks to their quick thinking each save Roosevelt.
So, anyone else here like Sondheim?
regards, Tam
I don't know, but I'm tempted to try him at some point, simply because our mutual friend Joss is such a big fan! 