Stephen Sondheim, Titan of the American Musical, is Dead at 91
Source: New York Times
Stephen Sondheim, one of Broadway historys songwriting titans, whose music and lyrics raised and reset the artistic standard for the American stage musical, died early Friday at his home in Roxbury, Conn. He was 91.
His lawyer and friend, F. Richard Pappas, announced the death, which he described as sudden. The day before, Mr. Sondheim had celebrated Thanksgiving with a dinner with friends in Roxbury, Mr. Pappas said.
An intellectually rigorous artist who perpetually sought new creative paths, Mr. Sondheim was the theaters most revered and influential composer-lyricist of the last half of the 20th century, if not its most popular.
His work melded words and music in a way that enhanced them both. From his earliest successes in the late 1950s, when he wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and Gypsy, through the 1990s, when he wrote the music and lyrics for two audacious musicals, Assassins, giving voice to the men and women who killed or tried to kill American presidents, and Passion, an operatic probe into the nature of true love, he was a relentlessly innovative theatrical force.
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An extraordinary talent. The lights on Broadway are dimmer tonight.
hlthe2b
(101,728 posts)But a bit of a shock to me at least.
You will be remembered. RIP
beaglelover
(3,441 posts)RIP Mr. Sondheim.
elleng
(130,151 posts)Last edited Fri Nov 26, 2021, 07:36 PM - Edit history (1)
https://www.broadway.com/buzz/187716/the-fans-have-spoken-your-top-10-stephen-sondheim-greatest-musicals/My daughter just reminded me that she played Philia in 'Forum' in high school.
2naSalit
(86,056 posts)It was first time I almost peed my pants laughing during a musical.
elleng
(130,151 posts)bahboo
(16,234 posts)gave us so much....
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)He went to the premiere of the revival of Company and to Thanksgiving yesterday.
At least it wasn't due to extended illness.
I suppose that means the hat is finished.
Beartracks
(12,761 posts)RIP Mr. Sondheim.
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forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)About Georges Seurat developing a new technique (pointillism with millions of dots of unblended colors) nobody else ever had tried before and being ridiculed for it "They hung it over the refreshment stand!"
The score and orchestrations for the musical are insanely challenging as Sondheim replicated the pointillist style in the music with frantic staccato rhythms and dissonances that blend in the ear when heard together as a whole. Apparently some musicians called in to play for the show turned it down because they were baffled by the music.
It's probably Sondheim's most personal work, illuminating his philosophy about art, artists/creators, and the obsessive mental state that takes them away from the real world as they choose live in their own and moving on from that. It's a rare show in that the romance with his model/muse gives her the character arc realizing that she cannot be with him and also have what she wants despite their deep connection.
And there's also Sweeney Todd, (I encourage people to listen to outside of the Tim Burton movie which compromises a lot of the score) which is its own terrifying and entertaining beast of a show about obsession and revenge.
forgotmylogin
(7,496 posts)Historians have tried to decipher the odd collage of characters and objects in the arrangement of the painting, which is the set of the musical over which George wields godlike power as the artist, adding and subtracting trees and other scenic elements at will. "I hate this tree..."
The musical does this too, hypothesizing relationships and reasons: "That...is Louis's waffle stove!"
George is considered "odd" staring at and sketching all manner of things not considered good subject material for a painting: "Staring at the monkey cage!" His lover and model Dot thinks he might be cheating on her:
Who was at the zoo, George?
Who was at the zoo?
The monkeys and who George?
The monkeys and who?
In the finale of Act One the painting comes together as George completes it, organizing the chaos that has erupted from his life and subjects. Dot is front and center, featured, obviously very important despite the fact she has left him and is moving to America with a baker. George looks her in the eye as he positions her and a monkey appears at her feet. While holding her gaze, he unwinds the monkey's leash and places it in her hand.
That's what he was doing at the zoo. It gets me every time.
PA_jen
(1,114 posts)BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)I didn't realize he was still around. A sad loss.
Condolences to the family and close friends, thank you for your amazing and seminal work, and R.I.P.
DinahMoeHum
(21,737 posts)Dukkha
(7,341 posts)R.I.P. to a legendary composer
elleng
(130,151 posts)Dukkha
(7,341 posts)and Judy Collins
elleng
(130,151 posts)Mad_Dem_X
(9,522 posts)Danmel
(4,892 posts)Lunabell
(5,920 posts)Thank you for your gift to the American musical theater and to the world.
msfiddlestix
(7,265 posts)Hekate
(90,189 posts)RIP, sir, and thanks for everything. 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶
LetMyPeopleVote
(143,999 posts)AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)Absolutely brilliant lyricist. Although his genius will live on, he was one person who I thought we would never lose.
RIP.
Mad_Dem_X
(9,522 posts)Thank you, Mr. Sondheim, for the music and the memories. Rest in peace.
beaglelover
(3,441 posts)robbob
(3,514 posts)Also from A Little Night Music, although of course overshadowed by Send in the Clowns. I saw a production of this in Montreal in the early 90s with a woman I was madly infatuated with playing one of the lead rolls, and even though I had never heard it before it stuck with me and still stirs something inside me.
The Sun Wont Set:
littlemissmartypants
(22,418 posts)wnylib
(21,146 posts)West Side Story, is Into the Woods.
One day, years ago, I had my TV on, not paying close attention while folding laundry, and then dusting, when an unusual fairy tale musical came on. I stopped to see where it was going and ended up abandoning my chores to sit glued to the TV for the rest of it. Creative, insightful, and mesmerizing. A couple years later I saw a community college theater production of it.
Regarding West Side Story, I first saw it in a theater when I was 14. I'd heard some of the tunes on the radio for years before that, but hearing them in the film setting impressed me so much that I bought a vinyl LP of the entire film tunes. Played it so often that I had all the lyrics to every song memorized.
Decades later, I picked up the dvd, wondering if I would feel the same about it so many years later. I was even more impressed with the music, not just the Bernstein score, but how well the lyrics blended with the music as they told the action of the story and the emotions of the characters.