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Post by geraldine64 on Nov 27, 2021 10:46:24 GMT
I have been dreading this day. Devastated and heartbroken, it's so difficult to convey just how much Stephen Sondheim and his music meant to me, and to so many others. How lucky were we to have him in our lifetimes - what a legacy.
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Post by og on Nov 27, 2021 10:50:38 GMT
Also saddened by this news. Taking solace in that it was short and sudden after having been out for Thanksgiving and not a drawn out, laboured illness - especially given the current situation. An absolute inspiration in recent years for me. I wonder if it's not too late for West Side Story which is out in two weeks to add a tribute? I suspect given his age they may have had an 'In Tribute' version ready to go, but if not in the age of digital distribution, it's entirely possible and likely that the film will have a tribute included. |
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Post by schuttep on Nov 27, 2021 10:54:08 GMT
What a lovely man he was - having met him once.
What talent he was.
What a gap he'll leave.
What a legacy he bequeathes.
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Post by theatreian on Nov 27, 2021 10:54:41 GMT
One of my favourite versions of Being Alive.
and Judi's Send In The Clowns
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Post by Dr Tom on Nov 27, 2021 11:40:25 GMT
"Everybody's got the right to some sunshine"
No one has ever written lyrics as meaningful or consistent as Sondheim.
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Post by horton on Nov 27, 2021 12:04:12 GMT
Experiencing a genuine sense of loss: but what gifts he gave us. Sorry-grateful, I guess.
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Post by craig on Nov 27, 2021 12:19:40 GMT
It's difficult to say anything that's not been said more eloquently already, but what a loss and what a legacy. There is no one greater in this field.
As a child, pop music shaped and saved me. As an adult, it's Sondheim's music that has nurtured and inspired me. Relatively speaking, I'm only just at the beginning of my exploration of his work and so excited for the journey ahead.
RIP maestro. I can't even comprehend how indebted we are to you. Thank you x
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Post by BoOverall on Nov 27, 2021 12:23:11 GMT
Devastated: what a loss. Such a stunningly rich canon of work and influences. For me, no theatre composer/lyricist comes close to Sondheim: I have lost count of the number of times his works have had a profound effect on me. May he rest in peace. I will be honouring this great man this weekend with at least a massive play of dvds and cast albums.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2021 12:32:16 GMT
Rest in Peace Mr Stephen Sondheim
March 22, 1930 – November 26, 2021
1954 Saturday Night
1957 West Side Story
1959 Gypsy
1962 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1964 Anyone Can Whistle
1965 Do I Hear a Waltz?
1966 Evening Primrose
1970 Company
1971 Follies
1973 A Little Night Music
1974 The Frogs
1976 Pacific Overtures
1979 Sweeney Todd
1981 Merrily We Roll Along
1984 Sunday in the Park with George
1987 Into the Woods
1990 Assassins
1994 Passion
2008 Road Show
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Post by alece10 on Nov 27, 2021 12:38:27 GMT
West End theatres to dim their lights on Monday for 2 minutes at 7pm.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2021 12:47:14 GMT
just dim? turn them fully off
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Post by Jon on Nov 27, 2021 13:03:38 GMT
just dim? turn them fully off You wouldn’t able to see very much if they turned them off. |
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Post by hairspray57 on Nov 27, 2021 13:14:33 GMT
I’m surprised they doing it Monday as not all shows are performing that night. Tonight or Tuesday would have been better.
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Post by og on Nov 27, 2021 13:51:25 GMT
Uncharacteristically just bawled listening to this
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2021 14:27:48 GMT
Many years ago I worked on a youth theatre production of Sweeney Todd. Someone wrote to Sondheim about it and he sent back a letter wishing the production all the best and telling them to have fun with it. It was quite cool to have a letter from a world-famous composer for our little hundred-and-something-seat show.
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Post by AddisonMizner on Nov 27, 2021 14:49:22 GMT
I'm still trying to process this news. He was 91, but this still came as such a huge shock. I admit I did shed a tear. It feels as if a family member has died, which I know is utterly ridiculous. I have been an admirer of his work for over ten years, which I know is a relatively short time compared to some on here, but it has meant so much to me.
I knew of only SWEENEY TODD when I was in school, which I thought was a masterpiece, and still do. However, this was only the tip of the iceberg. I came to London as a treat for my 21st, and had a spare slot to see a show. I saw that the Menier were putting on the UK premiere of ROAD SHOW. I knew nothing of the show, but the Menier was one of my favourite spaces at the time, and I also noticed it was by Sondheim, so booked tickets. Whilst ROAD SHOW is considered a minor work in his output, it absolutely floored me, broadening my understanding of what a musical could be in terms of subject matter, music and staging. I was lucky that the weekend I went, the Menier were also doing a Q & A with Sondheim and John Weidman, and that is a night I will remember with fondness for the rest of my life. I can't describe how incredibly lucky I felt to be in the same room as this giant of the theatre talking about his work. I remember him tearing up as he recalled the first time they had the idea for ASSASSINS (a show I saw in the same space a few years later). I have seen practically every UK production of his work over the last 10 years.
I have honoured his memory by playing the recent Broadway recording of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and have now moved onto COMPANY. Lots more of his music will be played over the course of this weekend.
RIP Mr Sondheim.
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Post by highonahill on Nov 27, 2021 15:23:05 GMT
Like many of you since the news broke, I've been reading about, listening to and remembering the Sondheim masterpieces I've been fortunate enough to see.
I was introduced to his work in my early 20s when I was in an amateur production of Company. I'd never heard music and harmonies like it and after an initial period of thinking 'I'll never get this", I 'got it' and never looked back.
Sweeney Todd, Follies, Assassins, West Side Story, Merrily We Roll Along and Into the Woods followed, each time embedding a little deeper his place in my heart as my favourite composer. I'm proud that I've passed this love of his work on to my two (now adult) children who too, 'get', what a genius he was.
I am sorry-grateful - RIP Stephen Sondheim.
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Post by alece10 on Nov 27, 2021 15:52:25 GMT
I'm still trying to process this news. He was 91, but this still came as such a huge shock. I admit I did shed a tear. It feels as if a family member has died, which I know is utterly ridiculous. I have been an admirer of his work for over ten years, which I know is a relatively short time compared to some on here, but it has meant so much to me. I knew of only SWEENEY TODD when I was in school, which I thought was a masterpiece, and still do. However, this was only the tip of the iceberg. I came to London as a treat for my 21st, and had a spare slot to see a show. I saw that the Menier were putting on the UK premiere of ROAD SHOW. I knew nothing of the show, but the Menier was one of my favourite spaces at the time, and I also noticed it was by Sondheim, so booked tickets. Whilst ROAD SHOW is considered a minor work in his output, it absolutely floored me, broadening my understanding of what a musical could be in terms of subject matter, music and staging. I was lucky that the weekend I went, the Menier were also doing a Q & A with Sondheim and John Weidman, and that is a night I will remember with fondness for the rest of my life. I can't describe how incredibly lucky I felt to be in the same room as this giant of the theatre talking about his work. I remember him tearing up as he recalled the first time they had the idea for ASSASSINS (a show I saw in the same space a few years later). I have seen practically every UK production of his work over the last 10 years. I have honoured his memory by playing the recent Broadway recording of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, and have now moved onto COMPANY. Lots more of his music will be played over the course of this weekend. RIP Mr Sondheim. Agree about Roadshow. I was also in the audience for that talk. I'll always remember it. |
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Post by anthony40 on Nov 27, 2021 18:59:31 GMT
Sondheim- where to start.
I guess we all knew it was coming but it still hits you hard, doesn't it?
I was literally breathless when I read the news last night.
I have stated on this forum on may occasions that I am from Sydney, Australia.
Growing up all I know was Lloyd Webber. I's never heard of Sondheim.
Although we has performed West Side Story at school, I was too young to make the connection.
Incidentally it was from West Side Story that my love of musicals started,
The commotion came when I saw a professional production of A Little Night Music at the Sydney Opera House. Although I'd heard if it and was aware of it, this too was where I made the connection with the song Send In The Clowns.
I then saw a professional production of Sweeney Todd. I remember how clever the song A Little Priest was and being so 'into it' in the second half that I was on the edge of my seat!
And then a production of Company, again at the Opera House and that was it. I was hooked.
Not long before leaving Bernadette Peters performed at the Opera House. Something that she still talks about as one of the highlights of her professional career.
In fact my love of musicals and all things theatre was one of the (many) reasons for moving across to London.
Since being here I have seen many of his shows.
I have CD's of all his shows and DVD's off all of his filmed shows.
And, of course, all of that music- along with many (many) other musicals are all on my phone, so even though it's on shuffle, they are regularly listened to.
Sunday in the Park with George- one of my personal favourites.
(Genuinely) this is a show that I NEVER thought I'd see in my lifetime. To the best of my knowledge up until the time i left this had never been performed professionally in Australia. it has since.
And then within weeks of me arriving it was playing at The Menier Chocolate Factory before eventually transferring to the West End.
And Sondheim; coming from Sydney, so far away I NEVER dreamed that I would ever even be in the same country as him, let alone the same city and yet, since being here, I have been luck enough to see him interviewed 5 times in person, one at least three occasions, merely meters from me!
Now I appreciate for you British theatregoers, having him in your city regularly that just happens, but not for me- remember how far and where I have come.
And now he's gone.
Gonna quote some some lyrics that seen appropriate
Teach me how to see, tell me where to be; opened up my eyes
Sometimes people leave you half way through the woods; no more
Move on
What would we do without you? How would we ever get through?
Not a day goes by where you're still somehow part of my life
My love will live in you.
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Nov 27, 2021 22:02:26 GMT
I decided to watch Six by Sondheim today (the whole thing's on YouTube). If you're a big fan of Sondheim it probably doesn't tell you much about his life that you didn't already know but there's a fun section where he sings the part of the producer in Opening Doors, and the final 10 minutes or so regarding Sunday are very pertinent and poignant. It seems everything he says there about the subjects of the painting living on "forever" reflects how he will live on forever, immortalised through his incredible work. So, although he may physically be gone, and although I have been crying an unhealthy amount for the passing of a man that I never knew and who lived to a very respectable age that one can only hope to reach, I'm comforted by the fact that he'll live on forever through his art and those it touches and that couldn't have happened to a more talented, deserving man. Thank you Stephen Sondheim, forever!
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Post by Someone in a tree on Nov 28, 2021 8:52:30 GMT
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Post by theatreian on Nov 28, 2021 9:30:16 GMT
1954 Saturday Night 1957 West Side Story 1959 Gypsy 1962 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 1964 Anyone Can Whistle 1965 Do I Hear a Waltz? 1966 Evening Primrose 1970 Company 1971 Follies 1973 A Little Night Music 1974 The Frogs 1976 Pacific Overtures 1979 Sweeney Todd 1981 Merrily We Roll Along 1984 Sunday in the Park with George 1987 Into the Woods 1990 Assassins 1994 Passion 2008 Road Show Looking at that list again I have not seen 5 of these shows: A funny thing happened, Do I hear a Waltz, Evening Primrose, The Frogs and Pacific Overtures.Don't think these have been widely performed in the UK, though I could be wrong. |
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 28, 2021 13:20:32 GMT
Evening Primrose was written for television - I'm only aware of it being performed once at in the UK (as part of a Sadlers Wells lost musicals season). Do I hear a Waltz? he only wrote the lyrics for - it's had fringe productions, most recently at the Park Theatre I think. The Frogs was performed at Jermyn Street a few years back - I think that's his rarest stage musical. Pacific Overtures was at the Donmar a while back and the Union too
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 28, 2021 14:01:57 GMT
Reading this thread, I feel a bit guilty that I'm not as upset about his death as many of you are. I think he wrote many wonderful songs but the only one of his shows that I really love is A Little Night Music. Amittedly I've only seen some of his shows but then some I will never see because of the subject matter, especially Sweeney Todd.
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Post by scarpia on Nov 28, 2021 14:39:54 GMT
I think for a lot of us this will be one of those moments where you know exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard. And for me it's pretty much the end of an era (and I can't say I particularly like the new era that will follow but we'll see).
I'm not a raving Sondheimite but at least 3 of his shows are in my top 10 of all time, and the two times I interacted him he was nothing other than gracious and pleasant.
A huge loss that I knew would have to happen (I was mentally preparing myself for this after Hal died). But it doesn't necessarily make the loss easier.
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