Happy Birthday Maestro
Today sees the birthday of the greatest musical theatre composer of his time. Over the years he was redefined the landscape of Broadway and the West End and has reinvented the genre. His songs have become instant classics and his scores admired by those outside of theatre. This year he is being celebrated by shows being staged on both sides of the Atlantic and a series of concerts featuring his back catalogue.
And while Andrew Lloyd Webber may also be blowing out his birthday candles today, I am in fact talking about the Maestro himself Stephen Sondheim, who today celebrates his 80th Birthday.
Winner of an Oscar, Eight more Tony awards than any other composer, Grammy’s and a Pulitzer prize Sondheim is one of those rare critical and public acclaimed authors. Having worked with the greats such as Hammerstein and Leonard Bernstein Sondheim now mentors young writers and is still turning out new work.
In tribute to a true living legend my top ten Sondheim scores:
- Company
- Sunday In The Park With George
- Passion
- A Little Night Music
- Into The Woods
- Gypsy
- West Side Story
- Assassins
- Sweeny Todd
- Anyone Can Whistle