Stephen Sondheim, the renowned composer of "Into the Woods," "Sweeney Todd," "Gypsy," "Sunday in the Park with George" and other essential works of musical theater, died early Friday morning/ He was 91.
As lyricist, songwriter, conceptual artist and creative force, Sondheim was perhaps without par in the modern American theater. His works encompassed astonishing range: "West Side Story" (for which he wrote the lyrics), the travails of a modern group of friends and lovers in "Company," even the woes of presidential murderers (and attempted murderers) in "Assassins", and of course "Sweeney Todd".
In modern times, many will regard Andrew Lloyd Webber as the champion creator of musicals but to me
, in terms of creativity, poignant and searching lyrical abilities, and musicality - Sondheim was the GOAT.
, in terms of creativity, poignant and searching lyrical abilities, and musicality - Sondheim was the GOAT.
While I still regard Les Miz as the best musical ever written, Gypsy runs a close second. The lyrics for West Side Story was triumphant.
To me his best achievements were: Gypsy, Company, A Little Night Music which featured his most brilliant song "Send In The Clowns".
It is a ballad from Act Two, in which the character Desirée reflects on the ironies and disappointments of her life. Among other things, she looks back on an affair years earlier with the lawyer Fredrik, who was deeply in love with her, but whose marriage proposals she had rejected. Meeting him after so long, she realizes she is in love with him and finally ready to marry him, but now it is he who rejects her: He is in an unconsummated marriage with a much younger woman. Desirée proposes marriage to rescue him from this situation, but he declines, citing his dedication to his bride. Reacting to his rejection, Desirée sings this song.
The lyrics were gold. We may have heard the song many times but with that storyline, the lyrics are now layered, and "send in the clowns" have such deeper meaning - owing to the embarrassing situation she found herself in, she has nothing left to say to send in the clowns, cause clowns are "tension breakers" ... plus the turn of events makes them all 'clowns' as well.
Sondheim's accolades include nine Tony Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Tony in 2008),[6] an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, a Laurence Olivier Award, and a 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also had a theatre named for him on both Broadway and the West End in London.
Sondheim basically reinvented the whole genre of musical theatre, from the usual fantasy characters or historical settings, to tackling real life issues head on. In that sense he was a great dramatist as well. Which was why many of his songs were more than just catchy melodic tunes but with inquisitive and soul searching lyrics.
The highlights from Gypsy by Sondheim's favourite muse, Bernadette Peters.
Somewhere
Someday, somewhere
We'll find a new way of living
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere
We'll find a new way of living
We'll find a way of forgiving
Somewhere
Source: Musixmatch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOTHRn_o5qE
No comments:
Post a Comment