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Sondheim! The Birthday Concert is a historic tribute to the Broadway work of Stephen Sondheim that took place in New York's Avery Fisher Hall in March 2010. That's 25 years after a similar all-star concert, Follies in Concert, was held in the same venue, also with Paul Gemignani conducting the New York Philharmonic, and the song list and parade of stars seems intended to evoke those memories. But rather than re-creating one show, this concert hosted by David Hyde Pierce celebrates three decades of work in honor of the composer's 80th birthday. It starts a bit slowly, with some songs for which Sondheim wrote only the lyrics, but even that offers something "new": an unfamiliar song from Hot Spot (music by Mary Rodgers) called "Don't Laugh," performed by Victoria Clark. From there the concert shifts into high gear with Sondheim's shows from the '70s and '80s. Three songs from Follies are covered by a young generation of talent (Jenn Colella, Matt Cavenaugh, Bobby Steggert, Laura Osnes), by Audra McDonald and opera star Nathan Gunn, and by original cast member John McMartin. That's followed by some thrilling reunions: Joanna Gleason and Chip Zien's "It Takes Two" from Into the Woods, Jim Walton with a song he didn't sing in Merrily We Roll Along ("Growing Up"), Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters with "Finishing the Hat" and "Move On" from Sunday in the Park with George, and Patti LuPone with two different Sweeney Todds--George Hearn and Michael Cerveris. Six "ladies in red" sing solos--LuPone's "The Ladies Who Lunch," Marin Mazzie's "Losing My Mind," McDonald's "The Glamorous Life," Donna Murphy's "Could I Leave You," Peters's "Not a Day Goes By," and Elaine Stritch's "I'm Still Here"--before hundreds of currently working actors flood the theater and sing "Sunday" to emotionally overwhelm the guest of honor. Since none of the shows represented were written later than the '80s (Passion is not represented, though its two female leads are, nor is Assassins), it's safe to say that this combination of songs sung by so many original stars will never be repeated. --David Horiuchi
Description
Join us for a rousing celebration of the life and work of one of Broadway's greatest legends - the one and only Stephen Sondheim. For the master composer and lyricist's 80th birthday, many of musical theatre's brightest stars gathered to perform more than two dozen sensational numbers from Sondheim's illustrious career. Many of these enduring songs are rarely heard and several are performed by the original Broadway cast members. David Hyde Pierce hosts this magical event with Stephen Sondheim's longtime collaborator Paul Gemignani conducting the New York Philharmonic.
Filmed live, March 15-16, 2010 at Avery Fisher Hall, New York City Performances Include:
"America" (Dancers - West Side Story)
"Something's Coming" (Alexander Gemingnani - West Side Story)
"We're Gonna Be Alright" (Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley - Do I Hear a Waltz?)
"Don't Laugh" (Victoria Clark - Hot Spot)
"Johanna"(Nathan Gunn - Sweeney Todd)
"You're Gonna Love Tomorrow" and "Love Will See Us Through" (Matt Cavenaugh, Jenn Colella, Laura Osnes, Bobby Steggert - Follies)
"Too Many Mornings" (Nathan Gunn, Audra McDonald - Follies)
"The Road You Didn't Take" (John McMartin - Follies)
"It Takes Two" (Joanna Gleason, Chip Zien - Into the Woods)
"Growing Up" (Jim Walton - Merrily We Roll Along)
"Finishing the Hat" (Mandy Patinkin - Sunday in the Park with George)
"Move On" (Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters - Sunday in the Park with George)
"Pretty Women"(Michael Cerveris, George Hearn - Sweeney Todd)
"A Little Priest" (Michael Cerveris, George Hearn, Patti LuPone - Sweeney Todd)
"Theme from 'Reds'" with Pas De Deux (NY Philharmonic, Two ABT Dancers Maria and Blaine)
"So Many People" (Laura Benanti - Saturday Night)
"Beautiful Girls" (David Hyde Pierce)
"Ladies Who Lunch" (Patti LuPone - Company)
"Losing My Mind" (Marin Mazzie - Follies)
"The Glamorous Life" (Audra McDonald - A Little Night Music)
"Leave You" (Donna Murphy - Follies)
"Not a Day Goes By" (Bernadette Peters - Merrily We Roll Along)
"I'm Still Here" (Elaine Stritch - Follies)
"Sunday" (Broadway Chorus - Sunday in the Park with George)
"Happy Birthday" (All Cast)
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic!,
By Maxisback (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sondheim - The Birthday Concert (DVD)
What a joy it was to watch wonderful Broadway actors sing Sondheim's wonderful songs, made even more delightful by seeing Sondheim's reactions to them. This is a super celebration, indeed. If you love Sondheim's work, you will be overjoyed by this celebration of his 80th birthday, his wonderful music and his lyrics.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Breathtaking!,
By One singular sensation... "One singular sensa... (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sondheim - The Birthday Concert (DVD)
Few DVD's can make one's heart burst with happiness while one is crying. And it isn't just "Sunday", though that is a glorious moment I never expect to have repeated on any DVD anywhere. Every song, but one, is presented with such power and beauty, with a cast that simply can't be topped. It is a far different John McMartin than my wife and I saw in "Follies", but he is not performing 'Ben' now; he is 'Ben'. And two Sweeney Todds! Brilliant! But it is the ladies who dominate, gorgeously. How fortunate we are to be alive when Bernadette Peters is at her prime. And those last five solos - oh, but there is nothing like it anywhere. They don't top each other. They can't, for each is a fantastic singer matched perfectly with a great song. Now, if they could have made the evening last twice as long, or even more, we would all be in a musical heaven. If I were allowed only one DVD for my entire life, this is it! Make your life a lot more joyous and expand the emotions we seldom can use - buy this DVD and open yourself up to Broadway's best.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars (63 customer reviews) 75 of 78 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprising Selections And Powerhouse Performances Distinguish Yet Another Sondheim Tribute,
By K. Harris "Film aficionado" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sondheim - The Birthday Concert (DVD)
As a bit of a theater nerd, I believe I have seen every tribute to Stephen Sondheim ever created--and let's be honest, that's too many to count these days! But seriously, what's not to love? And why not? With such a terrific oeuvre, I'm not complaining. Even so, I found "Sondheim: The Birthday Concert" to be especially effective. Most of these retrospectives feature the top echelon of talent--and this is certainly no exception. What was refreshing, however, were the more unusual selections to make it into the concert. There weren't the typical warhorses you might expect (nary a "Clown" in sight). Heck, you know things have gone wonky when one of the featured numbers is a dance to the "Theme to 'Reds'." All in all, then, the surprises are what make this particularly noteworthy.The absolutely transcendent highlight of the show comes near the end as six actresses square off center stage. But before I get to that, I'll just say that David Hyde Pearce is a nimble host. The earlier moments that stood out for me are the pairings--Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley are a delight, Joanna Gleason and Chip Zien have a charming reunion from "Into the Woods" and Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin slay with a powerful selection from "Sunday in the Park With George." But truly, no one hits a wrong note here--the entire production is spot-on. But the Diva sing off is beyond words. With Peters, Mazzie, Donna Murphy, Patty LuPone, Audra McDonald, and Elaine Stritch--you think I'm going to say I didn't like it? Not a chance. LuPone is strong, McDonald (one of my all time favorites) is precise, and Stritch belts out her signature number to crowd pleasing perfection (however, it is the third concert this year where I've seen her do it). Peters, always perfection, is quite understated and touching. Donna Murphy almost steals the show with the impassioned "Leave You," a remarkable performance that took me by complete surprise. But without a doubt, it is Marin Mazzie that blew the rafters off at our home. She takes the reliable standard "Losing My Mind" (and who doesn't love that to start with?) and absolutely tore it up with such heartfelt gusto. I truly felt I was hearing the song for the first time--and that's saying a lot. There is charm to spare here, and if you're a fan--you'll absolutely want this beauty for your collection. KGHarris, 11/10. 47 of 58 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Breathtaking,
By Justine Justine the Drama Queen - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Sondheim - The Birthday Concert (DVD)
I was lucky enough to be there as well and I have to say... buy this without a question. Totally magical, David Hyde Pierce was a marvelous emcee, and the cast was obviously star-studded. Only Stephen Sondheim's birthday could bring these amazing performers together. Worth it just for the overwhelming finale; I don't think there was a dry eye in the audience. Just buy it.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
WORTH EVERY PENNY ...,
By John Myler "Fr JT" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Sondheim - The Birthday Concert (DVD)
if only to see and hear "Losing My Mind" (Marin Mazzie- Follies)SHOW-STOPPER!!! and "The Glamorous Life" (Audra McDonald- A Little Night Music), "Leave You" (Donna Murphy- Follies), "Not a Day Goes By" (Bernadette Peters- Merrily We Roll Along), "I'm Still Here" (Elaine Stritch- Follies).Living proof that musical-theatre can indeed be ART! |
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