Search - Stephen Sondheim :: Sondheim Tonight: Live From The Barbican Centre, London (1998 Concert Cast)

Stephen Sondheim
Sondheim Tonight: Live From The Barbican Centre, London (1998 Concert Cast)
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists

Track Listings (20) - Disc #1
1. Overture for Stephen Sondheim--Orchestra
2. Comedy Tonight--The Soloists
3. Ned Sherrin
4. March to the Treaty House--Orchestra
5. Next--Orchestra
6. The Ballad of Sweeney Todd--Len Cariou, The Soloists
7. Len Cariou
8. Night Waltz--Orchestra, The Soloists
9. Losing My Mind--Maria Friedman
10. Not While I'm Around--Clive Rowe
11. Send in the Clowns--Cleo Laine, Maria Friedman, Clive Rowe
12. Julia McKenzie
13. Stavisky Suite--Orchestra
14. I Remember--Julia Migenes
15. Green Finch and Linnet Bird--Julia Migenes
16. Ned Sherrin
17. A Very Short Violin Sonata
18. Dame Edna Everage
19. The Ladies Who Lunch--Dame Edna Everage
20. More--Maria Friedman, The Soloists, The Dancers
Track Listings (20) - Disc #2
1. A Salute to Stephen Sondheim--Orchestra
2. Company--The Soloists
3. Barcelona--Julia McKenzie, David Kernan
4. Ned Sherrin
5. Good Thing Going/Not a Day Goes by--David Kernan
6. David Kernan
7. I Never Do Anything Twice--Milicent Martin
8. Maria Friedman
9. Variations on a Theme (Katie Malone)
10. Elaine Stritch
11. Len Cariou
12. Beautiful Girls--Michael Ball, Company
13. Michael Ball
14. Loving You--Michael Ball
15. Michael Ball
16. Broadway Baby--Michael Ball
17. Being Alive--The Soloists, The West End Chorus/Another Hundred People--The West End Chorus/Sunday in the Park with George--The Soloists, The West End Chorus
18. Ned Sherrin
19. Stephen Sondheim
20. Finale--Company

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CD Details

All Artists: Stephen Sondheim
Title: Sondheim Tonight: Live From The Barbican Centre, London (1998 Concert Cast)
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Jay Records
Release Date: 9/14/1999
Album Type: Cast Recording, Live
Genres: Pop, Soundtracks, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Vocal Pop, Musicals, Traditional Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPCs: 605288131325, 5015062125023

Synopsis

Amazon.com

As Stephen Sondheim's new shows become fewer and further between, tribute concerts have become a popular way to fill the gaps. Among others, there was Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall in 1993. There was Sondheim: A Celebration in 1997. Now there's Sondheim: Tonight's Celebration--err, make that Sondheim Tonight, a live London concert, and a mixed bag it is. Longtime Sondheim followers will enjoy Len Cariou's brief return as Sweeney Todd, the reunion of the cast of Side by Side by Sondheim, and the appearance of British singers Cleo Laine, Maria Friedman, and Michael Ball. On the other hand, Dame Edna Everage (a.k.a. Barry Humphries) provides a revised "Ladies Who Lunch" that is best skipped. Most notable are the recorded premieres of two instrumental works Sondheim wrote as a student, A Very Short Violin Piece and the more interesting Variations on a Theme (Katie Malone) for solo piano. This two-CD set clocks in at a generous 139 minutes, but over a half-hour is monologues and reminiscences (all separately tracked, thankfully), and another 16 minutes is pleasant but undistinguished orchestral arrangements. No doubt the concert was more entertaining to attend than to listen to on CD, but the Sondheim completist should find something of interest here--or at least get a fix while waiting for Wise Guys. --David Horiuchi

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CD Reviews

Sondheim is my fav....but sheesh!

jbhapgood2 | 12/22/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"There have been SOOOO many excellent concerts of Sondheim's work....and this ISN'T one of them. Many people hate Dame Edna's LADIES WHO LUNCH, well they are unaware that it is a joke! Maria Friedman disgraces all of Sondheim's beautiful work, as do many of her co-stars. Please consider another compliation of Sondheim's work."

What a disappointment!

ANCHEL S. SAMUELS | Savannah, Georgia USA | 10/10/1999

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I am a devoted Sondheim fan but these discs try my loyalty. Dame (or is it Damn?) Edna is an insult to Sondheim and his music. Now I know why they waited so long to release these discs."

DAME EDNA IS ONLY FOR THOSE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR

12/12/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD set perfectly showcases the greatness of Sondheim's music and lyrics. As a bonus, it has the privilege of Dame Edna singing The Ladies Who Lunch like it has never been sung before or ever will be again. It has to be heard (and to laugh with and enjoyed). A must for all theatre and music lovers."

Hardly ideal, but nice instrumentals

efrex | New York, NY USA | 07/07/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It seems to be a long held maxim that, although the Brits adore Sondheim, they often have little idea how to perform his work. This concert recording of Sondheim's work (I expect that there will one day be more concert recordings of Sondheim's work then cast recordings), with one or two exceptions, seems to bear this out.The most enjoyable performance on this album comes from the musicians. The opening overture and the Act II Entr'acte, as well as a lovely arrangement of two songs from Pacific Overtures, are given a delightful treatment by the London Philharmonic. Two instrumental obscurities written by the young Sondheim, a violin sonata and a piano theme, are capably played in what I believe is their recorded debut.And then. I personally can live with Dame Edna's twisted rendition of "Ladies who Lunch," but Michael Ball's tortured singing is a taste which I have not yet acquired (although he does provide one of several amusing anecdotes between songs). Most of the remaining performances are quite forgettable, and although there aren't any major clunkers as there were on the LA cast recording, there aren't any major redeeming performances either. If you're a Sondheim fan, you've probably heard all these songs done better. It's a bit frightening that the most enjoyable parts of a Sondheim concert are the bits between the songs."

There is something for everyone on this CD!

Thespiansf | San Francisco, CA United States | 08/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Stop with the Dame Edna insults! She performed with the blessing of Mr. Sondheim - helped sell tickets for an excellent charity - and thrilled both the audience and cast. The cast members filled the wings to hear the Great Dame! The audience was in stitches. The London Philharmonic was in top form. And while one reviewer may not like Michael Ball - he has legions of fans that do love him. Julia Mackenzie's Barcelona is awesome! Admittedly I am biased about this CD - but rest assured, there is something for everyone on this recording. And the sales of the CD benefit the Alan J. Lerner Cancer Charity!"