Sondheim - (The) Story So Far...
The musical storyteller gets a taste of his own medicine – lucky us!
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne
Genre:
Opera
Label: Sony BMG
Magazine Review Date: 1/2009
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
Stereo
ADD
Catalogue Number: 82796942552

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
West Side Story, Movement: America |
Leonard Bernstein, Composer
Chita Rivera, Singer Leonard Bernstein, Composer |
West Side Story, Movement: Tonight (Balcony scene) |
Leonard Bernstein, Composer
Carol Lawrence, Singer Larry Kert, Singer Leonard Bernstein, Composer |
West Side Story, Movement: Gee, Officer Krupke |
Leonard Bernstein, Composer
Leonard Bernstein, Composer Various Artists |
Gypsy, Movement: Everything's Coming Up Roses |
Jule Styne, Composer
Ethel Merman, Singer Jule Styne, Composer |
(A) Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, Movement: Comedy Tonight |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Zero Mostel, Singer |
(A) Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, Movement: Everybody Ought to Have a Maid |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(A) Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, Movement: There's Something About a War (unused in show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Hot Spot, Movement: Show Me (aka Don't Laugh) |
Mary Rodgers, Composer
Mary Rodgers, Composer Various Artists |
Anyone Can Whistle, Movement: Anyone Can Whistle |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Lee Remick, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Anyone Can Whistle, Movement: A Parade in Town |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Angela Lansbury, Mezzo soprano Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Anyone Can Whistle, Movement: (A) Hero is Coming |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Do I Hear a Waltz?, Movement: This Week, Americans |
Richard Rodgers, Composer
Richard Rodgers, Composer Various Artists |
Do I Hear a Waltz?, Movement: Perhaps |
Richard Rodgers, Composer
Richard Rodgers, Composer Various Artists |
Do I Hear a Waltz?, Movement: Everybody Loves Leona |
Richard Rodgers, Composer
Richard Rodgers, Composer Various Artists |
(The) Mad Show, Movement: The Boy from... (Lyrics Sondheim) |
Mary Rodgers, Composer
Linda Lavin, Singer Mary Rodgers, Composer |
Evening Primrose, Movement: If You Can Find Me, I'm Here |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Anthony Perkins, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Evening Primrose, Movement: Arts and Crafts |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Anthony Perkins, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Evening Primrose, Movement: I Remember Sky |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Evening Primrose, Movement: When? |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Evening Primrose, Movement: Take Me to the World |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Company, Movement: Another Hundred People |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Company, Movement: The Ladies Who Lunch |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Elaine Stritch, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Company, Movement: Being Alive |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Company, Movement: Happily Ever After (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Follies, Movement: Waiting for the Girls Upstairs |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Follies, Movement: Broadway Baby |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Elaine Stritch, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Follies, Movement: Losing My Mind |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Barbara Cook, Soprano Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Follies, Movement: I'm Still Here |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Carol Burnett, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Follies, Movement: Can that Boy Foxtrot! |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(A) Little Night Music, Movement: The miller's son |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(A) Little Night Music, Movement: Liasons |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(A) Little Night Music, Movement: Send in the clowns |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Glynis Johns, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
(A) Little Night Music, Movement: Night Waltz |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(A) Little Night Music, Movement: Silly People (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(A) Little Night Music, Movement: Not Quite Night (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Pacific Overtures, Movement: Welcome to Kanagawa |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Pacific Overtures, Movement: Pretty, Lady |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Pacific Overtures, Movement: Prayers (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Pacific Overtures, Movement: There is No Other Way |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Movement: Prelude |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Movement: Green Finch and Linnet Bird |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Movement: (A) Little Priest |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Angela Lansbury, Mezzo soprano Len Cariou, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Movement: The Worst Pies in London |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Patti LuPone, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Merrily We Roll Along, Movement: Not a Day Goes By |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Merrily We Roll Along, Movement: Old Friends |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Sunday in the Park with George, Movement: Finishing the hat |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Mandy Patinkin, Tenor Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Into the Woods, Movement: Agony |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Into the Woods, Movement: Finale: Children Will Listen |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Bernadette Peters, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Into the Woods, Movement: Have to Give Her Someone (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Into the Woods, Movement: Interesting Questions (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Into the Woods, Movement: Second Midnight (cut from final show) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Assassins, Movement: Everybody's Got the Right |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Assassins, Movement: The Ballad of Booth |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Passion, Movement: Happiness |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Passion, Movement: I Wish I Could Forget You |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Bounce, Movement: Bounce |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Bounce, Movement: Isn't He Something! |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Jane Powell, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
(The) Frogs |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Nathan Lane, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
All That Glitters |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(The) Two of You |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Saturday Night, Movement: Class |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Saturday Night, Movement: Love's a Bond |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Saturday Night, Movement: In the Movies |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Saturday Night, Movement: (I'm All) for You |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
They Asked Me Why I Believe in You |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Invitation to a March |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Passionella |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
No, Mary Ann |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
(The) Enclave |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Stavisky, Movement: Generique (Theme from Stavisky) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Stavisky, Movement: Auto Show |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Stavisky, Movement: Arlette by Night |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Stavisky, Movement: Operetta |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Stavisky, Movement: Theme (arr. Jim Tyler) |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
I Never Do Anything Twice |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Régine ,, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Reds |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Claude Bolling, Piano Jean-Pierre Rampal, Flute Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Dick Tracy, Movement: Sooner or Later |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Madonna, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Dick Tracy, Movement: Live Alone and Like It |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Dick Tracy, Movement: What Can You Lose? |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Madonna, Singer Mandy Patinkin, Tenor Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Dick Tracy, Movement: Back in Business |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Dick Tracy, Movement: More |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Madonna, Singer Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer |
Singing Out Loud, Movement: Water Under the Bridge |
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer
Stephen (Joshua) Sondheim, Composer Various Artists |
Author: Edward Seckerson
There are so many examples here of Sondheim’s work in progress (early drafts, cut songs, rejected songs) through the several decades that have established him as the guiding light in the evolution of American musical theatre from the 1960s onwards. There is even an astonishing private recording of him and Hal Prince talking and singing their way through what was once a two-part number from Pacific Overtures. The piano had been “prepared” with paper and thumbtacks to sound like a Japanese koto.
So what we have here is a chronological journey through pretty much his entire oeuvre and for those only just making his acquaintance the dramatic flavour of the shows is shrewdly (and sometimes surprisingly) conveyed in the choice of songs. The rest of us – the seasoned Sondheim aficionados – will be intrigued by his choices (presuming, that is, he made them) and equally by the choice of recordings. Was the decision to represent Follies in the celebrated New York Philharmonic concert performance and not the Original Broadway Cast recording a conscious or a contractual choice? I’m presuming the latter since I imagine he would like to have represented both. But perhaps not. It’s never easy second-guessing Sondheim.
Those of us who know and love his stuff will make straight for disc 4 where some of the rarest curiosities reside. There’s a sweet romantic melody from his junior year (1948-49), “I Must Be Dreaming”, a touching little song, “The Two of You”, rejected from Burr Tillstrom’s puppet show Kukla, Fran and Ollie; there’s a tantalising taste of Sondheim’s proposed mini-musical of Jules Feiffer’s Passionella: “Truly Content” was chimney sweep Ella’s first number before she became “Gorgeous” in Bock and Harnick’s musicalisation. Then there is the incidental music: two sets of cues from Arthur Laurents’s plays which reveal Sondheim’s distinctive sleight of hand as an instrumental composer – unmistakable, despite the redolence of other Americana. One features Sondheim’s music director Paul Gemignani on percussion. He was the original drummer on Follies.
Not enough is said and written about Sondheim the composer. He is memorable in so many ways. Listen to these discs and tell me he is not. Me, I’ll take away the piano vamp from “What Can You Lose?” from Dick Tracy for now. What a melancholic ache it has.
So all the old revelations can be fleetingly relived here. They’ll always sound fresh because their myriad subtleties invite constant reinterpretation. The story so far? We can but hope.
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