Sondheim Tonight: Live From The Barbican Centre, London (1998 Concert Cast) [Cast Recording] [Live]

Editorial Reviews
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

Tracks:

Overture for Stephen Sondheim--Orchestra
Comedy Tonight--The Soloists
Ned Sherrin
March to the Treaty House--Orchestra
Next--Orchestra
The Ballad of Sweeney Todd--Len Cariou, The Soloists
Len Cariou
Night Waltz--Orchestra, The Soloists
Losing My Mind--Maria Friedman
Not While I'm Around--Clive Rowe
Send in the Clowns--Cleo Laine, Maria Friedman, Clive Rowe
Julia McKenzie
Stavisky Suite--Orchestra
I Remember--Julia Migenes
Green Finch and Linnet Bird--Julia Migenes
Ned Sherrin
A Very Short Violin Sonata
Dame Edna Everage
The Ladies Who Lunch--Dame Edna Everage
More--Maria Friedman, The Soloists, The Dancers

Tracks:

A Salute to Stephen Sondheim--Orchestra
Company--The Soloists
Barcelona--Julia McKenzie, David Kernan
Ned Sherrin
Good Thing Going/Not a Day Goes by--David Kernan
David Kernan
I Never Do Anything Twice--Milicent Martin
Maria Friedman
Variations on a Theme (Katie Malone)
Elaine Stritch
Len Cariou
Beautiful Girls--Michael Ball, Company
Michael Ball
Loving You--Michael Ball
Michael Ball
Broadway Baby--Michael Ball
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
Ned Sherrin
Stephen Sondheim
Finale--Company

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

Customer Reviews:

There is something for everyone on this CD!.......2002-08-15

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!

Hardly ideal, but nice instrumentals.......2000-07-07

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.

Sondheim is my fav....but sheesh!.......1999-12-23

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.

DAME EDNA IS ONLY FOR THOSE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR.......1999-12-12

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.

What a disappointment!.......1999-10-10

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.

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