Wall To Wall Stephen Sondheim
Last March I stood in a line wrapping around 95th St at Symphony Space hoping for a chance to hear some free Sondheim performed by Broadway’s best and maybe get to see the genius himself. Unfortunately for me, those who had made it inside weren’t budging from their seats. However, you and I are now able to get a taste of what it was like to attend this remarkable event thanks to Symphony Space’s release of a highlight recording of the twelve hour event.
Coinciding with Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday, the event was star-studded. Sondheim himself was on hand to discuss his work, and many original cast members returned to muse on their experiences and perform pieces they originated.
While the selections that were performed later in the evening had the support of the American Theater Orchestra and conductor Paul Gemignani, the songs in the afternoon had solo piano accompaniment. The piano arrangements and accompanists are simply stellar and to hear Sondheim’s music (which is decidedly challenging to play) performed with such skill on piano alone is quite exhilarating.
The excitement is palpable as the Overture from Merrily We Roll Along begins the recording. With Paul Gemignani at the helm the orchestra is conducted with enthusiasm here - never has this overture sounded more vibrant.
Kate Baldwin delivers a Millers Son that is earthy and smoldering - sung with great finesse and skill, Ms. Baldwin delivers one of the disc’s top moments. If Fiddler on the Roof lyricist Sheldon Harnick happens to be laboriously slow in his rendition of Forum’s Free, it is forgivable if only to have a theater great perform the work of his colleague.
Chip Zien from the original Broadway company of Into the Woods may deliver a mundane No One Is Alone however, the celebratory mood of the evening is expressed as the audience sings the counter melody. The pairing of husband and wife team of Carolee Carmello and Gregg Edelman makes for a compelling Move On. Carmello possesses one of the best voices in the business and it is thrilling to hear her sing a role she is born for. It does make one wish that the recording included her performance of There Won’t Be Trumpets rather than including tracks like What More Do I Need? which Liz Callaway has previously recorded wonderfully at another Sondheim celebration.
Another of the evening’s first-rate moments is Soon/Now/Later performed by John Dossett, Laura Benanti and Danny Gurwin. John Dossett as always, is committed and brings class to his work - making a good case for himself as a candidate for Frederik in the Night Music revival. The actors are joined by the American Theater Orchestra for the first time on the recording and Benanti and Gurwin are in fine clarion voice here alongside the orchestra - making this a fantastic live take.
An exciting dynamic of the recording is that it features original cast members reprising their roles, paired with today’s generation of Broadway actors delivering new interpretations. A fine example is Alexander Gemignani from the Assassin’s Broadway production performing Unworthy of Your Love alongside the remarkable Annie Golden from the original Off-Broadway production.
Conductor Paul Gemignani handles the orchestral pieces with great flair and movement. Losing My Mind has never sounded more sensitive or multifaceted in its arrangement than it does here. If Donna Murphy happens to produce flat tones on occasion it is still great to hear her tackle the piece.
Neil Patrick Harris adds a contemporary pop feel to Sunday in the Park With George’s Finishing the Hat. Telly Leung makes a meal out of A Bowler Hat -- with only piano accompaniment the stark reality of the piece is quite effective. Heidi Grant Murphy secures her place as the finest interpreter of Green Finch and Linnet Bird here, though her performance on the New York Philharmonic recording of Sweeney Todd is more nuanced, she remains unrivaled in her skill.
Closing the evening The Juilliard Choral Union is on hand to perform Sunday. A fresh arrangement seeks to give new life to a piece which doesn’t need the help - but it falls short of a truly breathtaking achievement due to its stuffy performance. As two characters critique in Sunday in the Park With George the piece has ’no life.’ It fails to have the immediacy that the original cast possessed. What would have been a far more interesting tribute would have been to ask Billy Porter and the Broadway Gospel Choir to perform their arrangement of Sunday which is simply astounding and innovative.
Available only at Symphony Space’s website: Wall to Wall Sondheim is another must have in any theater collector’s library. It has been quite some time that an evening of Sondheim’s work has been recorded and made available to the public. Growing up I’ve listened to all of them; Wall to Wall Sondheim provides a fresh take on many favorites, and some visits with ’old friends.’
by Stephen Sondheim
$20 Exclusively from www.symphonyspace.org
