Coming Alive
Donald Macleod reflects back on the life and work of Titan of Musical Theatre, Stephen Sondheim.
All this week, Donald Macleod will be reflecting back on an interview he did with Stephen Sondheim in 2010 and updating the story of how Sondheim revolutionised the world of Musical Theatre.
It all began when, in an unimaginable stroke of luck, Oscar Hammerstein became a surrogate father figure to the young and drifting youngster. Sondheim credited Hammerstein with having taught him virtually everything he knew about lyric writing. And it was through Hammerstein that Sondheim came to the attention of Leonard Bernstein, who was looking for someone to write the lyrics for West Side Story, and famously the young Sondheim got the job.
The seeds were sown and dice were cast.
A Little Night Music: Send in the Clowns
Frank Sinatra
Saturday Night: It's That Kind of Neighbourhood
Maurice Yeoman, Simon Grieff, Jeremy David, Ashleigh Sendin, Tracie Bennett, James Millard, Mark Haddigan
Saturday Night: What More Do I Need?
Anna Francolini, Sam Newman, Saturday Night World Premiere Recording Company
West Side Story: Jet Song
Max Goberman, Mickey Calin, Original Broadway Cast of West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein: Conductor
West Side Story: Something's Coming:
Larry Kert, Max Goberman, Original Broadway Cast of West Side Story
Leonard Bernstein: Conductor
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Free
Nathan Lane
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Lovely
Jessica Bogart, Jim Stanek
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum: Pretty Little Picture
Jessica Bogart, Jim Stanek, Nathan Lane
Anyone Can Whistle: There's Always a Woman
Madeline Kahn, Bernadette Peters
American Theatre Orchestra
Paul Gemignani, Conductor
Do I Hear a Waltz?
Elizabeth Allen
Company: Barcelona
Dean Jones, Susan Browning
Company Orchestra
Harold Hastings, conductor
Company: Ladies Who Lunch
Elaine Stritch
Company Orchestra
Harold Hastings, conductor
Company: Being Alive
Dean Jones
Company Orchestra
Harold Hastings, conductor
Producer: Rosie Boulton
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
Music Played
![]()
Stephen Sondheim
Send in the Clowns
Singer: Frank Sinatra. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.- UNIVERSAL : 00602438270897.
- UNIVERSAL.
- 37.
![]()
Stephen Sondheim
Saturday Night (It's That Kind of Neighbourhood; What More Do I Need?)
Singer: Maurice Yeoman. Singer: Simon Grieff. Singer: Jeremy David. Singer: Ashleigh Sendin. Singer: Tracie Bennett. Singer: James Millard. Singer: Mark Haddigan. Ensemble: Studio-Ensemble. Singer: Anna Francolini. Conductor: Mark Warman. Singer: Sam Newman. Ensemble: Saturday Night World Premiere Recording Company.- FIRST NIGHT : 2564694366.
- FIRST NIGHT.
- 14.
![]()
Leonard Bernstein
West Side Story (Jet Song; Something's Coming)
Ensemble: West Side Story Ensemble. Ensemble: Original Broadway Cast Of West Side Story. Conductor: Max Goberman. Singer: Michael Callan. Singer: Larry Kert.- SONY : G010003720144U.
- SONY.
- 2.
![]()
Stephen Sondheim
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (selection)
Singer: Nathan Lane. Singer: Jessica Bogart. Singer: Jim Stanek. Ensemble: Studio-Ensemble. Conductor: Edward Strauss.- ANGEL : 7243 85222351.
- ANGEL.
- 4.
![]()
Stephen Sondheim
'There's Always a Woman' from Anyone Can Whistle
Singer: Madeline Kahn. Singer: Bernadette Peters. Orchestra: American Theatre Orchestra. Conductor: Paul Gemignani.- MASTERWORKS BROADWAY : G0100010269835.
- MASTERWORKS BROADWAY.
- 25.
![]()
Richard Rodgers
Do I Hear a Waltz?
Singer: Elizabeth Allen. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Frederick Dvonch.- SONY.
![]()
Stephen Sondheim
Company (Barcelona; Ladies who Lunch; Being Alive)
Orchestra: Company Orchestra. Conductor: Harold Hastings. Singer: Dean Jones. Singer: Susan Browning. Singer: Elaine Stritch. Ensemble: Original Broadway Cast Ensemble.- Masterworks Broadway : G0100009105787.
- Masterworks Broadway.
- 12.
Broadcast
- Yesterday16:00BBC Radio 3








