Sondheim of the Day - West Side Story

Way back in 2009, I posted a tribute to the long-forgotten model-turned-society-hostess Ruth Ford, who hosted a famous theatrical [="gay"] salon at her home in the Dakota Building in New York:

...she hosted parties attended by such luminaries as Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, Terrence McNally and Truman Capote - just imagine a single room that could possibly hold all those queens together!

But most exciting of all, it was in Ruth Ford's apartment that a young Stephen Sondheim was first introduced to Arthur Laurents and, later, to Leonard Bernstein. Together, these three remarkable men came up with one of the best musicals of all time - West Side Story! And it was all down to Miss Ford...

One of the most extolled successes in musical theatre history, this updated version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was made even more popular when Mr Laurents and producer Robert Wise turned it into a blockbuster movie in 1961 - which went on to win 10 Academy Awards; the most ever for a musical film. [Its influence stretches even to the modern era, as Steven Spielberg's just (groan) remade it; I shan't be rushing to see that.]

For young Stephen Sondheim, this was a spectacular debut indeed!

Without further ado, on with the show. It's a familiar and well-trodden plot - but with a plethora of tight-trousered gorgeous (and indelibly camp) boys, pretending to be members of macho street gangs, cavorting in Technicolor, what's not to like..?

West Side Story - Prologue [Russ Tamblyn and the Jets vs George Shakiris and the Sharks]

Of course, its score is timeless (with typically Bernstein staccato notes balanced by Mr Sondheim's clever and complex lyrics), and birthed a number of classics...

Chita Rivera, Rita Moreno and Bette Midler - America

Pet Shop Boys - Somewhere

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Raul Esparza - A Boy Like That/I Have a Love

[NB it was this version, from Lenny Bernstein's studio production of the score (see below) that spawned a famous French & Saunders skit]

Joyce DiDonato - I Feel Pretty

Kiri Te Te Kanawa and Jose Carreras [conductor Leonard Bernstein] - Tonight

Julian Ovenden - Maria [BBC Proms 2015]

It's no wonder, really, that West Side Story is still consistently voted among the best musicals of all time.

RIP, Stephen Joshua Sondheim (22nd March 1930 – 26th November 2021)

[One of a series of tributes I will be posting to Mr Sondheim this week. Yesterday's "Sondheim of the Day" was Company.]

One season closes...

"Prawns in the Pork, Prams in the Dark, a rose by any other name...it is a privilege and an unalloyed pleasure to present Proms in the Park before the magnificent audience that packs Hyde Park. Come rain or shine, its high spirits are ever buoyant. It's an evening of flags and banners, joy and laughter. And magnificent music, ending with 'Land of Hope and Glory' from 40,000 loyal throats, as fireworks light up the night over Hyde Park." (Sir Terry Wogan)

We had another fantabulosa evening at Proms in the Park yesterday!

Happily the rain held off, we bagged an excellent spot close to the stage, and our gang brought enough crates of food and booze to keep us going for six hours. In fact, enough food and booze to keep an army going for six hours - but that is what it's all about, after all!

The early part of the evening's entertainment is traditionally devoted to tribute bands, and opening the show were Serpentine Fire (Earth Wind & Fire), the cast of the stage musical Jersey Boys (Four Seasons) and Bjorn Again (Abba). Oh, and some girl singer called Nell Bryden, whose spot was a general excuse for everyone to go to the loo...

After the break Ken Bruce handed over to the ebullient Sir Tel, and the genuine star-studded entertainment began. Dame Kiri ti Kanawa (looking spectacular), Jose Carreras (not looking quite so good), and the winner of this year's "Kiri Prize" Shuna Scott Sendall (who has a beautiful soprano voice) were all magnificent. Brian May and Kerry Ellis (showcasing their new collaboration album Anthems) were impressive, especially with the audience-rousing medley of We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions.



And then came something very special indeed - a masterful set by Mr Neil Sedaka!

We were treated to the whole gamut of his repertoire, including Calendar Girl, (Show me the way to) Amarillo, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, Love Will Keep Us Together, Oh Carol, Solitaire and of course Laughter in the Rain. Fan-bloody-tastic!

With hardly a chance to catch our breath after the live entertainment, it was time for the video link-ups - firstly with the Proms stages across the country (including the uber-sexy John Barrowman live in Salford), and a mass sing-a-long uniting all the venues' audiences to belt out You'll Never Walk Alone.

Then of course it was time for the traditional Last Night of the Proms set from the Royal Albert Hall. Despite some technical problems with the volume of Miss Renée Fleming's microphone, we sang till our throats were sore - Rule Britannia, Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and of course the National Anthem. With spectacular fireworks to finish, this was (as every year) a fitting way to wave goodbye to the Summer, and to welcome the Autumn/Winter Season in...

Last Night of the Proms 2010 - Dame Kiri te Kanawa

Last Night of the Proms 2010 - Land of Hope and Glory

BBC Proms in the Park 2010 finale

Britannia rule the waves

We had a wonderful time again at the Last Night of the Proms in Hyde Park!

A much better line-up than last year (no Chico!), with the exception of the godawful presenter Aled Jones, whose dreadful jokes and smarmy persona made the first half of the entertainment painful (we would have preferred Dick & Dom, so that's saying something!).

But the acts were all great - Bellowhead, Bjorn Again, Teatro, Sharleen Spiteri, violinist David Garrett, and of course the headliners Leslie Garrett (no relation) and Jose Carreras. Master of Ceremonies for the latter half was good old Terry Wogan, and as always the highlight was the live link to the sing-along finale featuring Bryn Terfel at the Royal Albert Hall...

All together now!

Bryn Terfel - Rule, Britannia!