Sondheim on The American Musical Theater

Stephen Sondheim appears on The American Musical Theater, aired October 15, 1961.

[@arthurboehm]

This one made me weep. So much gone--including the genre itself. But, fortunately, so much preserved.

[@leslieackerman4189]

Fascinating document. It’s amazing how consistent Sondheim was throughout his life in responding to similar questions

[@robertjackson5645]

Can you believe Mr. S. took us so far? Salute Sir.

[@highbaritone]

This is wonderful. I thank you too.

[@VallaMusic]

actually intelligent TV for the masses - amazing

[@Mollasandra]

Just WOW. What a gem to get to see and experience. How I wish this kind of excellence was far more prevalent than what passes today for the art and craft of musical theater. I am so delighted to have been able to see this and hear the gorgeous voices, and the spectacular music conducted and played so brilliantly.

[@dorememe8548]

Sondheim’s words are obviously brilliant. The arranger’s insight and words of advice are brilliant. The performers’ musicianship is exquisite.

[@tris7441]

RIP Stephen Sondheim a true musical legend

[@MichaelYoder1961]

Thanks for this - such a young Stephen and his views on his own work. And so interesting how the style of singing has changed over the years. ZT'l Stephen, you live one through your words and music.

[@barrysimon7187]

This is a really fascinating historical document. Pre-Funny Thing where Sondheim is already tinkering with the form of musical theater before he would re-define it completely as his mentor had with Showboat and Oklahoma. He would hold his opinions about his lyrics in Gypsy and West Side Story for a long time when, many years later, he would repeat them in his two wonderful books about lyrics. Beyond Sondheim, the host talks about the "men" who create musical theater. And it was men mostly. And then there is the totally male orchestra, mostly white. This is surely a black-and-white document of a different time when musical theater in particular was at the cusp of major changes.

[@Butlinsgvn6]

Great to hear from the orchestrator, and very interesting to hear how he thought the craft of the composer was going downhill in his time

[@bro1965]

This was back when high school students dressed up (ties for the boys, necklaces for the girls) because they were going to be in the audience for a TV show.

[@anthonywilliams6764]

Wonderful to listen to Stephen talking about how he creates such supreme lyrics, and to have the song performed by such great singers. Thank You for a glorious upload.

[@carolsummers7414]

Great. Thank you for posting.

[@miriamschwan7881]

I can‘t believe how honest they are. A rare treat! ❤

[@Doubidouble]

Thank you so much for posting this! What an enriching and interesting testament of a great artist!

[@bigdog38au]

Thanks for the great posts John!

[@meveevem1001]

How wonderful to have documentation there was a time our culture was elegant

[@SallyGreenaway]

Great look at history here. I'm so sad that very few of these TV studios with orchestras/bands/grand pianos exist any more. But I'm also heartened that more women are involved in professional music making in orchestras and composing in the public sphere nowadays. It certainly was an era!

[@jaymorgenthal9479]

A raw WCBS video tape before it was edited for broadcast. Very, very rare

[@nokocchi1983]

he's so cute 🥺🥺🥺

[@mckavitt13]

That Martha is wonderful! A fab singer! Why don't I know her better? PS. Ressembles Doris Day just a tad.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

FORUM to star Milton Berle!

[@willcwhite]

"in-apropos"

[@Dan_G.R.S.]

The "Small World" performance in this really made me wish one could watch the original Gypsy with Ethel Merman, so I went looking for it and found it! Here goes: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWXPgJybn5WehNksi=Sw61hbifzJY83I_9 Obviously we all knew how she sung those songs, but comparing the delivery here to, say, the incredible LuPone version from 2007/8 and it's night and day. Current versions of Gypsy are so funny and a bit more on the nose with the humour, seeing the same material performed with this classic style of acting is quite interesting, especially from Merman. "Small World" for example is such a funny song, yet in this it's played completely straight, probably because it's removed from the context of the actual show.

[@highbaritone]

Martha Wright? I have to look her up. She is great.

[@MosheFeder]

I bet it irked Steve that the opening music was Jule Styne's rather than his own. Perhaps it explains his expression the first time we see him.

[@joshuakohlmann9731]

At this stage, he hadn't had a show performed with his own music.. This was before A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.

[@durmdave3673]

Today, some in the audience would be checking their phones. A different time. In some ways, better; in others, worse.