LaChiusa vs. Sondheim- Page 3

[dgjbear]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#50

Posted: 4/20/06 at 4:05am

'I think LaChiusa is a genius and I adore his work, but it's hard to compare *anyone* to Sondheim'


Other than Ghandi you mean?

[Mister Matt]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#51

Posted: 4/20/06 at 11:22am

"but people are so enamoured with him that they've lost artistic perspective on his work"

I don't like Follies.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

[FranklinShepard-Inc.]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#52

Posted: 4/20/06 at 11:29am

Ahh, the thread's back. Oh comfort and joy! I myself love Follies. So, that's said then too

[Roninjoey]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#53

Posted: 4/20/06 at 1:32pm

There really is such comfort and joy nestling here up Stephen Sondheim's butt.

yr ronin,
joey

[Sumofallthings]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#54

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:25pm

You can smell the talent.

BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

[BSoBW2]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#55

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:45pm

Sorry. I didn't mean Sondheim compromises the understanding of the piece for some high quality rhymes.

I was comparing LaChiusa to other composers. No names.

But, as long as we're on it, how many people sit there working out the rhymes in a Sondheim piece before even understanding what's going on. Even Sondheim admitted he knows that his rhymes are difficult and sometimes make it harder to understand the piece.

[Roninjoey]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#56

Posted: 4/20/06 at 2:57pm

I don't have a problem. I don't see how rhymes can make it difficult to understand something. If anything they make it easier. It's not the rhymes, maybe it's just the words or the depth of expression. He means it is difficult to sing them sometimes.

yr ronin,
joey

[BSoBW2]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#57

Posted: 4/20/06 at 3:00pm

No, he was talking about the audience.

(Note, I don't have a problem understanding. And you don't. But the average theatre-goer is around Webber-level.*)

*That isn't an insult. It's like saying, you took Calc 101 but did not take the next level.

[lildogs]

re: LaChiusa vs. Sondheim#58

Posted: 7/3/06 at 7:50am

Jazzy, the lyrics to CATS wer written by TS Eliot, not ALW, so the comparing "Jellicle Cats" to "Miller's Son" doesn't make much sense.

And as for SS intentions when writing a musical, I believe it was Oscar Hammerstein who advised him to write what he (Sondheim) would like to see on stage. I can't imagine SS had dollar signs in his eyes when he wrote Passion--of course he wants people to enjoy his work and see his shows, but I believe he wants the approval of those in the know and not a group of charletons eager to buy t-shirts, key chains and snow globes to take back home to Duluth.