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.
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.
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.
