Lloyd Webber's Best Work?- Page 2
Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#25Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/10/16 at 7:21pm
Although I will acknowledge that PHANTOM is probably his most theatrical work, my two favorite Lloyd-Webber musicals are ASPECTS OF LOVE and SUNSET BOULEVARD. There have been some negative comments on the book and lyrics for these two musicals. If you check the original source materials for them, Billy Wilder's film noir classic of SUNSET BOULEVARD and the ASPECTS OF LOVE novella by Bloomsbury Group member David Garnett, the two musicals are actually very faithful adaptations of the original material. What Lloyd-Webber has added to enrich them is his great gift for melody!
His JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR ( Bible-inspired) and EVITA ( biopic) are also very noteworthy additions to his rich musical portfolio.
The running theme of his more favored works seem to be that they were mainly adaptations ( including PHANTOM which is based on Gaston Leroux's novel).
#26Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/10/16 at 8:41pm
Jesus Christ Superstar, by far. I also like Evita and School of Rock. Don't really like any of his other musicals but there's great music to be found in most of them. Even Cats has "Memory."
Ranger Tom
Leading Actor Joined: 7/6/14
#27Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/10/16 at 9:14pm
JCS! And, I will admit, I will go see Joseph ten times before I'll go see POTO.
#29Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/10/16 at 10:16pm
First off, let me say, I am so happy right now to be answering this question on the Broadwayworld.com message board. I really enjoy you guys.
Ok, the best, I think, is Jesus Christ Superstar. That, in my opinion is his only classic. So many memorable songs, very well put together, excellent concept.
The other contender is Evita, but that doesn't quite make it. The idea of Evita plays very well on the recordings. The songs are fabulous. I wore out my Mandy-Patti version, and listened to it so much that I think 25 years later I can still recite sing the whole album from memory.
However, each time I see it on stage, I'm not impressed. It seems like everything is TOLD to you, not much is shown. I don't think it works on stage. That said, if LuPone is in it, who cares? The videos of her in the original B'way production singing Rainbow High are nothing less than supernatural. She's possessed, and her voice is a thing of wonder.
I also like Joseph. I think after after that they all decreased in quality, with maybe a little bump up with Phantom.
#30Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/10/16 at 10:34pm
SUNSET BOULEVARD. A lot of it has to do with the source material being so great, but ALW definitely rose to the occasion.
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#31Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/10/16 at 11:24pm
Andrew Little-Talent Webber has no best work. He's overrated!
#32Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 1:43am
I think I enjoy Sunset the most. Buckley's vocals in combination with some of those melodies are almost as good as anything else that's been sung on the Broadway stage. Issue for me is there are a few great songs and a lot of throwaway boring/irritating songs.
I want to like Evita but I don't know if it works well without a very strong vocalist in the leading role..even then to me it sounds like they are screeching and singing outside a range that is comfortable for the human voice (not too pleasant on the ears to me). It's kind of like watching Spiderman the Musical - that tingle knowing someone is probably about to hurt themselves. I find the character extremely unlikable, too. Still, I do very much enjoy the key change in "Rainbow high", and "Don't Cry For Me" etc.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 11/11/16 at 01:43 AM
#34Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 10:06pm
jo said: " Although I will acknowledge that PHANTOM is probably his most theatrical work, my two favorite Lloyd-Webber musicals are ASPECTS OF LOVE and SUNSET BOULEVARD. There have been some negative comments on the book and lyrics for these two musicals. If you check the original source materials for them, Billy Wilder's film noir classic of SUNSET BOULEVARD and the ASPECTS OF LOVE novella by Bloomsbury Group member David Garnett, the two musicals are actually very faithful adaptations of the original material....
"
Faithfulness to the original source is NOT an argument for the merits of an adaptation. In fact, fidelity is almost always the kiss of death (and is certainly most of what is wrong with SUNSET BOULEVARD).
Any adaptation (but particularly one to a different medium) can only be judged on its own merits.
#35Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 10:09pm
I find EVITA tolerable, but the only ALW show that actually works for me is JOSEPH (essentially a one-act, minus the disco medley at the end).
GroupAGroup1
Understudy Joined: 12/30/14
#36Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 10:25pm
To those naming ASPECTS OF LOVE as a favorite: please explain, I'd genuinely like to know why. Because I don't understand how *anyone* could say that: yes, the score is lovely, but the story is completely ridiculous (everyone jumps into bed with everyone on a dime!) and pretty much all the characters are horrible human beings. It's a show that's hilariously awful - but awful it is.
#37Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 10:50pm
Well, I think I explained that it's all about the music for me. That's enough to make me want to listen to it on a regular basis (and see it on the very rare occasions when it's performed).
There are parts of the story I like: the Rose/Giulietta friendship, and a lot of the material near the end, from George's funeral up to Rose's "don't leave me!" But I do acknowledge that, overall, it's dramatically quite weak.
I guess we differ on whether a beautiful score alone can make a show worthwhile.
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#38Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 10:59pm
GavestonPS said: "jo said: " Although I will acknowledge that PHANTOM is probably his most theatrical work, my two favorite Lloyd-Webber musicals are ASPECTS OF LOVE and SUNSET BOULEVARD. There have been some negative comments on the book and lyrics for these two musicals. If you check the original source materials for them, Billy Wilder's film noir classic of SUNSET BOULEVARD and the ASPECTS OF LOVE novella by Bloomsbury Group member David Garnett, the two musicals are actually very faithful adaptations of the original material....
"
Faithfulness to the original source is NOT an argument for the merits of an adaptation. In fact, fidelity is almost always the kiss of death (and is certainly most of what is wrong with SUNSET BOULEVARD).
Any adaptation (but particularly one to a different medium) can only be judged on its own merits.
"
I only wanted to say that he used the original source material practically for the entire book and libretto ...and whether that contributed to the success of the adaptation or the occasional negative response to the show is really up to the audience.
jo
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#39Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/11/16 at 11:04pm
GroupAGroup1 said: "To those naming ASPECTS OF LOVE as a favorite: please explain, I'd genuinely like to know why. Because I don't understand how *anyone* could say that: yes, the score is lovely, but the story is completely ridiculous (everyone jumps into bed with everyone on a dime!) and pretty much all the characters are horrible human beings. It's a show that's hilariously awful - but awful it is.
"
I saw the musical both at the West End and on Broadway and I liked it a lot! I also think that this is one of his best musical scores -- it is achingly romantic, lyrical, and beautiful! It is also very well-sung!
I have read the original novella by Bloomsbury Group member David Garnett ( and the companion book to the staging of the musical) so I knew what to expect. ALWebber does like to use controversial themes in his work.
Also, I do like the setting of southern France, a place I have often visited. So, my preference is quite personal, too.
#40Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/12/16 at 3:19am
Sunset, Evita, Aspects...
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
broadwayguy91
Broadway Star Joined: 12/23/15
#41Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/12/16 at 10:43am
POTO, but I don't know how much percent of my love for that show is due to Maria Bjornson's unmatched classic design elements.
#42Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/13/16 at 11:07am
For me, it's Evita. By far.
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Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#43Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/13/16 at 12:29pm
I'd say either Jesus Christ Superstar or Evita. I agree with the other posters in that a lot of my love for Phantom is because of Maria Bjornson's designs.
bwayalltheway
Chorus Member Joined: 10/22/08
#44Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/13/16 at 3:09pm
While I've never seen it live, I'm quite partial to Song and Dance (act one, at least). I find it to be one of his best scores both musically and theatrically. Bernadette Peters performance on the album takes my breath away every time I listen to it.
#45Lloyd Webber's Best Work?
Posted: 11/13/16 at 7:10pm
As a whole piece for me it's Phantom hands down. I was obsessed with the show as a kid, then went through a period where I didn't care for it, then kinda came back to it as an adult, and realized no, this some beautiful work. There are actually some fantastic things in all of scores that I really enjoy. But just as whole well worked, beautiful melodic, score it has to be Phantom.
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