Art Isn’t Easy: revealing Stephen Sondheim through his music

Stephen Sondheim was the high priest of the modern musical, and almost five years on from his death, Daniel Okrent’s new biography Stephen Sondheim: Art Isn't Easy reveals probably more than the intensely private Sondheim would have liked. From the anger of Sweeney Todd, the struggle of the artist in Sunday in the Park with George, and the loneliness of Passion, his music reveals him even more than Daniel’s many interviews with his contemporaries ever could. 

Into the Woods, Sondheim’s fairytale-bending masterpiece, is being staged by Opera Queensland, and director Patrick Nolan joins Andy to talk about why Sondheim is one of the only music theatre composers regularly programmed by opera companies. 

Opera Queensland's Into the Woods is staged at QPAC 11-21 November.

Music heard in the show:

Title: Comedy TonightArtist: Zero MostelComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (Original Broadway Cast)Label: Capitol Records

Title: Prologue; Into the WoodsArtist: Tom Aldredge and Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Into The Woods (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Victor

Title: Opening DoorsArtist: Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Merrily We Roll Along (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Red Seal

Title: Being AliveArtist: Larry KentComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Company (Original Broadway Cast)Label: Columbia Masterworks

Title: Someone in a TreeArtist: Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Pacific Overtures (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Red Seal

Title: EpiphanyArtist: Len CariouComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Sweeney Todd (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA

Title: Finishing the HatArtist: Mandy PatinkinComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Sunday in the Park With George (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Red Seal

Title: Ever After, Act II Prologue, I Guess This Is Goodbye, Any Moment, FinaleArtist: Tom Aldredge and Original Broadway CastComposer: Sondheim, StephenAlbum: Into The Woods (Original Broadway Cast)Label: RCA Victor

The Music Show is made on Gadigal, Gundungurra, Jagera and Turrbal, and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country

Technical production by Simon Branthwaite