BWW Exclusive: Sondheim's 80th Birthday at Carnegie Hall - Christiane Noll

2010 has been a landmark year for Stephen Sondheim. He celebrated his 80th Birthday on March 22nd, and has been honoured in many very special ways (including having a theatre named after him). To close out the year, the last Sondheim celebration is happening on November 19th at Carnegie Hall, where Steven Reineke and the New York Pops have put together a special evening in his honour, featuring many of the great songs and music he has written through his career. Joining Mr. Reineke and the New York Pops are four very talented performers: Kate Baldwin, Christiane Noll, Aaron Lazar and Alex Gemignani.

In a year that has seen two Broadway productions of Sondheim's work (Sondheim on Sondheim and the revival of A Little Night Music) what better way to end the birthday celebrations than by hearing Mr. Sondheim's amazing music with the backing of a full symphonic orchestra and a choir, and as sung by some of the leading talents to grace the Broadway stage in the last few years. BWW is thrilled to bring you exclusive interviews with each of the five main people involved in this special celebration, as they share with us stories of Stephen Sondheim and how his music has shaped their lives and careers.

Today we are speaking with Christiane Noll:

Congratulations on performing at Sondheim's 80th Birthday Celebration. Now for the impossible question, can you pick a favourite song or show from his canon?

To pick a favourite song would be pretty much impossible, it's constantly changing with time and age and life experience. As for a show, I think that Sweeney Todd is probably the perfect American opera. The characters and the lyrics are amazing and I really appreciate it. It is incredible, any curiosity you could possibly have about any character - you can find the answer in the score and you can hear it. To say that it's brilliant is an understatement.

If you could pick any female role to play in a Sondheim show, what would it be?

Dot from Sunday in the Park with George. At this concert I get to sing Move On and I'm really excited about that.

Do you remember one of your early Sondheim experiences?

Absolutely. I remember doing Into the Woods with a regional theatre and my Junior Recital when I was in Carnegie Mellon was a Sondheim piece. It's strange, when you are younger you think to yourself "I'm the best Sondheim singer ever!" You become so enamored with the man and his work so then when you finally get to do a show of his it is truly special to get to put your own stamp on it.

How has Sondheim's music affected you personally?

One thing I think is amazing about his music is how a person's opinion of the songs can really change and evolve throughout their lives. For instance, I never realized how many of his songs are actually lullaby appropriate until I had my daughter. I remember sitting and trying to decide what I could sing to her, and so many Sondheim songs came to mind. Songs like Not While I'm Around, Send in the Clowns and Children Will Listen.

In fact, Send in the Clowns was the very first song I sung to my daughter after she was born. She was still in the hospital and I was thinking about what I could sing to her that she might have heard when she was in utero. It was a spectacular experience. As soon as I sang the lines "isn't it rich? Are we a pair?" she calmed right down and my husband and I just sat there with tears streaming down our faces. Now I get to sing that song at Carnegie Hall and it will certainly have a different feel to it than it would have before she was born.

Do you find that you have to prepare yourself differently for a Symphonic performance versus a Broadway show?

Not really. When I sang with the Washington National Opera I didn't have a mic and that was terrifying. With the POPS you are mic'd and you are singing "popular" songs so it isn't too different. The music is amazing though. You almost never get to hear Sondheim's songs this way in a Symphonic Hall. There are 80 pieces playing the music and it's just an explosion of sound that will carry you like a wave. The Sweeney Todd suite gives me goosebumps every time.

What would you say to people who are debating coming out to see something like this, but aren't really sure what to expect?

I would tell them to come out! It's really amazing, I'm running the gamut of all different kinds of music. I get to sing some amazing pieces and explore my ingénue wings again. Plus it's incredibly special, there is only going to be one 80th Birthday Celebration at Carnegie Hall and it is truly an incredible space to get to hear this music.

Sondheim is all about evolution, he is debatably the most significant American composer ever. He changed what musical theatre is all about. I couldn't be more excited or honoured to be part of an evening that is dedicated to recognizing his talent.

When and Where?
Stephen Sondheim's 80th Birthday Celebration

Carnegie Hall

W 57th & Seventh Ave.; New York NY

November 19th, 2010 at 8PM

Select tickets still available and can be purchased by phone at 212-247-7800 or online at www.carnegiehall.org