BWW Exclusive: Sondheim's 80th Birthday at Carnegie Hall - Steven Reineke

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.

The last person we are speaking with is Conductor Steven Reineke who was in charge of putting the event together.  A long time Sondheim lover, Mr. Reineke is being touted as the new "music man in town" in NYC.  His love of both popular music and everything Broadway brings a unique flavour to the New York Pops and promises to thrill Sondheim lovers at this very special event:

So a Sondheim Celebration at Carnegie Hall! Certainly a very large event, what was it like preparing for this concert?

It's been great! I have only ever worked with Aaron (Lazar) in the past but they are all a great bunch of people and there has been a wonderful sense of camaraderie. This is big, important and difficult. Normally we wouldn't start rehearsing as early as we did (they started two weeks prior to the show) but because of the magnitude of this production we wanted to get a head-start. Also we have certain challenges to work on. For example, with Aaron having recently starred in A Little Night Music on Broadway he has to learn a completely different version of some of that music.

What do you hope to give to the audience at this event?

Something exciting and different. It will be a familiar experience for those who come out because we are playing music that is so well known and loved, but they will be hearing it with different arrangements. Stephen Sondheim is so wonderful in that regard, he is collaborative and helpful. He actually likes hearing different versions and takes on his music. Even if he doesn't always like it, he is supportive of the process which is fantastic.

Can you give us an idea of what went into putting the program together?

I actually decided to group the program in a loose schematic fashion with Sondheim's popular recurring themes. Those who know his music will know how much he visits themes of relationships/marriage and New York City. So I started there. For instance, at the beginning we have Another Hundred People followed by So Many People followed by What More Do I Need? Great example of the themes of both love and loneliness and New York City. It's about coming to NYC, the loneliness that can be associated with it and about how moving to the city can be like a dream. And it all ends with finding love.

Later we have I Remember which segues into Send in the Clowns. This is a continuation of the themes of relationships. Getting Married Today segues right into Being Alive which is very fitting, as both deal with the fears surrounding marriage. However, we are going to do the full version of Being Alive, whereas often in concerts only the last part of the song is performed. This will allow the audience to witness the entire character transformation that occurs during that song which is very powerful and thought-provoking. I think it's important to do the entire number. Sondheim himself has said that his songs are like one act operas in a way, as they all have a story within each song. And I'm thrilled that we will get to showcase and explore that at Carnegie Hall.

Will you be featuring songs from all of the shows Sondheim has been involved in? How did you choose?

Sondheim is seen first as a lyricist and then as a composer/lyricist by many people. When he first started out he worried about being pegged as just a lyricist and didn't want that - so since this event is to honour him, we have chosen to do pieces that have both the music and lyrics written by Sondheim.

How much involvement has Sondheim had in putting this evening together?

He has been a huge help. We first were in touch about a year ago and he has been hands-on ever since. He has looked over drafts, given suggestions and helped with casting and suggesting people. All the people who are involved are very familiar with his work and he is familiar with them. That way we have a concert filled with people who really "get" the man and his music.

Can you tell us about when you first fell in love with Sondheim's music?

It was during high school when I first heard Sweeney Todd. It is such an amazing piece of music and arguably the greatest American Opera since Porgy and Bess. And now I get to celebrate the man at Carnegie Hall and it is truly a dream come true. It's a bit of a bizarre feeling being in almost daily contact with one of your idols - but Sondheim has been nothing if not extremely gracious.

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