FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Proms Date

Take Me To BroadwayWorld

This week, in conjunction with SOUND OFF, we are taking a look at Sunday evening's starry West End salute to Stephen Sondheim which was broadcast in the UK on TV and everywhere on the BBC website, BBC PROMS: SONDHEIM AT 80. This unforgettable event stars Dame Judi Dench, Maria Friedman, Bryn Terfel, Caroline O'Conner, Julian Ovenden, Daniel Evans, Jenna Russell and Simon Russell Beale singing selections from Sondheim's entire oeuvre - among them: "Send In The Clowns", "Broadway Baby", "Children Will Listen", "Move On" and "Side By Side". Dame Dench's recreation of her Desiree Armfeldt - a role currently essayed by Bernadette Peters who opened this week in the replacement cast of the Broadway revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, replacing Tony-winner Catherine Zeta-Jones - is merely impossibly elegant decoration on a decadently rich, rewarding, fulfilling and entertaining gateau of celebratory Sondheimian greatness. A piece of birthday cake like few others. Come see and hear some clips from it for yourself if you haven't already!

One Last Look

BBC PROMS: Sondheim At 80

The following clips are the highlights of the night, though the entire evening's entertainment is highly recommended viewing, not only for the delightfully delectable musical numbers, but also the fascinating documentary and revealing live chat with Sondheim himself during the intermission.

As a special bonus, this is a portion of the event that did not make the BBC broadcast, an inventive and quite endearing rendition of "Take Me To The World" from the TV musical EVENING PRIMROSE by members of nearly all the various BBC orchestras and musical ensembles. And considering these are mostly musicians singing, they do quite well by the song!

Also, be sure to check out my complete SOUND OFF review of the event, linked below, if you already haven't by now.

Enjoy all this excellence on display! Really, how could you not?

"A Little Priest" from SWEENEY TODD - Maria Friedman & Bryn Terfel

"Everybody Ought To Have A Maid" from A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM - Daniel Evans, Simon Russell Beale Julian Ovenden & Bryn Terfel

"Being Alive" from COMPANY - Julian Ovenden

"Send In The Clowns" from A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - Dame Judi Dench

"Side By Side" / "What Would We Do Without You" from COMPANY

That's all for this week. Please remember that if you have discovered a particularly thrilling, unique, bizarre or hilarious Broadway-related clip to please send us a line at the link below. Until next week…