Interview: NY Pops Salute Sondheim at Carnegie Hall - Alexander Gemignani

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 throughout 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.

Over the next week we will do our part to celebrate Stephen Sondheim by bringing you interviews with everyone involved - starting with Alex Gemignani:

How was the first rehearsal?

It was great! We are all old friends and it is such a treat to perform Sondheim's work with friends.

Could you pick a favourite song that you will be performing at Carnegie Hall?

It's so hard to pick! But I do get to sing "Not While I'm Around" which I have never sung before so I am excited for the challenge.

You were the last one cast for this production and were a late addition, how did you become involved?

Ann Swanson from the New York POPS reached out and of course my answer was that I was free! I am really really pleased that it was able to happen. It is really such a pleasure to do Sondheim any time you get the chance, and to do it at Carnegie Hall is even better.

What unique challenges or opportunities exist when performing with a full Symphony Orchestra?

One of the great things about Sondheim's work is that it is always brand new every time you do it. Any context becomes a rediscovery of the brilliant wordplay and music. Getting to perform with an orchestra is a great experience, it doesn't happen everyday and brings a whole new colour and (in a sense) a new character to the pieces.

Do you remember your first introduction/exposure to Sondheim's work?

Well, thanks to my father I was familiar with Sondheim all my life (father is Broadway Musical Director Paul Gemignani). Sunday in the Park with George was around debuted when I was about five and I didn't get to see it live, but I listened to the music many times. And then Into the Woods I saw over twenty-five times. My Dad worked on it and it was a really amazing experience as a child. I could hang out in the pit or backstage, and I remember there was this giant speaker that I would sit on and just watch the performances. I have very fond memories of that show.

If you could choose any Sondheim role to get to perform, what would it be?

There are a lot of male roles I would love to do if I had the time. Fred in A Little Night Music, Sweeney in Sweeney Todd. I actually did get to perform Sweeney for a few weeks while it was on tour (Alex was also Beadle Bamford in the Broadway Revival of Sweeney Todd) but I would like to do the role again. Also I would love to do Pacific Overtures but given the fact that I'm not Asian that probably won't happen. Two other favourites are Frank or Charlie from Merrily We Roll Along.

The Sweeney Todd Revival was very unique in that it had the actors playing their own instruments on stage. Some people loved it while others thought it didn't work. As an actor, how did you find the experience?

Working with John Doyle is a gift and I have been lucky enough to do it many times. It was lovely and it was very inspiring as an artist. I have the Sweeney Todd Original Cast Recording literally burned into my brain so to get to approach it from a completely different angle was both thrilling and rewarding. I think it is a true testament to Sondheim that he allows his work to be re-imagined in such creative ways.

Collaboration really is a lost art. And yet here we have this brilliant writer who approaches everything with an open heart and an open mind. I am both glad and proud to have been a part of that production - it certainly wasn't safe, but it was very theatrical.

What would you say to young people who haven't yet been exposed to Sondheim to encourage them to experience his work?

I would say that this is a man who operates on a completely different plain. His canon exists in my mind in its own category. In a way, you can't really call yourself a fan of musical theatre until you welcome him into your ears and heart. Run out and get something - anything - that he has done. It will definitely create an opinion. And as for his birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall, grab tickets, come down - it's going to be a complete ball.

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