LISTEN: Annie Golden & Michael Winther Sing from ASSASSINS on Sondheim Unplugged: The NYC Sessions

On Wednesday, December 1, YELLOW SOUND LABEL will release Sondheim Unplugged: The NYC Sessions - Volume One, the opening salvo of a monumental three-volume set dedicated to the oeuvre of iconic musical theater composer Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim Unplugged: The NYC Sessions, which will ultimately encompass 65 singers and 120 songs, is a landmark collection destined to be a major contribution to the canon of Sondheim recordings. The series will continue on to what would have been Sondheim's 92nd birthday, March 22, 2022 for Volume Two, and June 1, 2022 for Volume Three. The album is available for preorder at https://www.sondheimunplugged.com

Below, BroadwayWorld is excited to premiere a track form the album- "Unworthy of Your Love" from Assassins, performed by Annie Golden and Michael Winther.

Sondheim Unplugged is the smash New York revue captured here with electrifying performances from some of Broadway's most impressive vocalists, who collectively boast over 100 Broadway credits to their names. Several of the collection's key performers actually originated roles in Sondheim musicals, including Annie Golden (Assassins), Danielle Ferland (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George), and Teri Ralston (Company, A Little Night Music). The illustrious list continues with Tony Award winners (Alice Ripley), Tony Award nominees (Sally Mayes), and even an acclaimed vocal quintet (Marquee Five).

In contrast to some of the grand concert presentations of the composer's work, Sondheim Unplugged strives to convey each song simply and essentially, burnished by impeccable performances and enhanced by spare yet elegant piano accompaniment. The album highlights many of the best-loved tunes from the master composer's catalog ("Send in the Clowns," "Broadway Baby"), as well as lesser-heard, sparkling treasures from shows like The Frogs and Road Show. Recorded in the studio throughout 2020 and 2021, this is a once-in-a-generation compendium of some of the most classic songs in contemporary musical theater history.

Sondheim Unplugged - hosted by series creator Phil Geoffrey Bond, who fills the audience in on Sondheimian facts, history, and assorted tidbits of theatrical lore - has been a celebrated monthly New York event since 2010, featuring some of Broadway and the nightclub scene's most dynamic voices, accompanied by piano only. In addition to its regular home of Feinstein's/54 Below in New York, the evening has been seen in venues and performing arts centers, including NJPAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center), and in London at The Hippodrome and Live at Zedel.