Legendary Composer and Incomparable Lyricist; Stephen Sondheim Dies at 91
The world has said goodbye to one of the most brilliant creative minds it has ever seen as legendary composer Stephen Sondheim dies at 91 years old.
There may not have been a more important voice in musical theater than Sondheim; as the vitality of his works has contributed more to the current state of musical theater than any single person in history.
Born in New York, New York in 1930, no one is responsible for bringing more timeless classics to the stage than Sondheim; crafting over 16 full-length musicals spanning a nearly 70-year career.
There isn’t a single person who hasn’t been exposed to at least one of Sondheim’s masterpieces, as is theater productions have seemingly each become a major piece of American theater and have persevered on the stage as revived classics throughout Sondheim’s life.
i’m literally at a loss for words. stephen is the reason i make art. he’s the reason why i MUST tell stories. he’s taught millions. millions that, like me, will never get to shake his hand… to personally say Thank You. but here’s some pixels. thank you, stephen. rest in love. pic.twitter.com/ThkjaONtEv
— Jordan Fisher (@jordanfisher) November 26, 2021
His breakthrough piece, West Side Story in 1957, became an unrivaled classic that has been adapted for film twice; once in 1961 by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins in a masterpiece that garnered 11 Academy Award Nominations, and again being revived by Steven Spielberg in a 2022 film production.
A story as captivating and generationally defining as that would surely have qualified as the once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece for anyone, but it was just the beginning of Sondheim’s indelible and persevering legacy on the stage.
Very sad to hear of the passing of the great Stephen Sondheim. I was fortunate to meet him and chat about songwriting. He was a witty intelligent man. 'Send in the Clowns' is one of my favourite songs. So well crafted and beautiful with it. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/V21XAI9zcq
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 27, 2021
Gypsy, the often-quoted Company, Follies, the beloved gothic masterwork of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the incredible story of love and artistry (and my personal favorite Sondheim piece) Sunday in the Park With George, and the wonderful classic of Into the Woods.
Sondheim’s incomparable legacy on the stage has been honored with an Academy Award, eight Tony Awards, eight Grammy Awards, and a shared Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his work on Sunday in the Park With George alongside James Lapine.
I am so so sad to lose my friend Steve Sondheim He gave me so much to sing about ♥️♥️I loved him dearly and will miss him so much Thank you for all the gifts you gave the world Steve♥️
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) November 26, 2021
Sondheim’s career was so illustrious that he was honored with the Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993; 15 years before he would compose his last musical in 2008.
Sondheim’s work with Disney is well noted; the legendary composer wrote two songs for the 1990 Disney film Dick Tracy, and Spielberg’s West Side Story, being producer under the Disney-owned 20th Century Fox, joins 2014’s Into The Woods as the second Disney-led adaptation of a Sondheim piece.
Thank the Lord that Sondheim lived to be 91 years old so he had the time to write such wonderful music and GREAT lyrics! May he Rest In Peace🥲🎵 🎶🎵 pic.twitter.com/vshNSdkvpQ
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) November 26, 2021
As news surfaces that Stephen Sondheim dies at 91, we admire that he was truly an incomparabel genius, and one of the greatest musical minds to ever grace this planet.
A legacy so robust with achievement it will surely never be seen again, and fingerprint left on Musical theater and future its composers, that will persevere forever in that medium.
He will be deeply missed, and forever celebrated.