The genius of Stephen Sondheim

Chief theatre critics of The New York Times reflect on the stage musicals of the composer and lyricist, who celebrates his 90th birthday on Sunday

Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for West Side Story (above) and the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street.
Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for West Side Story (above) and the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. PHOTOS: NYTIMES
Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (above).
Stephen Sondheim wrote the lyrics for West Side Story and the music and lyrics for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (above). PHOTOS: NYTIMES
Stephen Sondheim.
Stephen Sondheim. PHOTOS: NYTIMES
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal as Georges Seurat in a 2017 staging of Sunday In The Park With George (above). The musical won Sondheim a Pulitzer Prize in the 1980s.
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal as Georges Seurat in a 2017 staging of Sunday In The Park With George (above). The musical won Sondheim a Pulitzer Prize in the 1980s. PHOTOS: NYTIMES
Ben Brantley and Jesse Green
Updated
Published
March 16, 2020 at 5:00 AM
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

NEW YORK • Stephen Sondheim has been the composer and lyricist of 15 stage musicals and the lyricist for three others. Ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday, the chief theatre critics for The New York Times weigh in on all of them.

The start of Sondheim's Broadway career was inauspicious.

Already a subscriber? 

Dive deeper at $0.99/month

Want more exclusives, sharp insights into what's happening at home and abroad? Subscribe to stay informed.

ST One Digital Package - Monthly

$9.90 $0.99/month

No contract

$0.99/month for the first 3 months, $9.90/month thereafter. T&Cs apply.

Subscribe now

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • 2-week e-paper archive so you never miss out on any topic that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 16, 2020, with the headline The genius of Stephen Sondheim. Subscribe

Available for
iPhones and iPads
Available in
Google Play

MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

Back to the top