"Great Performances" Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (1993)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Kirk Browning

Writer:

David Thompson (written by)

TV Series:

"Great Performances" (1972)

Original Air Date:

3 March 1993 (Season 21, Episode 3)

Genre:

Comedy | Music | Musical | Romance

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Musical Stage Production | Songwriter | Carnegie Hall | Song | Composer

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Kevin Anderson	...	Performer: song 'A Weekend in the Country' from musical 'A Little Night Music'
George Lee Andrews	...	Performer: song 'A Weekend in the Country' from musical 'A Little Night Music'
Harolyn Blackwell	...	Performer: song "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" from 'Sweeney Todd'
Peter Blanchet	...	Himself
The Boys Choir of Harlem	...	Choir
Betty Buckley	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Children Will Listen'
Patrick Cassidy	...	Himself - Performer: song 'The Ballad of Booth'
Glenn Close	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Send In the Clowns' from 'A Little Night Music'
Daisy Eagan	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Broadway Baby' from 'Follies'
Victor Garber	...	Himself - Performer: song 'The Ballad of Booth'
Jerry Hadley	...	Performer: song 'Johanna / Pretty Women' from Sweeney Todd
Kent Heacock	...	Serving Gentleman
Bill Irwin	...	Master of Ceremony
Matthew Alan Jacobs	...	Serving Gentleman
Mark Jacoby	...	Himself - Performer: song 'Getting Married Today' from 'Company'
Michael Jeter	...	Himself
Madeline Kahn	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Getting Married Today' from 'Company'
Ron Kelley	...	Serving Gentleman
Ian Klapper	...	Serving Gentleman
Beverly Lambert	...	Herself - Performer: song 'A Weekend in the Country' from 'A Little Night Music' (qv)
Jeanne Lehman	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Getting Married Today' from 'Company'
Dorothy Loudon	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Losing My Mind' from Follies / 'You Could Drive a Person Crazy' from Company
Patti LuPone	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Being Alive' from Company
Carole Meyer	...	Herself
Liza Minnelli	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Back in Business' from Dick Tracy
Maureen Moore	...	Herself - Performer: song 'A Weekend in the Country'
Richard Muenz	...	Himself
James Naughton	...	Himself
Carolann Page	...	Herself
Eugene Perry	...	Himself - Performer: song 'Johanna / Pretty Women' from Sweeney Todd
Herbert Perry	...	Himself - Performer: song 'Johanna / Pretty Women' from Sweeney Todd
Bernadette Peters	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Not a Day Goes By'
Stephen Sondheim	...	Himself
Billy Stritch	...	Himself - Performer: song 'Back in Business' from Dick Tracy
Susan Terry	...	Herself - Performer: song 'A Weekend in the Country'
John Henry Thomas	...	Serving Gentleman
Mike Timoney	...	Serving Gentleman
Blythe Walker	...	Herself
Karen Ziemba	...	Herself - Performer: song 'Sooner or Later'

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Carnegie Hall, New York

Soundtrack:

Good Thing Going

Absolute treat for Sondheim fans or wannabes.

There is not a single weak link here. Superb performances of Sondheim songs by Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, the incomparable Dorothy Loudon (she's so convincing in her portrayal of the fragile older woman that I feel guilty pressing the "rewind" button to make her do it all again!) There's an exquisite rendition of "Sooner or Later" (danced and sung) by Karen Ziemba, with a little help from Bill Irwin. Not to mention the late Madeline Kahn's contribution, "Getting Married Today".

The DVD presentation is exemplary, with each performer clearly identified on screen plus the song's provenance: just one carp! the 8 girl dancers are so impressive that they should be named on screen.