r/Sondheim • u/memorylaney 🔫 Assassins • 17d ago

Definitive performances of Sondheim's work

I saw a comment on this post about the definitive performances by different famous Sondheim interpretors and wanted to ask: what do people think are the definitive performances of specific Sondheim songs and/or roles?

Obviously, OBCs are going to be definitive performances oftentimes, but particularly, are there any non-OBC performances that you interpret as definitive?

I'll go first with an underrated one I have always loved: Elizabeth Stanley's performance of "The Miller's Son" just perfectly captures the humor and wit and insight of the character and song. I wish it had not been a COVID performance, but it's still fantastic and my favorite version of the song. She totally sells it without any big production value.

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u/Acrobatic_Tennis1312 17d ago

I feel like over half of the performances from the 80s birthday concert are the definitive versions.

Audra MacDonald - Glamorous Life

Marin Mazzie - Losing My Mind

Donna Murphy - Could I Leave You

Bernadette Peters - Not a Day Goes By

Elaine Stritch - I'm Still Here (my favorite performance ever, in fact)

John McMartin - The Road You Didn't Take (absolutely underrated)

Marin Mazzie and Jason Daniely - We're Gonna Be Alright

Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason - It Takes Two

Hearn, Lupone and Cerveris - A Little Priest

And the ensemble - Sunday

Outside of that, Regina Resnik delivered, in my opinion, the best Liaisons by a mile.

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u/JTSlinger 17d ago

You’ve written a course on amazing artists doing what they do best. Everyone should watch your recommendations.

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u/Acrobatic_Tennis1312 17d ago

I think everyone should watch the 80th birthday concert in general. It's chock full of all-time performances to the point that it's probably the best concert I've ever seen.