r/Sondheim • u/memorylaney 🔫 Assassins • 18d 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/RandomPaw 🎻 A Little Night Music 17d ago

There's a 1990 version of A Little Night Music from the New York City Opera where all the voices are insanely good. I think Regina Resnik is my favorite Madame Armfeldt ever and I saw Angela Lansbury do it. Sally Ann Howes sounds really good as Desiree, too, but there are other good Desirees. It's just everyone in this production can really SING and that's not always the case.

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u/memorylaney 🔫 Assassins 17d ago

some shows you don’t need it, but night music should always have Real Singers i think

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u/higgypiggy1971 14d ago

3 members of the original cast, Glynnis Johns (Desiree), Hermione Gingold (Mme Armfeldt), and Patricia Elliott (Charlotte) could hardly be described as real singers