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Most of the huge names of Broadway are gone. Certainly there are young talents that have created some memorable shows. Perhaps one day they will build up the mountain of classics that we received from the likes of Rodgers, Hammerstein, Bernstein, and others. There are even a couple of writers out there that have amassed that kind of a career. Andrew Lloyd Weber absolutely comes to mind as a fine example. But Stephen Sondheim is the last of a dying breed. It's been quite a while since he's created anything new, but his shows live on in revivals and film versions where they will likely continue for decades to come.

In March the writer/composer celebrated his 80th birthday in style. The bash was held at the celebrated Lincoln Center in New York. The performers included a who's who of Broadway for the last 40 years. The music was provided by the world renowned New York Philharmonic, conducted by long-time Sondheim conductor Paul Gemignani. The event was hosted by David Hyde Pierce. The concert lasts about two hours but you'll find time flies by as the show demonstrates the incredible variety of Sondheim's work. Pieces from all of his milestone shows are on display. Often the performers who originally gave voice to these pieces are on hand to deliver this tribute performance. Many of these performers hadn't seen each other in decades. They likely haven't performed these particular pieces in a long time. But not a single performance was less than magical. An absolute treat for any fan, to be sure. Sondheim also wrote a small number of scores so the show is not quite all song. There's a dance routine attached to a sample of music from the Reds score.