Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein was one of the handful
of greatest conductors of the twentieth
century, through his work in a handful of
Broadway musicals, he was a songwriter of
enormous distinction. He was born on
August 25, 1918 in Lawrence,
Massachusetts into a family of Russian
Jewish immigrants. In 1944 he teamed up
with choreographer Jerome Robbins to do
a musical, a musical comedy about three
sailors on leave for a night in New York.
Bernstein's friends Betty Comden and
Adolph Green were invited to write the
book and lyrics for the show, and, when it
opened on December 28, 1944, it became
one of the great hits of the American stage.
Among the songs in this show were
"Lonely Town", "Carried Away",
"New York, New York", and "Some Other
Time".
And then in 1957 came Bernstein's
masterpiece, the unforgettable West Side
Story, with lyrics by the young Stephen
Sondheim, amazing choreography by
Jerome Robbins (who also directed), and
songs that included "Something's Coming",
"Maria", "Tonight", "I Feel Pretty", and
"One Hand, One Heart".Bernstein did not
write another Broadway musical until 1976,
when, with Alan Jay Lerner, he created the
unsuccessful 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Leonard Bernstein died in New York on
October 14, 1990.
Stephen Sondheim
Sondheim is one of the very few tunesmiths to have garnered both Tony awards and Oscars for his multi- directional
output, not to mention literally countless other accolades for his unique talents.
Stephen Sondheim was born in 1930 and raised in New York City.
Sondheim's creativity came into play soon after departing from college when he wrote lyrics for such highly skilled
composers as Leonard Bernstein ("West Side Story") and Jule Styne ("Gypsy") within the two year span of 1957 to 1959.
Soon thereafter, in 1962, came one of Sondheim's most notable successes, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Forum," in which he created both the music and lyrics. Two years later, a virtually unending series of successful
musicals featuring both music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, began their collective run extending well into the
1990s. Beginning in 1964 with "Anyone Can Whistle," the list includes "Follies," "A Little Night Music," "The Frogs,”
"Pacific Overtures," "Sweeney Todd," "Merrily We Roll Along," "Into the Woods," "Assassins," "Passion" and "Company."
He was also the lyricist for "Do I Hear a Waltz" and "Candide" presentations such as “Side by Side by Sondheim”, “Marry
Me a Little”, “You’re Gonna Love Tomorrow” and “Putting it Together”.
Sondheim is the owner of five Tony Awards (Best Score for a Musical) for "Into the Woods,” Sweeney Todd," "A Little
Night Music," "Follies" and "Company." All these shows also won New York Drama Critics Circle Awards, as did "Pacific
Overtures".
In 1983, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 1990, he was appointed the first visiting
professor of Contemporary Theatre at Oxford University.
In 1993, he was the recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center honours.
Maria
Words & music by:-
Leonard Bernstein & Stephen Sondheim.
The most beautiful sound I ever heard:
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
All the beautiful sounds of the world in a single word
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria
Maria!
I've just met a girl named Maria,
And suddenly that name
Will never be the same
To me.
Maria!
I've just kissed a girl named Maria,
And suddenly I've found
How wonderful a sound
Can be!
Maria!
Say it loud and there's music playing,
Say it soft and it's almost like praying.
Maria,
I'll never stop saying Maria!
The most beautiful sound I ever heard.
Maria.