14 songs to introduce Stephen Sondheim, chosen by artists and Times writers

The New York Times asked notable fans and its own writers and editors to pick 14 songs that would introduce a newcomer to Stephen Sondheim. The roundup notes Sondheim died in 2021 at the age of 91 and that he wrote music and lyrics for 15 Broadway musicals that opened between 1962 and 2023, plus one in 1954 that did not open.

The piece highlights that Sondheim also wrote for television ("Evening Primrose") and films ("Dick Tracy," "Stavisky," "Reds," "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution") and calls his body of work an oeuvre unto itself. Contributors include Judy Collins, Mandy Patinkin, Renée Fleming, Michael R.

Jackson, Melissa Errico, Tony Kushner, Sherman Irby and Times writers and editors. Judy Collins chose "Send In the Clowns" from A Little Night Music, saying that when she first heard it she "just lost my mind" and quoting the opening "Da da da da!" She singled out the lyric "Isn't it rich?" and noted, as the piece recounts, that Sondheim "thought it was a terrible song" even though it became his only hit.

Helen Shaw recommends "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd," pointing to Sondheim's quotation of the Dies Irae and describing the score's dramatic climaxes, including voices pushing to a "Hiiiiiiighhhhh C sharp!!!!" Renée Fleming highlights "Not While I'm Around," noting how the melody and Jonathan Tunick's orchestration reveal darker motives in the plot when Toby realizes Sweeney is a murderer.

stephen sondheim

send in the clowns

a little night music

the ballad of sweeney todd

sweeney todd

not while i'm around

judy collins

renée fleming

mandy patinkin

michael r. jackson

melissa errico

tony kushner

sherman irby

new york times writers

losing my mind

the ladies who lunch

company musical

follies musical

sally durant plummer

evening primrose

jonathan tunick orchestration

dies irae

dick tracy soundtrack

the seven-per-cent solution

reds film

stavisky film

14 songs sondheim