Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano

Concert pianist Anthony de Mare pays tribute to Stephen Sondheim in a fascinating project. De Mare invited composers from a broad variety of genres – from Sondheim’s own world of musical theater to jazz, classical, pop, film and beyond – to “re-imagine” a Sondheim song of their choice as a solo piano piece. Contributing re-composers include Steve Reich, Wynton Marsalis, Jason Robert Brown, Duncan Sheik, David Shire, Nico Muhly, Thomas Newman, Jake Heggie, and more – in total, 36 composers, ranging in age from 30 – 75 and representing seven countries and 29 Grammy, Pulitzer, Tony, Academy and Emmy Awards. “Each of the composers is having a conversation with Mr. Sondheim,” Anthony de Mare told the New York Times, “with his material but also his influence, his musical wit and his craft.”

This concert will focus on the theater, film and opera composers from the collection, setting the pace for The Sheen Center’s future unique concert programming. It is the second in a three-concert series including Birdland in September and Symphony Space in November, and coincides with the ECM Records release of The Liaisons Project as a 3-CD set in September 2015.