Passion

Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series presents Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, featuring Tony Award-winners Audra McDonald, Patti LuPone, and Michael Cerveris.

Described as “the most voluptuous score with characteristic string and wind sounds of yearning and erotic reverie,” (Evening Standard) this legendary musical theater piece was originally produced for Broadway by Lincoln Center Theater in 1994. Lonny Price will direct this semi-staged concert version, originally produced by the Ravinia Festival in 2003, with music by a 56-piece orchestra.

Based on the novel Fosca by Igino Tarchetti and the film Passion D’amore by Ettore Scola, this musical, with a book by James Lapine, explores love and obsession through the story of Giorgio (Cerveris), an officer in the 1863 Italian Army who carries on an affair through the mail with Clara (McDonald), a married woman. When Fosca (LuPone), the sickly, wretched sister of the colonel becomes obsessed with Giorgio, her passion begins to eat at his soul until he gives in to her overpowering love. The show includes the songs “I Wish I Could Forget You,” “No One Has Ever Loved Me,” and “Loving You.”