I didn't like the characters, found the plot melodramatic and the music sort of boring. I am a HUGE sondheim fan, and this is probably the only show of his I really didn't like....
for people who did like it: What do you see that I don't?
I love this musical, but every time I watch the movie, Georgio reminds me of Trapper John from MASH, and it's hard to take him seriously in the beginning...
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
My only complaint about Sondheim is that his orchestrations sound so dated. You listen to, say, John Adams... (I know he's opera but go with it) His orchestra parts to Nixon in China sound fresh thirty years later. This sounds like it's from the sixties even though it was written in the 90s.
Jonathon Tunick has been Sondheim's orchestrator throughout his career. Sondheim writes the music and lyrics, but the orchestrations are not done by him; I would expect it would sound better if he did them, though. Sondheim's still THE genius of Broadway.
Well keep in mind that this isn't what most consider to be Sondheim's best score at all. Check out "A Little Night Music" or "Company", or for a more intellectual score, "Pacific Overtures". They're fantastic. "Passion" is amazing but definitely not his best musical.
I don't know how one could pick one of his scores as the "best" of the bunch. I think this score is his most beautiful, though. It's stunning. I disagree about the orchestrations, too. I think they're gorgeous. Passion is different from his other shows for sure, but it's one of my faves.
That is true. Sondheim writes his score on the piano, and Jonathon takes the piano score and expands it. In a way, Jonathon has a very tough job, but Sondheim has always trusted him with his work. That is why he is now one of the most prolific orchestrators today--the man knows how to interpret others' visions clearly and flawlessly.
Jonathon is extremely good at orchestrating, because he's knowledgeable he knows how instruments work together and his creativity with said knowledge is what makes a great orchestrator, there is so much more that goes into the process than is known by people who don't study music, theory, etc. Tunick's genius especially comes out in his orchestrations for "Another Hundred People"
I would expect that it wouldn't sound better if Sondheim did his own orchestrations, because he knows nothing about orchestrating because there is a huge amount of studying to do with instruments to orchestrate well. Sondheim admits this, and that's why he never even thinks about orchestrating because he knows he isn't good at it and would much rather have someone much more skilled in that area do it. Which is one of the things that makes Sondheim great.
Sondheim has always acknowledged Tunick as a first rate orchestrator who truly understands his, Sondheim's, intentions as well or better than Sondheim himself does. And I believe that Tunick adds whole other dimensions to Sondheim's music. As it happens I worked with Tunick at Juilliard on 2 major projects back in the 60's. I remember him as a delightful, ambitious, and hard working person even then. Tunick's genius does not in any way diminish the genius of Sondheim. Quite the contrary.
This musical is beautiful in ever sense of the word. I love everything about this show, I think it is one of Sondheim's most poetic. The words alone are enough to make anyone sob - sing them over perfectly articulated orchestrations and they become something like you'll never hear anywhere else. BRILLIANT show!
passion is my favorite sondheim, and i'm nuts for sondheim.
what starting lines: i'm afraid i'll die right here in your arms. what would you do if i died right here in your arms. it starts from there and doesn't let up.
Josh I haven't watched this DVD in months...this reminds me how much I really love it. And the lighting for this show is just gorgeous. It must have been so awesome to be a part of!!!
I can't believe the video stops where it does. That moment when Clara opens the curtains is just incredible!
griffnuts 1 month ago
am I the only one who really didn't like this?
I didn't like the characters, found the plot melodramatic and the music sort of boring. I am a HUGE sondheim fan, and this is probably the only show of his I really didn't like....
for people who did like it: What do you see that I don't?
locochica1011 2 months ago
My second favorite Sondheim ever... Unfortunately, A Little Night Music comes first.
GAH! He's such a clever, clever soul.
beautifullytragic1 2 months ago in playlist Passion - Stephen Sondheim
"I thought I knew what love was"
The basic moral of this musical.
Sword1479 3 months ago
1:22 Marin's internal monologue: "Oh shit, this is being filmed. Boobs stay under the blanket."
caterrachel 7 months ago
Gee, JRB, steal your Parade snare drums/opening chord from anywhere (I kid, I love that guy)?
THIS SHOW. THIS SHOW. AH. SO AMAZING. No words. So much happiness; so much love.
krispykritterlover 10 months ago 3
Nice cast...no Michael Ball but hey...
littlegiry 11 months ago
The most tragic of stories and WOW such beautiful music, how Sondheim seduces you - I have loved this musical from the moment it opened on Broadway.
dandelionmount 1 year ago
uhm. check out the tongue action at 4:02.lol
trey0099 2 years ago 4
marin mazzies voice= ...no words.
watcherofvideos111 2 years ago 14
@watcherofvideos111
Oh, there are words, all right: burgundy lusciousness, velvety smoothness, warm as a beautiful summer day...
tonywrestles2 1 year ago
tit
willofdrama 2 years ago
I love the 'just another love story' harmony. *dies*
asmileisspecial 2 years ago 6
I love this musical, but every time I watch the movie, Georgio reminds me of Trapper John from MASH, and it's hard to take him seriously in the beginning...
LethalBranMuffin 2 years ago
Men always pick the least opportune moments to deliver sad news.
missjuli 3 years ago 7
This comment has received too many negative votes show
My only complaint about Sondheim is that his orchestrations sound so dated. You listen to, say, John Adams... (I know he's opera but go with it) His orchestra parts to Nixon in China sound fresh thirty years later. This sounds like it's from the sixties even though it was written in the 90s.
g4thz 3 years ago
Jonathon Tunick has been Sondheim's orchestrator throughout his career. Sondheim writes the music and lyrics, but the orchestrations are not done by him; I would expect it would sound better if he did them, though. Sondheim's still THE genius of Broadway.
wsp67326 3 years ago 6
I feel like other shows have better orchestrations too.
Furzedai 3 years ago
Well keep in mind that this isn't what most consider to be Sondheim's best score at all. Check out "A Little Night Music" or "Company", or for a more intellectual score, "Pacific Overtures". They're fantastic. "Passion" is amazing but definitely not his best musical.
AtLastOnTheGround 3 years ago
I don't know how one could pick one of his scores as the "best" of the bunch. I think this score is his most beautiful, though. It's stunning. I disagree about the orchestrations, too. I think they're gorgeous. Passion is different from his other shows for sure, but it's one of my faves.
Ekir75 3 years ago 3
I think Passion is extremely underrated, but his best show is for sure "Follies" in my opinion. It is in the area of beauty, as well as intellectual.
bassman462 2 years ago
That is true. Sondheim writes his score on the piano, and Jonathon takes the piano score and expands it. In a way, Jonathon has a very tough job, but Sondheim has always trusted him with his work. That is why he is now one of the most prolific orchestrators today--the man knows how to interpret others' visions clearly and flawlessly.
timize 2 years ago
Jonathon is extremely good at orchestrating, because he's knowledgeable he knows how instruments work together and his creativity with said knowledge is what makes a great orchestrator, there is so much more that goes into the process than is known by people who don't study music, theory, etc. Tunick's genius especially comes out in his orchestrations for "Another Hundred People"
bassman462 2 years ago
I would expect that it wouldn't sound better if Sondheim did his own orchestrations, because he knows nothing about orchestrating because there is a huge amount of studying to do with instruments to orchestrate well. Sondheim admits this, and that's why he never even thinks about orchestrating because he knows he isn't good at it and would much rather have someone much more skilled in that area do it. Which is one of the things that makes Sondheim great.
bassman462 2 years ago
Sondheim has always acknowledged Tunick as a first rate orchestrator who truly understands his, Sondheim's, intentions as well or better than Sondheim himself does. And I believe that Tunick adds whole other dimensions to Sondheim's music. As it happens I worked with Tunick at Juilliard on 2 major projects back in the 60's. I remember him as a delightful, ambitious, and hard working person even then. Tunick's genius does not in any way diminish the genius of Sondheim. Quite the contrary.
BillSalem 2 years ago 8
This musical is beautiful in ever sense of the word. I love everything about this show, I think it is one of Sondheim's most poetic. The words alone are enough to make anyone sob - sing them over perfectly articulated orchestrations and they become something like you'll never hear anywhere else. BRILLIANT show!
EtrangerStranger 3 years ago 3
This comment has received too many negative votes show
michael ball is superior to him
pentitfuk 3 years ago
To each his own.
renethel 3 years ago
All this happiness
Merely from a glance in the park
*swoon*
EugLoven 3 years ago
passion is my favorite sondheim, and i'm nuts for sondheim.
what starting lines: i'm afraid i'll die right here in your arms. what would you do if i died right here in your arms. it starts from there and doesn't let up.
pjcgatsby 3 years ago 7
ok im a huge musical fan and just recently got into Passion through a friend . . . . where can i get it on cd. . . .
as she only has it on tape! x
Feekme 3 years ago
Wonderful Musical! Georgio learns that beauty does not come from the eyes, but in the heart!
FreedumFries591 3 years ago
lol, yeah, but there's a limit.
Stantzs 3 years ago
I think not, sir.
EtrangerStranger 3 years ago
I love this show, it teaches a lesson of beauty. Georgio finally comes to his senses and loves someone true to his heart.
FreedumFries591 3 years ago
I love this show and this opening is soooooo gorgeous.
inthegoo112 4 years ago 6
i so agree and the Broadway Version was how you say ... so much more revealing.
BroadwayTJ 4 years ago 5
HAHA I've heard so much. But it must have been so very much fun to be a part of it! I heard fights actually broke out in the audience. I can
t even imagine!
MissBroadwayDork 3 years ago
@BroadwayTJ Even in the dvd commentary, I think Stephen Sondheim told Marin, "I was kind of disappointed they didn't show your breast."
AliaSparrow 2 months ago
who are these actors/ charcters? this is not judy kuhn...she took on this role...won the tony for this?
whenpigsfly2 4 years ago
That's Clara and Giorgio played by Marin Mazzie and Jere Shea I believe.. Judy Kuhn wasn't in Passion
jeska142 4 years ago
Donna Murphy won the Best Actress Tony Award for PASSION then went on to win it again in The King & I the following year.
BroadwayTJ 4 years ago
Judy Kuhn was in Passion at the Kennedy Center:)
MissBroadwayDork 3 years ago
My favourite opening of any musical. Just beautiful. I love all three of them.
CHRISNOON3 4 years ago 2
Wow, you're really dedicated to rip this 5 minutes at a time, thank you SO MUCH.
Awakening127 4 years ago 4
Josh I haven't watched this DVD in months...this reminds me how much I really love it. And the lighting for this show is just gorgeous. It must have been so awesome to be a part of!!!
MissBroadwayDork 4 years ago
Well, i'm not Josh but i agree with you. ;) tj
BroadwayTJ 4 years ago
Oooops I meant Gosh....Sorry about that TJ...I don't even know anyone named Josh!
MissBroadwayDork 4 years ago
Hi Miss BD. i'm working on uploading several more scenes from the show. Stay tuned. Comments encouraged. ;)
BroadwayTJ 4 years ago