Olivier Awards Sondheim Tribute Part 1: Angela Lansbury sings "Liaisons"

Olivier Awards 2011, a dazzling tribute by 85-year-old Lansbury to Sondheim to mark his Olivier Award

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Olivier Awards
• Angela Lansbury
• Stephen Sondheim
• A Little Night Music
• theater
• musical

[LifeOutsideTheBubble]

I had the good fortune to see her perform this live. The ticket was quite expensive, (especially for a kid like me!) but I knew just two or three minutes of Lansbury would make it worth it. I was absolutely right. With the exception of Catherine Zeta Jones who did a fine job, the cast was sub par in my opinion... but, oh... Miss Lansbury.

[TheTerribleman]

@LifeOutsideTheBubble Lucy you - sadly I saw it in London where Mme Amfeldt was played by Maureen Lipman who was utterly pedestrian and channelling Hermione Gingold; the rest of the UK cast were rather fine, though the Desiree wasn't a patch on Judi Dench ten years ago

[TheLizzie12]

Thank you for posting this. I listened to this live on BBC radio and wept. Miss Lansbury is - indeed - a force of nature and an international treasure. I adore her and wish I could meet her, if only for a few moments to request an autograph. I had no idea this performance had been recorded so - once again - from the heart, THANK YOU! (smile)

[TheTerribleman]

@TheLizzie12 You're very welcome… Sadly, I've never got to meet her, but I did get to shake hands with Sondheim at the after party of an event the following evening.

[TheTerribleman]

It should not be forgotten that Angela owes her Broadway career to Sondheim (form Anyone Can Whistle in ’64, through the ’75 revival of Gypsy, to the definitive(?) Sweeney Todd

[TheTerribleman]

What makes this for me - over Hermione Gingold or anyone else - is Lansbury's ability not simply to act the part, but to casually dismiss the weak rhymes/lines (raisins/liaisons - I even named her Desirée) and thereby make them powerful and poignant

[ChipL955]

Angela Lansbury is a force of nature and an international treasure, the epitome of class and elegance, an astonishingly talented actress and singer and the very definition of the word "star." We are so lucky she is still thrilling audiences at 85. Thank you for posting this!

[TheAdelaidehall]

@TheTerribleman Shake hands with Sondheim...that must have been an event, also. I have never had the privilege of meeting him, but I did receive a nice letter from him a few years back. I live in London. He took the trouble. What a gent! Miss Lansbury should be made a Dame.

[TheChairoplane]

The last of the true Great Grotesques. There's only Maggie Smith left.

[MTPippin]

A lovely treause to the American Theatre. Long Live Angela Lansbury!

[VeryRich111]

What an amazing woman! I love Angela Lansbury. She is just gorgeous.

[Ladiestreat]

Makes me want to start a show called Boner He Got. I bet this old lady knows some tricks.

[dannys2222]

SHE IS GORGEOUS ...I LOVE THIS OLD BITCH A LOT!

[StrangerUK01]

Not just singing, but performing in every line at 85? Astounding!