The Stage

Exclusive: Proms to celebrate musical theatre composers Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein

Published Thursday 15 April 2010 at 11:05 by Matthew Hemley

Musicals will be strongly represented at this year’s BBC Proms, with the line-up featuring a concert paying tribute to the work of Stephen Sondheim and another devoted to the shows of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

The Sondheim prom is scheduled to take place on July 31, with the composer and lyricist, whose credits include A Little Night Music and Into the Woods, due to attend.

Sondheim, who also wrote the lyrics to West Side Story and celebrated his 80th birthday in March, told The Stage he was “honoured” that a prom is to feature his work.

He said: “Obviously I’m flattered and honoured. More important, I’m excited because I’ve never been to a prom. I visit London a lot, but seldom during the prom season.”

Details of the music to be performed at the Sondheim event, which will feature the BBC Concert Orchestra, have yet to be disclosed by the BBC, with the official launch of the 2010 BBC Proms taking place next week.

At the same time, the corporation will announce details of the concert that is due to pay homage to the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

This prom, understood to be taking place on the afternoon of August 22, will feature an array of musical theatre performers singing with the John Wilson Orchestra.

The John Wilson Orchestra appeared last year as part of a show celebrating the music of MGM musicals.

This year’s concert is expected to feature arrangements from the film productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals, including Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, Carousel and South Pacific.