Customer Reviews

A Little Night Music (Applause Musical Library)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm not sure why there are review for the book and the movie, or why someone comments that this isn't the full score. I ordered it, and they sent me the full piano/vocal conductor's score.

A Little Night Music is Sondheim's most beautiful show. it also has probably the most brilliant lyrics of any (especially songs like Now, Liasons, and Weekend in the Country.) My single disappointment with this score is that it does not contain the alternate version of "Glamorous Life" sung by Fredrika, which is probably the second most beautiful, heartbreaking song that Stephen ever wrote. this song was not in the original Broadway production but is included in many ever since it was used in the film. If you have never hear it, go out and find a recording of it. the song is available in other books (sondheim anthologies and musical theatre books) so do not fret

What I did to thoroughly enjoy reading Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" is read the play while listening to the music. This work contains some of his best songs -- including the "Soon," "Later," "Now" pieces that stay with a reader and a listener long after they finish.

Don't get mixed up! Somehow, the pages with the reviews of the A Little Night Music LIBRETTO (only words) and the PIANO/VOCAL SCORE (only music) are the same. Also, if you try to get this on the Kindle, the only available option is the Libretto. I found this out the hard way when I mistakenly ordered it expecting the score. While I was mildly upset to find out I was missing the music, I'm not entirely ruined, because now I have access to some of the great scenes from the show. However, beware, and really check before you buy to make sure you are getting the version you want.

These full Broadway scores are typically $75 to $100. This is the cheapest I've seen anywhere for new. I'm going to look for more!

Product arrived on time and as described. A great addition to my Stephen Sondheim collection!

On January 8, 2011, in New York I saw the revival of Sondheim's A Little Light Music which was closing the next day after a successful run. It starred Roberta Peters as the actress/temptress Desiree and Elaine Stritch as her mother Madame Armfeldt. This cast change had become famous for Roberta Peter's rendition of "Send In The Clowns" in the second act. She did a good job on it, but not as earthshaking as the critic herd would have you believe. The show first opened in 1973 and ran for 406 performances.
This is a romantic farce, a playful, racy romp in the hay, a departure in tone from other Sondheim efforts, more light-hearted. In his introduction Jonathan Tunick, Broadway's best orchestrator says this show "is easier on the audience than most of Sondheim's musicals." He goes on, "Here is Sondheim at his very best: witty, whimsical, and knowing" and "There is no better example of Sondheim's penchant for an erudite, knowing, whimsical chuckle at the human condition." Sondheim had an idea to make it kind of brooding like Chekhov, and luckily for his audience it turned out more like Moliere or Wilde.
Henrik Egerman, nineteen. is a seminary student who is trying to be devout and pure, but his urges and libido are running wild. He's fooling around with Petra, the maid, but he is obsessed by his stepmother Anne, age eighteen. She is married to his father Fredrik who is considerably older than his young wife. Anne after eleven months of marriage is still a virgin. Fredrik is frustrated, his son is frustrated, and Anne is still childlike while Petra, the maid is all-knowing. The three Egermans sing "Now", "Soon", "Later."
Fredrik realizes he's still in love with his old heartthrob Desiree who is currently dating a married man, a blustery buffoon, an army officer named Carl-Magnus. Carl catches Fredrik coming from Desiree's bedroom in Carl's nightshirt. This is one of the best farcical scenes in the play. The audience knows it's in for a laugh-session in the theater.
Carl's wife Charlotte knows her husband is having an affair with Desiree, and Carl talks her into reporting the affair to young wife Anne who already suspects that her husband and the actress are intimate.
The book has lots of photos and drawings, a good introduction by Tunick, a list of the musical numbers, the lyrics to songs that were dropped from the original production, the Streisand slightly altered lyrics, the casts of all the major productions, and an extremely detailed discography.
This book is a treasure trove for fans of this musical and fans of Sondheim. I highly recommend it though it isn't a substitute for seeing the show or listening to one of the cast albums. For me it is a Sondheim triumph.

I really thought I was getting a score. This is NOT a score. This is a libretto only. A previous review by a customer was misleading, and the description of the product not clear. This is NOT a score. No music, only lyrics.

Stephen Sondheim's lyrics are moving even if you are not familiar with his charming music. Even those who do not like musicals will like the book of this show. It is intelligent....yet moving.

The 1976 film version of this show has been JUSTIFIABLY panned. Forget it. Listen instead to the soundtrack album and bask in what is Sondheim's most lilting score. An entire musical in triple time written by a composer at the height of his powers: What more could one ask??