Sondheim at eighty. Another revue, this one extra special. The great man himself narrates, courtesy of video (he preferring to be set upon by wolves than appear on stage himself).
The result is a joy - frank, witty and moving. Anecdotes are interwoven with his songs, words given a fresh slant because of their new context. Barbara Cook heads the singers who do Sondheim proud, the revue a veritable succession of highlights. There are lots of laughs too ("God", especially written for the occasion; "The Wedding Is Off"; "Franklin Shepard, Inc."; and the only number Sondheim declares autobiographical, "Opening Doors"). There are surprises. The show of which Sondheim is most proud and regards as incapable of improvement? "Assassins" - represented here chillingly by "The Gun Song".
Immensely personal and revealing, Sondheim tells how much he needs to work with people - they become like a family. He himself had been an only child, the early years dire - his mother monstrous and loathed. His saviour was Oscar Hammerstein - substitute father and revered mentor. Without Hammerstein, Sondheim would never have achieved what he has. That touching anecdote at the end emphasizes the bond.
What with this revue and that memorable 2010 Proms special, the eightieth birthday has been celebrated most worthily. The recording ranks as a MUST BUY for all his admirers.