Sondheim by Candlelight illuminates the music of an icon

The NYC concert series features instrumental covers of show tunes by influential composers like Stephen Sondheim, plus commentary that brings audiences deeper into the music.

On the windy evening of what would have been his 95th birthday, Stephen Sondheim’s music filled the streets of New York. It floated proudly from the halls of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral, where it was performed by The Tribute String Quartet as part of the first Sondheim Tribute: Strings by Candlelight concert in the city.

The musicians — Mazz Swift on first violin, Lucy Voin on second violin, Clara Kennedy on cello, and Miranda Sielaff on viola — sat amid a sea of flickering candlelight. Their careful arrangements soared. It was beautiful. It was inspiring. And, thanks to a fifth onstage figure, Emily Whitaker, it was surprisingly educational.

Having earned her master’s in Sondheim-centered musicology and later working with the man himself, Whitaker is a music director and academic whose passion for the work of Sondheim — the celebrated musical theatre songwriter whose Broadway musicals include Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, West Side Story, and more — is as layered as it is contagious. She was also the narrator of our candlelight vigil, and her knowledge became essential to the evening.

While the Tribute String Quartet worked through its repertoire of Sondheim classics, from famous shows like Merrily We Roll Along to the oft-forgotten TV musical Evening Primrose, Whitaker provided both insight and context to each musical piece. She shared stories of Sondheim’s life and her personal interactions with him as they related to the music we were hearing. She emphasized his exploration of human nature in every composition, pointing out conflicting patterns and underscored contradictions. She even asked the musicians to replay certain measures so we could hear those melodies with a new perspective.

A love song from Sondheim’s Passion turned sour as we paid close attention to the dissonant chords that underline Fosca’s obsession with her lover. Sunday in the Park with George took on new meaning after learning about Sondheim’s despair over a previous flop. The complex morals of Into the Woods lept from the page when we explored their musical origins. (Did you know a recurring melody in the show is inspired by “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”?)

Every anecdote in this tribute, as explained by Whitaker, worked toward a complex portrait of Sondheim as an artist, insisting (as he did) that God is in the details. It is the content of his work that dictates its form, and I have never understood that content better than under the guidance of Whitaker’s word.

Her knowledge and the intimacy of Strings by Candlelight gave me a new appreciation for the artist. I already loved Sondheim, but the concert's beautiful music and insightful narration also offer the perfect starting point for Sondheim newcomers. It’s a crash course on his genius, complete with soaring strings and a perfect atmosphere. Plus, the digital program includes a curated list from Whitaker of books to check out if you get hooked on Sondheim and want to know even more.

No matter what you know of the man, you’re sure to leave with a new understanding of his music. And, like me, you won’t be able to get enough.

Photo credit: Sondheim: Strings by Candlelight. (Photos by Rebecca J. Michelson)