For All We Know

Barbra Sings "Happy Birthday" to Stephen Sondheim at Hollywood Bowl Gala Benefit Concert July 8th

Posted/Updated: 20 July 2005 19:59

Barbra Streisand, Warren Beatty, Steven Sondheim, Marilyn Bergman, July 8, 2005: photo by Mathew Imaging - click to view larger imageLOS ANGELES, Calif., July 19 /BarbraStreisand.com/ -- Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty cohosted a star-studded evening of Stephen Sondheim music at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday, July 8, an ASCAP-sponsored event honoring the esteemed composer and lyricist on his 75 birthday. Ms. Streisand, joined by Beatty and ASCAP President Marilyn Bergman, presented the culminating award to the composer, many of whose songs she has recorded. She was greeted, upon her introduction, with a standing ovation from the 18,000 person audience who then joined her in singing "Happy Birthday" to the evening's honoree.

Barbra Streisand had performed at the Hollywood Bowl on two previous occasions, a concert in 1963 opened by Dave Brubeck, with Ms. Streisand preceeding Sammy Davis Jr. and again in 1968, following the assasination of Dr. Martin Luther King, when she, Harry Belafonte, Bill Cosby and Herb Alpert headlined a fund-raiser concert for the Poor People's Campaign, which helped carry on the Rev. King's outreach to poor children.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Honorary Chairs Barbra Streisand and Warren Beatty joined ASCAP President and Academy Award winning lyricist, Marilyn Bergman in presenting Stephen Sondheim with an award commemorating the creation of Sondheim's Children Will Listen program of the ASCAP Foundation. This took place on stage at the Hollywood Bowl during a gala celebration of Sondheim's work [on July 8, 2005].

A stellar line-up of performers paid tribute to Stephen Sondheim in celebration of his 75th birthday year. The Children Will Listen program has been established to bring the musical theater experience to young students nationwide.

Jason Alexander, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou, Jason Danieley, Josh Groban, Angela Lansbury, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Bernadette Peters, Emmy Rossum, Elaine Stritch and Vanessa Williams were among those who performed in honor of Mr. Sondheim. The performers were accompanied by The Los Angeles Philharmonic with Paul Gemignani as Musical Director and Conductor. The event was produced and directed by Paul Lazarus.

The career of Stephen Sondheim, who is considered one of the greatest composer-lyricists of musicals, has spanned almost 50 years since his Broadway debut in 1957 as the lyricist of West Side Story. Sondheim went on to write many scores that challenged musical theatre conventions including: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins and Passions.

The ASCAP Foundation was established in 1975 and is a publicly supported charitable organization dedicated to nurturing American music creators and encouraging their growth through music education and talent development programs.

Barbra's most recent previous on stage musical performance was at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on June 24, 2004 to benefit the John Kerry presidential campaign.      

 

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