Stephen Sondheim slams Lady Gaga's 'Sound of Music' performance, Oscars producer slams back

[Snow 1,582]

​

​Um, he composed and wrote lyrics to Into The Woods, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Gypsy, among other American classics. He has more Grammys that Gaga, has an academy award, and 8 Tony, including one for a Life Time Achievement in Theatre. Aka awards you actually had to be good to win. 

Cameron Mackintosh described Sondheim as "possibly the greatest lyricist ever." AKA the same Cameron Mackintosh that produced Anything Goes, brought Cats, Phantom of the Opera, and Les Miserables to the London stage, giving all three of world-wide acclaim and popularizing them. 

Also, not you downplaying the role of composition in music.  Obviously, YOU don't know anything about music. A majority of the emotion in music relies on its composition. Secondarily by dynamics and primarily by the tension and resolutions in the score, including key and time signatures, as well as chord progressions. Composition can even control the tone of the singer, which is probably what you're thinking is more important. But even ten, tone is greatly affected by the way the music is composed. If you have a swift and soft piece, you're not going to belt and groan the **** out of it Three Non-Blondes style, for example. In some ways, I agree with Sondheim. I don't think her performance was an travesty, but there were most definitely pockets in which Gaga didn't seem connected to the song, and overall I think she could have benefited from physical movement, as she mostly stood in place besides a few arm movement. However, I don't discredit her completely. She hit almost every note right on key, had an amazing vibrato, and used portamento ingeniously.You don't have to agree with what Sondheim says, nor does he have to like Gaga's performance. Trying to downplay his relevance and expertise when he's a billion times more respected than Gaga just because you don't agree with his criticism shows how immature and ignorant you are. 

​AAMEN! Everything in this. And yes maybe he was a bit harsh and I don't fully agree with him, but all so correct on some aspects as you stated too. There were moments when she clearly was not truly "in the song" and there were a couple of minor little pitch problems and  over all tehcnical voice issues (hence the semi-operatic or fake opera comments. They are correct, I'm sorry to say.).

It was a great performance, but not all that brilliant as some like to pretend, Much better performances happen on daily bases in Broadway and all over the world. Gaga is a great singer and she did good...for a pop star, nothing else. She is certainly not the best at least in this particular genre. For reference, Idina Menzel would have done much better (from the modern age broadway stars).

And I'm truly shocked by the level on ignorance in this thread. Hi doesn't know about music?!?!? Isn't qualified to judge?!!?!? What in the gods name.... OFcourse hi is. Much more qualified than 95% journalist and such that were praising Gaga over the moon. If you are a proper trained and talented musician (e,g. composer) you truly know music and can judge it. And trust me, hi truly is.

[Snow 1,582]

​What the fuk lol? You don't even know what off-key means I see. Because Gaga didn't sing even 1 note off key in her oscars performance.. And seriously she wasn't pitchy at all lol... You can say whatever you want tho. 

​She was I'm afraid. Not a pitch perfect performance, sorry

[Katie14 4,828]

​That is part of it but there is more to it. Good breath control basically determines how good the phrasing will be. A singer basically needs to inhale fast and exhale slowly by singing from their diaphragm, this is hard to do and Gaga does actually do a very good job. The problem is only very slight. 

You know that story Tony tells about the taxi driver who said all these singers were hacks because in older days they projected without a microphone? It's just that, at times she relies on the microphone. She brings it in very close to her. Julie Andrews is a master at singing from the diaphragm, she is often able to powerfully hit major notes and project them with her microphone further away. If Gaga had better breath control then she would also be able to project better without the microphone.

I think some of the more a--l musical theater nuts, Stephen Sondheim included, are also just a little flawed by her phrasing. It isn't so much a theater type phrasing. In this quote when he refers to the way she sings it in a "semi-operatic way" he is referring to her use of portamento which is a technique of smoothly gliding from one note to another, it's a type of phrasing often seen in opera but not often seen in theater.

In order to really pick it out I would compare Gaga's oscars performance with a live performance of Julie.
The way she transitions into new notes is very different from the way Gaga does. I think Sondheim expected a performance with very pure theater vocals, understandable from such an iconic and brilliant theater composer, but Gaga really was fantastic and used some very impressive classical techniques.

Here is Julie performing Sound of Music: 

 

Notice the way Julie sings "my heart will be blessed, with the sound of music" (2:45) and compare it to Gaga's more operatic interpretation (2.00)

Also notice how Julie Andrews effortlessly holds that note at 4.23. That's some incredible breath control right there. At 3:53, while Gaga is hitting the last note of climb every mountain, she struggles a bit to maintain it. 

I mean, compare anybody with Julie Andrews and they are likely to fall short. Gaga really was exquisite. Like I said before , it is only slight and something I'm sure could improve if she avoids smoking and keeps training. 

I think that's Stephen's gripe with the performance, which I can certainly understand, but I think Gaga's performance was breathtaking

​Thank you so much for explaining. I never knew very much about vocal technique and its really interesting to learn about. I would assume singing pop songs while dancing trained Gaga to specifically not project as much sound since she would have to conserve as much breath and energy as possible to be able to dance. And Im sure all the smoking she did/maybe still does is very damaging. I think Gaga is going to continue working on her voice and I am excited to see how good it can get. I feel like we have not heard the best from her yet. I think she has been boxing a lot and doing high intensity cardio in order to improve her breath control. I feel like once Gaga has a goal in her  mind, she will do anything to achieve it. And I think the praise she has been getting is a huge motivation for her. People are finally respecting her for her vocal talents and she wants more of that.

I actually love her use of portamento (if I am understanding it correctly). It makes the song sound sweeter, smoother, and more lovely. I don't really see why this technique is used mostly in operas and shouldn't be used in musical theater.

By the way, Julie Andrews is absolutely incredible. That performance was memorizing. Singing seems so effortless and natural to her, like the words just flow straight through her. Her lung capacity is impeccable.

[Spock 20,290]

Yes, I know that he was mentored by OH and considered him to be a father figure. 

I've never heard that he had tremendous input into TSOM. That's why I was asking for a link. I would like to see where it said this and if this bit of information is actually true or not. Irregardless of his comments about the tribute performance, (which I'm still going to find as missing the mark and disagree with), I would like to see the information about one of my all-time favorite movies and the music from that movie. 

​I didn't say that he had tremendous input, just that he tweaked a lyric here and there. And watch those if you don't believe me I guess

[Bebe 16,995]

​Thank you so much for explaining. I never knew very much about vocal technique and its really interesting to learn about. I would assume singing pop songs while dancing trained Gaga to specifically not project as much sound since she would have to conserve as much breath and energy as possible to be able to dance. And Im sure all the smoking she did/maybe still does is very damaging. I think Gaga is going to continue working on her voice and I am excited to see how good it can get. I feel like we have not heard the best from her yet. I think she has been boxing a lot and doing high intensity cardio in order to improve her breath control. I feel like once Gaga has a goal in her  mind, she will do anything to achieve it. And I think the praise she has been getting is a huge motivation for her. People are finally respecting her for her vocal talents and she wants more of that.

I actually love her use of portamento (if I am understanding it correctly). It makes the song sound sweeter, smoother, and more lovely. I don't really see why this technique is used mostly in operas and shouldn't be used in musical theater.

By the way, Julie Andrews is absolutely incredible. That performance was memorizing. Singing seems so effortless and natural to her, like the words just flow straight through her. Her lung capacity is impeccable.

​"I feel like we have not heard the best from her yet." I absolutely agree. She has clearly been training very hard and Cheek to Cheek and the oscars performance really pushed her capabilities.

I also think her use of portamento was fantastic! I'm not sure if it would fit theater, just because musical theater is a lot to do with the actors/actresses singing in a way where it seems like they are almost talking. It's not necessarily about the best vocal technique but how the song is delivered. Also there is often a bit of choreography involved which could make it difficult.

Gaga would be perfect for theater though! She has already done theater-type pieces in her tours and notably in her DWUW performance at the AMAs.
 

 

I feel like it's actually a very exciting time to be a fan right now because there are so many directions she could go from here. She is the best

[Katie14 4,828]

​"I feel like we have not heard the best from her yet." I absolutely agree. She has clearly been training very hard and Cheek to Cheek and the oscars performance really pushed her capabilities.
I also think her use of portamento was fantastic! I'm not sure if it would fit theater, just because musical theater is a lot to do with the actors/actresses singing in a way where it seems like they are almost talking. It's not necessarily about the best vocal technique but how the song is delivered. Also there is often a bit of choreography involved which could make it difficult.

Gaga would be perfect for theater though! She has already done theater-type pieces in her tours and notably in her DWUW performance at the AMAs.
 

 

I feel like it's actually a very exciting time to be a fan right now because there are so many directions she could go from here. She is the best

​That's interesting. So it really wouldn't have made sense in the context Gaga was singing to sing in a musical theater talking singing kind of way. She wasn't playing a character with a story to tell and dialogue to convey. She was honoring the essence of the songs from the movie/play and sang them in a way that would be as enjoyable and entertaining to hear as possible.

I cannot wait for Gaga's next move. I think there are lots of projects brewing right now

[holy scheisse 21,870]

lol what messes are happening as ppl defend gaga. relax its 1 opinion. 

[Nemo 4,231]

​Much better performances happen on daily bases in Broadway and all over the world. ... For reference, Idina Menzel would have done much better (from the modern age broadway stars).

I gotta call BS on this. I've heard Idina Menzel sing at the Oscars, and I'm sorry to say it, but she was terrible. Not merely not as good as Gaga, but objectively bad. I've heard her sound better on other occasions, but nothing to make me think she was as good as Gaga, much less better.

[Monster2015 1,113]

Not nick Jonas adding his 2 cents

[giskardsb 12,565]

It was a great performance, but not all that brilliant as some like to pretend, Much better performances happen on daily bases in Broadway and all over the world. Gaga is a great singer and she did good...for a pop star, nothing else. She is certainly not the best at least in this particular genre. For reference, Idina Menzel would have done much better (from the modern age broadway stars).
 

​I don't think Idina would have done a better job.  I personally prefer Gaga's voice, it's got a warmer timbre.   And she did great, there is no reason to belittle her with "for a pop star."   I'll put her voice up against many current Broadway stars. There are many aspects of voice other than technical precision and Gaga's voice is much more pleasant and expressive in it's own way than many Broadway or Operetic singers.   TSOM certainly challenged Gaga's range, and the only reason I brought up her pitch on the last note at all was just because people are being a bit ridiculous in defending her against Sondheim.     But now people are going too far the other way in defending Sondheim and belittling Gaga's performance more than it deserves.  Any "off" aspects of her performance are pure nitpicks that 98% of people would not have noticed unless they have musical training. She did great.  And Sondheim is nitpicking ... not only on a technical level but also based on his preferred style of those songs being performed and his assumptions of Gaga as a pop star.  There are legitimate critiques that could be leveled at Gaga's performance and Sondheim certainly has the credentials to do it, but calling it a "travesty" was stupid and just shows that more is going on with his opinion than just objectively watching the performance.

 

[AgusPop 4,109]

​Mast is probably one of the most musically knowledgable people on this forum.

​

All the "musicals queers" here. 

I'm a Huge Opera Fan, I hear huge divas like Joan Sutherland, Diana Damrau, to Edita Gruberova since I was 5 years old. I went to Opera Houses sinces I was 10 years old.

and all I will say is that Gaga was Brilliant, she is not a Opera singer but she is much better than many of the musical singers from Broadway.

And the "Queen of Musicals" Julie Andrews loved her. 

 

 

[AgusPop 4,109]

 Idina Menzel would have done much better (from the modern age broadway stars).
 

​ Idina Menzel   c'mon . Get away from broadway!  It is damaging your ears. seriously

[Zilla 13,375]

Don't be using this thread as a vehicle to bash Idina or any vocalist. The thread is about Sondheim's opinion, not how Idina performed.

[Deeki 31]

slaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay them transgender ugly and fat queen

[Poope MOnster 1,446]

"travesty" word for that performance are beyond ridiculous 

even Stephen Sondheim are the legend that not mean he can talk sh*t what ever he want

the world of music are much more than musical

yeah everyone have they standard Stephen Sondheim can have opinion

but "travesty" is ignorant and that opnion not deserve some respect

what ever all the best thing he done of his entire life

i m pretty sure that opinion is one of the worst thing from him too