Description: Here in the third volume of Stephen Citron's distinguished series The Great Songwriters -- in depth studies that illuminate the musical contributions, careers, and lives of Noel Coward and Cole Porter (Noel & Cole: The Sophisticates), and Oscar Hammerstein 2nd and Alan Jay Lerner, (The Wordsmiths) -- this eminent musicologist has taken on our two leading contemporary contributors to the lyric stage. His aim has not been to compare or judge one's merits over the other, but to make the reader discover through their works and those of their contemporaries, the changes and path of that glorious artform we call Musical Theater.

In his quest, Citron offers unique insight into each artist's working methods, analyzing their scores -- including their early works and works-in-progress. As in Citron's previously critically acclaimed books in this series, great significance is given to the impact their youthful training and private lives have had upon their amazing creative output. Beginning with Sondheim's lyrics-only works, such as West Side Story and Gypsy through his scores for Company, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Sunday In the Park, and Passion, all these milestones of musical theater have been explored. Lloyd-Webber's musical contribution from his early work, The Likes of Us, to Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, to Whistle Down the Wind are also thoroughly analyzed.

Complete with a quadruple chronology (Sondheim, Lloyd-Webber, US Theater, British Theater), copious quotations from their works, and many never before published illustrations, Sondheim & Lloyd-Webber is a must-read for anyone interested in the contemporary theater.

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