Europe 1 stroke AFP 11:35 am, November 27, 2021, modified at 11:35 am, November 27, 2021
Stephen Sondheim, American musical comedy legend and "West Side Story" lyricist, died suddenly at the age of 91.
In 2015, Barack Obama, then President of the United States, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.
American musical legend and
West Side Story
lyricist Stephen Sondheim
has died aged 91, his lawyer told The
New York Times
on Friday
.
According to F. Richard Pappas, Stephen Sondheim died suddenly Friday morning at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut (northeast of the country), after celebrating Thanksgiving with his friends the day before.
Trained at a young age by the great master of the musical Oscar Hammerstein (
Show Boat
,
The Melody of Happiness
), Stephen Sondheim was hired at only 25 years old to write the lyrics for the now legendary
West Side Story
.
>> REPLAY -
West side story, the absolute classic of musicals
Eight Grammy Awards and Tony Awards
Born March 22, 1930 in New York City, he was considered one of the greatest composers of musicals.
He had notably worked on
Sweeney Todd
,
Gypsy
,
Sunday in the Park with George
,
A Little Night Music
, as a composer or lyricist.
Over the course of his long career, Stephen Sondheim has won eight Grammy Awards, as many Tony Awards, and an Oscar.
In 2015, Barack Obama, then President of the United States, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor.