New German Opera Recording of Sweeney Todd Features Mark Stone, Jane Henschel and Broadway's Diana DiMarzio

By Andrew Gans
11 Jan 2013

Diana DiMarzio
Diana DiMarzio

Diana DiMarzio, who starred as the Beggar Woman in John Doyle's Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd opposite Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris, re-created her performance in a jubilee concert production of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical in May 2012 with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester (Bavarian Radio Orchestra) at the Prinzregententheater in Munich. That performance was recorded and is now available on CD from BR Klassik.

The concert, which celebrated the 60-year anniversary of the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, also starred Mark Stone in the title role and Jane Henschel as Mrs. Lovett. Ulf Schirmer conducted the orchestra. The evening also featured the Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks.

To purchase the two-CD English-language recording of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," click here. This marks the first recording of the Sondheim work by a German opera company.

The latest Broadway staging of Sweeney Todd began previews Oct. 3, 2005, at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, opened Nov. 3 and played 349 performances and 35 previews before closing Sept. 6, 2006. Director Doyle as well as orchestrator Sarah Travis took home 2006 Tony Awards for their work.

Considered one of Sondheim's masterpieces, Sweeney Todd originally premiered at Broadway's Uris Theatre on Feb. 6, 1979, with a cast led by Len Cariou (Sweeney) and Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Lovett), who both nabbed Tony Awards for their roles. Harold Prince directed the production, which was awarded the 1979 Tony for Best Musical. A 1989 revival at Circle in the Square Theatre featured Beauty and the Beast's Beth Fowler as Mrs. Lovett and former Evita star Bob Gunton as the man who returns to London to avenge the death of his wife.

Another major production of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler work, which is based on a version of "Sweeney Todd" by Christopher Bond, was the Kennedy Center mounting, which starred Brian Stokes Mitchell and Christine Baranski. A concert presentation of the musical, directed by Lonny Price and led by Tony winners George Hearn and Patti LuPone, confirmed the strength of Sondheim's score, which boasts such tunes as "The Worst Pies in London," "Johanna," "Pretty Women," "A Little Priest," "By the Sea" and "Not While I'm Around." Michael Cerveris and LuPone starred in the most recent Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd, which was directed by Tony winner Doyle. The film version starred Johnny Depp.

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To purchase other cast recordings, visit the Playbill Store.