Andrew Lloyd Webber is the most famous—and most controversial—composer of musical theater alive today. Hundreds of millions of people have seen his musicals; which include Cats; The Phantom of the Opera; Starlight Express; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; Jesus Christ Superstar; Evita; and Sunset Boulevard. Even more know his songs.Lloyd Webberrsquo;s many awards include seven Tonys and three Grammys—but he has nonetheless been the subject of greater critical vitriol than any of his artistic peers. Why have both the man and his work provoked such extreme responses? Does he challenge his audiences; or merely recycle the comfortable and familiar? Over three decades; how has Lloyd Webber changed fundamentally what a musical can be?In this sustained examination of Lloyd Webberrsquo;s creative career; the music scholar John Snelson explores the vast range of influences that have informed Lloyd Webberrsquo;s work; from film; rock; and pop music to Lloyd Webberrsquo;s own life story. This rigorous and sympathetic survey will be essential reading for anyone interested in Lloyd Webberrsquo;s musicals and the world of modern musical theater that he has been so instrumental in shaping.
#1645436 in eBooks 2004-06-08 2004-06-08File Name: B001C4RL3C
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I felt like I was leafing through a family photo album (not in the good way)By Craig IsamanI have seen many of the books in the Images Of America series. Most of them are very informative and have a variety of information. I realize that Riverside (Arlington) has only been around since the late 1800s; but there surely must be a lot of history involved with this area. I was disappointed with this volume as it was approximately 80 percent "people" pictures; and many of them were post-1950s. The other volumes in this series are packed full of "places and things" photos; which; to me; bring out more of the history of the intended subject area. To me; these types of photos bring the past to life better because they offer a point of reference; as in most cases there are still remnants of those locations still visible; allowing you to "walk in the footsteps" of the past.I know that there are a greater variety of images available through the local library system or historical societies. I felt like I was leafing through a family photo album on a coffee table. There is a lot more to the area than this one family tree.This book is still well presented; but it just didnt do it for me...
