Hi, StageLover. Do you mean, as suggested below, when he described Hammerstein as "a man of limited talent but infinite soul"? If so, I'm not disturbed by it. I think it was meant as a compliment, although I think you could respond to Sondheim by saying, "And what human being is not of limited talent? Who is talented in all areas?" I mean, if Sondheim can criticize Lorenz Hart for "unphotographable," I think I can lightheartedly make fun of Sondheim for this. I think going on in the same interview to describe Rodgers as he did was cruel, although I suppose Sondheim was hurt by Rodgers's behavior toward him Do I Hear a Waltz? And we now know that Rodgers had written an extremely complimentary letter to Sondheim and Prince after Company opened. Given that, it really does not speak well of Sondheim that he said what he did about Rodgers.
If you mean Sondheim's specific criticisms of Hammerstein's writing, those doesn't bother me, even if I think some of them are silly or, in the case of his criticism of Nellie using the word "bromidic," simply wrong-headed. |
