Sweeney Todd: Tiny Desk Concert
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Published 2023-12-22
My parents brought me to see a production of Sweeney Todd when I was 10; I had nightmares for weeks. That may have been the beginning of my obsession with the Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
"We're so grateful to sing Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece every single day," Josh Groban explains at the Tiny Desk. "He was so brilliant at juxtaposing the beautiful with the horrific." (It turns out that both Groban and I named our dogs "Sweeney Dog," something I learned when I introduced the cast.)
Expect a wave of emotions throughout this performance: empathy for Sweeney (Groban) and Mrs. Lovett (Annaleigh Ashford) with their songs of vengeance and longing, "My Friends," and "By the Sea"; desire with the quartet's vocal counterpoint performed in "Johanna (Act 2 Sequence)"; laughter with the duet's performance of "A Little Priest." Incredibly, this Tiny Desk version of the musical is no less impactful — the 26-piece orchestra currently playing the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre gets a nine-piece orchestration courtesy of Jonathan Tunick, Sondheim's longtime collaborator, led by conductor Alex Lacamoire. Absolutely mesmerizing.
SET LIST
"My Friends"
"By the Sea"
"Johanna (Act 2 Sequence)"
"A Little Priest"
COMPOSER
Stephen Sondheim
ORCHESTRATIONS
Jonathan Tunick
CAST
Josh Groban ("Sweeney Todd")
Annaleigh Ashford ("Mrs. Lovett")
Daniel Yearwood ("Anthony Hope")
Maria Bilbao ("Johanna")
Joanna Carpenter ("Beggar Woman")
MUSICIANS
Todd Palmer: clarinet
Damian Primis: bassoon
Sarah Boxmeyer: French horn
John Chudoba: trumpet
Kory Grossman: percussion
Adam Rothenberg: piano, keyboard
Anna Parks: violin
Wayne Smith: cello
Chiho Saegusa: bass
Alex Lacamoire: conductor
Randy Cohen: keyboard programmer
David Lai: music supervisor
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer/Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Videographers: Kara Frame, Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Keren Carrión
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Audio Assistants: Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez, Neil Tevault
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Photographer: Grace Widyatmadja
Animation: Jackie Lay
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Lars Gotrich, Hazel Cills
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
#tinydesk #nprmusic #sweeneytodd
All Comments (21)
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Bless whoever it was that decided to bring the theatre to tiny desk. I love this so much. They sound incredible.
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Annaleigh is so brave to portray Mrs Lovett as Nadja from What We Do In The Shadows
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I love how Josh Groban is one of the most skilled baritone of our generation and also just a weird muppet man I would die for him.
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Mrs. Lovett going under the desk and not leaving Sweeney Todd's side is such a nice touch. credit to Annaleigh for that!
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What an unbelievable thrill to produce record and mix this concert -- my Magnum Opus at the Tiny Desk. Thank you to everyone who trusted me with Stephen's masterpiece. Alex Lacamoire is a genius and I was so honored to work with him on this very special show. Love to everyone watching. I hope this fills your heart and that you love it as much as I do. Best belated birthday present ever. #ittakesavillage
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Joanna Carpenter is singing the Beggar Woman. Joanna is a vacation swing who does NOT cover the role on Broadway but stepped in at the very last second with no real rehearsal so the show could go on. Today is Joanna’s last day at Sweeney Todd on Broadway (which has also been her Broadway debut) and I don’t feel like she’s getting the praises she deserves for stepping up to plate at this concert
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The whole cast and orchestra is great, but Annaleigh doing all the little acting bits brings this Tiny Desk performance to the next level.
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Loving Annaleigh Ashford's Modern Essex Mockney But Also Weird Camp Eastern European Circus Owner Accent. It is an unexpected choice, and a brave one
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Props to Joanna Carpenter for stepping in on the beggar woman's part in Johanna quartet. She's a swing for the ensemble
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How does Josh sound even better here than on the cast recording? You can tell he's really grown into the role. Gosh, I just love him.
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I love how Annaleigh plays Mrs. Lovett. Shes kinda niave in a way and shes mimicking Sweeney in a way. Trying to be like him so he likes her. Absolutely lovely decision.
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No one is talking about how Joanna Carpenter who is playing the Beggar Woman here is a SWING!!! I can’t believe they did not even mention that. Shoutout to the Swings and Understudies that keep these shows going and (as seen here) get nearly no recognition for their incredible work!!! ❤❤❤ 10:52
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Annaleigh Ashford is a precious bean. Annaleigh Ashford is a treasure. "Actually I found some things under the desk."
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Annaleigh is crafting such an incredible career. She is such a fantastic character actor and so impressive.
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josh and annaleigh are so brilliant, their characters just shine through the screen. they do not need costumes or sets, that’s sweeney todd and mrs lovett right there
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There has GOT to be a Merrily We Roll Along: Tiny Desk Concert in the works!
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I love how Annaleigh's default motion was whacking/nudging/poking Josh
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BASSOONIST ON TINY DESK. WE MADE IT
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Fantastic. That beggar woman enunciated the lyrics so well I finally got to understand what that character keeps on saying in the fast runs. Bravo!
