About Rodgers & Hammerstein (Songwriters)

After long and highly distinguished careers with other collaborators, Richard Rodgers (Composer, 1902-79) and Oscar Hammerstein II (Librettist/Lyricist, 1895-1960) joined forces in 1943 to create the most successful partnership in American Musical Theatre. Prior to joining forces, Rodgers collaborated with lyricist Lorenz Hart on musical comedies that epitomized wit and sophistication (Pal Joey, On Your Toes, Babes in Arms, and more), while Hammerstein brought new life to operetta and created the classic Show Boat with Jerome Kern. Oklahoma!, the first Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, introduced an integrated form that became known as “the musical play.” Their shows that followed included Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Collectively, the Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals have earned Tony, Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Pulitzer, and Olivier Awards.

About The Sound of Music

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s last musical was a triumph. The Sound of Music opened at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 16, 1959. It ran for 1,443 performances and earned five Tony Awards including Best Musical. In addition, the cast album earned a Gold Record and the Grammy Award. Florence Henderson starred in the first national tour, which played for more than two years. Jean Bayless created the role of Maria in the original London production, which ran for more than six years, long holding the record as the longest-running American musical in London.

In 1965 the motion picture version of The Sound of Music was released, and it made Hollywood history. Directed by Robert Wise, with a score revised by Rodgers (Hammerstein had died in 1960, so Rodgers composed both music and lyrics for two songs added to the film: “I Have Confidence” and “Something Good”), and a screenplay by Ernest Lehman, The Sound of Music boasted a dream cast: Julie Andrews as Maria, Christopher Plummer as the Captain, Eleanor Parker as Elsa, Peggy Wood as the Mother Abbess and Charmian Carr as Liesl. Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, The Sound of Music has become the most popular movie musical ever made.

About the Cast:

Maria…. Julie Andrews

The Captain…. Christopher Plummer

Mother Abbess…. Peggy Wood

Rolf…. Dan Truhitte

Liesl… Charmain Carr

Friedrich…. Nicholas Hammond

Louisa…. Heather Menzies

Kurt…. Duane Chase

Brigitta… Angela Cartwright

Marta…. Debbie Turner

Gretl…. Kym Karath

ALBUM OVERVIEW

In 1965 the 20th Century Fox motion picture version of The Sound of Music was released in theatres. With music written and composed by Rodgers & Hammerstein, the film boasted a dream cast: Julie Andrews as Maria, Christopher Plummer as the Captain, Eleanor Parker as Elsa and Peggy Wood as the Mother Abbess. The film made Hollywood history; after the premiere at the Rivoli Theatre in New York, the run of engagements in movie theaters lasted a stunning 4 1/2 years internationally, playing its final showing December 8, 1969. Winner of five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Scoring of Music, The Sound of Music has since become the most popular movie musical ever made.

The soundtrack features popular favorites like: “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Every Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “The Lonely Goatherd” and “The Sound of Music.”

Upon release, the soundtrack reached #1 in the Billboard 200 chart and remained Top Ten for 109 weeks. The album was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 1965, 1966 and 1968 and the second best-selling of the entire decade, spending a total of 70 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart. The album has since gone on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide.