Andrew Lloyd Webber- His Life and Works

Jesus Christ Superstar. Evita. Cats. The Phantom of the Opera. Webber's hit parade of West End and Broadway musicals has established him as the foremost theatrical composer of our time. In this biography, Walsh examines his personal motivations and professional methods. 100 illustrations, 80 in full color.

There is a fairy-tale quality about this biography, for despite persistent negative reviews and accusations of plagiarism, Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose ability to make money may exceed his talent for making music, has risen to the top with Jesus Christ Superstar , Evita , Cats , Starlight Express and Phantom of the Opera. After Phantom he was earning $12 million a year; at the age of 41 he is one of the wealthiest and most successful composers of all time. Walsh, music critic of Time , analyzes the works and their influence on musical theater in England and the United States, and he also takes a close look at the man--his childhood, his marriages and his difficult relationships with associates, particularly lyricist Tim Rice and directors Hal Prince and Trevor Nunn. Written in a bouncy style and illustrated with color photographs from the musicals, the book is as glitzy as Lloyd Webber's shows.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Dozens of color photos from the musicals of England's most famous contemporary composer ( Cats, Evita, Phantom of the Opera , etc.) decorate this oversized biography by the appreciative Walsh. Presented as a history (with some analysis) of the shows, with a chapter for each that describes ideas, persons, decisions, and production details, the book is short on items from Lloyd Webber's personal life (his first wife refused to be interviewed.) The sewn binding will stand up well to the popularity this book may experience in libraries, especially if the film version of Evita is released. A companion to Craig Zadan's behind-the-scenes book on Stephen Sondheim, Sondheim and Co. (Harper, 1986. 2d ed.).
-Bonnie Jo Dopp, District of Columbia P.L.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.