‘Incomparable’ Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim dies at 91 - Aljazeera.com

Sondheim, renowned for musicals including West Side Story and Sweeney Todd, died at home in Connecticut.

Legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, widely credited with transforning musical theatre, died on Friday at the age of 91, his publicist said.

Sondheim – renowned for musicals including West Side Story and Sweeney Todd – died at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, spokesperson Kathryn Zuckerman told Reuters news agency by email, saying she had little additional information.

Born on March 22, 1930, to an affluent family in New York City, Sondheim was involved in musical theatre from an early age.

Thank you, Stephen Sondheim, for so much brilliance in the theatre and sharing your music with us all.

Sondheim won numerous awards during his career including eight Grammy awards, and eight Tony awards, including the special honour of Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Several of Sondheim’s musicals have been turned into films including West Side Story in 1961, which won an Oscar, and Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, in 2007.