Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Seasons of Love

Episode 3 of 3

Neil explores why musical theatre is thriving in the 21st century, charting the rise of the 'megamusical' and seeing how they have also captured contemporary life.

Series in which composer Neil Brand explores how musical theatre evolved over the last 100 years to become today's global phenomenon. Neil hears the inside story from leading composers and talent past and present, and recreates classic songs, looking in detail at how these work musically and lyrically to captivate the audience.

In the concluding episode, he explores why musical theatre is thriving in the 21st century. He charts the rise of the 'megamusical' phenomenon, with shows like Cats and Les Miserables, learns the behind-the-scenes story of how Disney transformed The Lion King from a cartoon into a record-breaking stage success, and sees how musicals have captured contemporary life in shows like Rent and Avenue Q. Neil recreates classic numbers to reveal the secrets of their songwriting, including The Rocky Horror Show's Sweet Transvestite, Don't Cry for Me Argentina from Evita, and Les Miserables' Empty Chairs at Empty Tables. Neil meets a host of top musical theatre talent, including master lyricist Tim Rice, Lion King director Julie Taymor, and leading composers Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q and Frozen).

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Dec 202123:45
BBC Four

More episodes

Previous

Something's Coming

Next

You are at the last episode

See all episodes from Sound of Musicals with Neil Brand

Clips

See all clips from Seasons of Love(2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Citizens Of Oz & Kristin Chenoweth

    No One Mourns the Wicked

    From Wicked

  • 00:00

    Idina Menzel & Kristin Chenoweth

    Defying Gravity

    From Wicked

  • 00:01

    Kristin Chenoweth & Idina Menzel

    Defying Gravity

  • 00:01

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    Work Song

    From Les Miserables

  • 00:01

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    I Dreamed a Dream

    From Les Miserables

  • 00:01

    Jonathan Larson

    Seasons of Love

    From Rent

  • 00:02

    Robert Lopez

    The Internet Is for Porn

    Composer: Jeff Marx.

    From Avenue Q

  • 00:02

    Anthony Rapp

    La Vie Boheme

    From Rent

  • 00:02

    Milton Rosenstock Orchestra

    Gypsy

  • 00:03

    Galt MacDermot

    I Got Life

    Lyricist: James Rado. Lyricist: Gerome Ragni.

    From Hair

  • 00:03

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Superstar

    Lyricist: Tim Rice.

    From Jesus Christ Superstar

  • 00:04

    Ronnie Dyson

    Aquarius (from Hair)

    From Hair

  • 00:04

    Richard O’Brien

    Sweet Transvestite

    From The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  • 00:07

    Richard O’Brien

    Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me

    From The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  • 00:10

    Richard O’Brien, Little Nell, Patricia Quinn & Charles Gray

    Time Warp

    From The Rocky Horror Picture Show

  • 00:11

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Superstar

    Performer: Murray Head. Lyricist: Tim Rice.

    From Jesus Christ Superstar

  • 00:12

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Oh, What A Circus

    Performer: Colm Wilkinson. Lyricist: Tim Rice.

    From Evita

  • 00:15

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Don't Cry for Me Argentina

    Performer: Neil Brand. Lyricist: Tim Rice.

    From Evita

  • 00:19

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Macavity: The Mystery Cat

    Lyricist: T. S. Eliot.

    From Cats

  • 00:19

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    Race Downhill Final

    From Starlight Express

  • 00:19

    Andrew Lloyd Webber

    The Phantom of the Opera

    Lyricist: Charles Hart. Lyricist: Richard Stilgoe. Lyricist: Mike Batt.

    From The Phantom of the Opera

  • 00:22

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    Work Song

    From Les Miserables

  • 00:23

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    La journée est finie

    From Les Miserables

  • 00:24

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    At the End of the Day

    Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer.

    From Les Miserables

  • 00:24

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    At The End of The Day

    Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer.
  • 00:25

    Claude‐Michel Schönberg

    Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

    Lyricist: Jean-Marc Natel. Lyricist: Herbert Kretzmer. Performer: Neil Brand.

    From Les Miserables

  • 00:29

    Benny Andersson

    One Night In Bangkok

    Performer: Murray Head. Lyricist: Tim Rice. Composer: Björn Ulvaeus.

    From Chess

  • 00:32

    Jonathan Larson

    Rent

    Performer: Anthony Rapp.

    From Rent

  • 00:33

    Jonathan Larson

    Light My Candle

    From Rent

  • 00:36

    Jonathan Larson

    Seasons of Love

    Performer: Anthony Rapp. Performer: Theatre Clwyd.

    From Rent

  • 00:35

    Jonathan Larson

    One Song Glory

    Performer: Adam Pascal.

    From Rent

  • 00:41

    Alan Menken

    Belle

    Performer: Paige O’Hara. Lyricist: Howard Ashman.

    From Beauty and the Beast

  • 00:47

    Lebo M

    One By One

    From The Lion King

  • 00:48

    Robert Lopez

    The Avenue Q Theme

    Composer: Jeff Marx.

    From Avenue Q

  • 00:52

    Robert Lopez

    Everyone's a Little Bit Racist

    Performer: John Tartaglia.

    From Avenue Q

  • 00:59

    Okieriete Onaodowan, Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

    Alexander Hamilton

Credits

PresenterNeil Brand
ProducerAndy Hall
DirectorAndy Hall
Executive ProducerJohn Das
Interviewed GuestTim Rice
Interviewed GuestAlan Menken
Interviewed GuestRobert Lopez

Broadcasts

Featured in...