Musical theater is often considered quite separate from "classical" music - it's taught in different degree programs, shown in different theaters, and written about it different magazines. But Stephen Sondheim is one of those tricky artists that somehow transcends those boundaries. Sondheim - who, by all accounts, is a musical theater composer - has had his work performed by some of the world's great orchestras, and has been hailed as the closest American equivalent to the European opera composers of bygone centuries. 

Widespread popularity is standard for Broadway musicals and their composers - but the elite approval isn't. Join us the week as we sort through what sets Sondheim apart from the pack.