“To hear composers take my work and take it seriously... it’s a thrill.”
– Stephen Sondheim
Conceived by acclaimed concert pianist and new music champion Anthony de Mare, THE LIAISONS PROJECT is a landmark commissioning and concert project based on the music of Stephen Sondheim. The Project has created a remarkable compendium of 51 pieces that make the case for Sondheim as one of the 20th century's most influential composers - as worthy of the concert hall as the Broadway stage.
Project composers span the worlds of classical, jazz, film, pop, and musical theater. Mr. Sondheim suggested some, others were chosen by de Mare and producer Rachel Colbert. Recordings of the full collection are available across two releases: ECM Records New Series (2015) and Avie Records (2025).
De Mare gave NYC premieres to the first 36 pieces across three sold-out concerts at Symphony Space between 2012-2015, including a 3-concert ECM release launch in 2015 spanning Birdland, The Sheen Center, and Symphony Space. He premiered the subsequent set of 14, created in honor of Sondheim's 90th birthday, across two concerts at Merkin Hall in 2021-2022. He has toured the Project to premiere venues across the U.S. and internationally, including Ravinia, CAP UCLA, the Barbican, the Mondavi Center, Yoshi's San Francisco, the Cliburn Concert Series, and Melbourne Recital Centre.
April 2012
“Not just inventive piano arrangements of the songs but new compositions written in the composers’ own styles... it was fascinating to hear how each composer approached the song. Mr. de Mare’s playing was dynamic and stylish, requiring formidable virtuosity... I loved it. "
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August 2014
"It’s not just that many of the individual new works are so appealing. It’s that de Mare’s passion and vision almost radiate from the stage. He underscores the serious nature of Sondheim’s musical accomplishment, and he causes all involved — composers, performer and audience members — to think about how music is made and how we listen to it."
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August 2013
"After seeing de Mare’s triumphant performance, we definitely want to gain a deeper knowledge of the musicals. Moreover, we were impressed by de Mare’s ability to master everything from the most pyrotechnical classical compositions to the suave style of the jazz works..."
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March 2013
" An adventurous project... Mr. de Mare performed with vivid commitment throughout, fully plumbing the nuances of each work. "
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September 2012
“De Mare is a dynamic pianist, with technique and musicianship to burn. For those who love Sondheim and are interested in hearing new work from a variety of contemporary composers, [Liaisons is] a must-see occasion.
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September 2012
“The variety of the settings kept the audience engaged, and de Mare was formidable throughout. The evening was a refreshing alternative to the typical recital, and successfully promoted Sondheim's legacy as well...
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June 2012
“A thrilling program… filled with surprise and inventiveness.”
May 2012
“The concert offered a wide range of compositional styles and moods, highly colorful, and superbly played by de Mare.
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March 2012
“Liaisons is a revelation… a delightful recital with an exuberant close. De Mare’s playing was superb throughout, a combination of lyrical reflection and extroverted pyrotechnics.”
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February 2012
“Just when you thought that there wasn't anything new in piano recitals anymore, along comes Anthony de Mare … a first-class pianist whose list of composer friends is a virtual who's who of American music… each piece is a fascinating exploration of the composer's style.”
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January 2012
“The ambitious endeavor of Anthony de Mare to create liaisons between musical theater and so-called “art-music” brings out his formidable piano technique and his charming, easy manner.”
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August 2011
“If anyone still doubted Sondheim’s prowess as an instrumental composer, this project should firmly lay those doubts to rest… de Mare’s concert kicked off energetically and his illuminating stage comments relaxed the atmosphere.”
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“The ambitious endeavor of Anthony de Mare to create liaisons between musical theater and so-called “art-music” brings out his formidable piano technique and his charming, easy manner.”
Past Performances
Liaisons works by Nico Muhly, Mark Anthony Turnage, Mason Bates and Paul Moravec
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For inquiries, please contact Rachel Colbert
RCOLBERT@THELIAISONSPROJECT.COM
Donate here
Liaisons scores available from HAL LEONARD
Digital scores available at sheetmusicdirect.com
For inquiries, please contact Rachel Colbert
RCOLBERT@THELIAISONSPROJECT.COM
Donate here
Liaisons scores available from HAL LEONARD
Digital scores available at sheetmusicdirect.com
"Fanatics and first-timers can discover a treasure trove of delight in pianist Anthony de Mare's lovingly wrought 36-song tribute to the great man of Broadway."
- NPR, Best Albums of 2015
"An ambitious project with fascinating results."
-Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, Best Classical Music Recordings of 2015
"A starry who’s who of the contemporary music world... ."
- Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle
"A voluminous trip to the piano keys that demonstrates how the piano is, indeed, an orchestra in itself."
- George W. Harris, Jazz Weekly
"An astonishing recording..."
- Jesse Green, NY Magazine
"Background music this is not... what De Mare hath wrought, with the help of his many collaborators, adds up a collective Goldberg Variations for Sondheim."
- Matthew Gruewitsch, Pundicity
Symphony Space - 2012
Symphony Space - 2013
composers
Liaisons Album EPK
Liaisons Indiegogo Campaign Video
from Liaisons II: Composers Speak about Sondheim
LIAISONS I : Highlights from Symphony Space
Liaisons I: Sondheim's onstage interview
ANTHONY DE MARE plays Finishing the Hat
ANTHONY DE MARE plays Send in the Clowns
ANTHONY DE MARE plays Not While I'm Around
LIAISONS was made possible by the generosity of individual donors and presenting venues, who supported commissioning and recording.
We are still raising funds to complete the filming and editing of archival interviews with each of the composers, and to augment publicity for the recording. Please join us! Donations are tax-deductible and can be made through Fractured Atlas:
We are deeply grateful to all those who helped us get this far.
The Liaisons Project is available for booking!
Individual pieces from the repertoire can form an infinite variety of programs appealing to audiences of all backgrounds. Mr. de Mare works with each venue to tailor a program best suited to their needs. Multi-media components are also available including audio clips from composer interviews, background slides, and an edited film of Sondheim’s live onstage interview at the NYC premiere.
A master teacher and lecturer, Mr. de Mare can also offer residencies and lectures based on the Project. info@anthonydemare.com