[Yakko]

Does it really have to be a bass-Baritone or could any other baritone play Sweeney?

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Now you're asking the infamous question of "The actor, or the voice?" Sondheim famously says the actor, and approved of the casting of Johnny Depp, a rock-infused, less-than-operatic bari-tenor for Sweeney in the film, which he said he approved of.

Some people insist on the operatic voice, the "big old man" Sweeney, the "daffy, portly old" Lovetts. Others say to give it to the best actors, as long as they can sing it serviceably, if not concert-worthy.

[Yakko]

[ActingDude17]

Musically, I think a bass-baritone should play Sweeney. I do also think though that the acting is more important than the singing.

[Vichysois]

Well, I believe the score has Sweeney going down to F#2. In that sense, the actor needs to have a clear, audible, and pleasing F#2, a note that baritones should have. But not all guys claiming to be baritones actually possess the baritone range...some are really just untrained tenors, others just don't have a good low range.

To that end, I've seen Sweeney listed as a Bass-baritone. This covers the fact that he should have F#2 but still be comfortable at F#4. It's also a question of tessitura. One might say that bass-baritones ordinarily have a "deeper" or "lower" sound than just baritones, and since that's the sort of sound Sondheim wanted for Sweeney, there you have it.

Of course, this hasn't precluded baritones or tenors from playing Sweeney. I think the current West End Jean Valjean played Sweeney once.

Comes down to both acting and the voice. I'd say he should have a grim, low sound...so I'd pretty much bank on him needing to be baritone or lower in most cases. But I enjoyed Johnny Depp in his interpretation, although he was lacking in a booming voice. The "aggressive crooning" fit well within the movie.

[wolfenflautist]

I'd imagine a booming voice more suitable for the stage, not on a film set of that caliber. I personally got hooked to this musical because of the film. I never would've guessed that Johnny Depp could sing until I saw that! :blink: :shocked:

He pulled the performance off quite nicely, even though he was more baritone-tenor than baritone-bass. For the stage production (which I did see), I'd see it only being baritone-bass.

I also see both the range and good actor being equally important. The singing needs to fit the music and the actor needs to fit the role.

[Brother Marvin Hinten, S.]

For some reason, I always wanted to see Ted Neeley play this part.

[Vichysois]

With his country twang and all?

[wolfenflautist]

A Sweeney with twangy and country-esque singing? No thanks!

[Yakko]