Sunday With Andrew Lloyd Webber,
The prolific and acclaimed composer on his remarkable career, his new tell-all book and why he loves Ed Sheeran
For nearly 50 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music of the night—and the matinees too—has enthralled theater audiences all over the world. Now the iconic composer has written his memoir, Unmasked (available March 6), in which he opens up about everything from his middle-class childhood in London to the inspiration behind smashes such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. Says the 69-year-old Webber, married to former equestrian Madeleine Gurdon since 1991 and the father of five, “I couldn’t let anyone else write my story.” What will readers be surprised to learn about you? That I don’t take myself completely seriously. I try to have a laugh. I say in the introduction that the book can also be a doorstop, which is true! It’s very large, and I think I’m a rather boring person. My friend is a literary agent, and for years, he’d say, “You have to write a book,” and I’d say, “Why?!” How did you recall everything in such fine detail? I can’t say that it was my memory! Luckily, my first-ever production assistant saved all my desk diaries and correspondences and letters. It took me about three years to write this, and I couldn’t have done it without those diaries. Which section was the hardest to revisit? The chapter where I realize my first marriage [to Sarah Hugill] was over [in 1983]. We were tremendously in love when we got married [in 1971], and she was there for a huge part of my life. But people move on. My first wife is a dear friend now, and I did show those parts to her before it was sent to anyone else. She was very happy about it. My mantra is “True love can never go away.” [Webber’s second wife was Sarah Brightman, who originated the role of Christine in Phantom of the Opera.] How do you spend a typical Sunday? I don’t have one! Usually, I’m sitting in the back of a theater watching a production that’s going up soon. But if I had to choose, I’d be at home in Hampshire [England] with my children. I’d take my cats for a walk and read a book about architecture. That is my other love. And one of the greatest joys one can have in Britain is to go to a Sunday church service. In the evening, I’d head to a great cathedral and listen to a choir. Which is your favorite musical—or do you view them as your children and can’t choose? It’s difficult because those are my creations. But there are bits from shows in which I think I did my best work. My best romantic work is Love Never Dies, the more grown-up sequel to Phantom of the Opera. It’s easier to say that there’s something I’d like to change or rewrite than to pick a favorite.
Why do you think The Phantom
of the Opera has lasted on Broadway for a record-breaking 30
years and counting? I truthfully do not know! Some years ago, when Phantom was the Hamilton of its day, I was at an Elton John charity dinner and sitting among a group of famous supermodels. They all started saying that there’s one part of their appearance they don’t like. Someone said, “I don’t like the line in my nose.” I’m looking at the most beautiful women in the world and thinking, What the hell is wrong with them? I guess there’s something about ourselves we’d all like to change, which is part of the Phantom story. It’s also highly romantic.
What are you working on now? My last new production, School
of Rock, was great fun. That was three years ago. Now I feel caged and want to write something new. Jesus Christ Superstar will air live [on Easter], but that’s not my production. That’s an NBC production. It will be fantastic, though. I love the idea of a live musical on TV.
You turn 70 on March 22. Well? The most boring thing about turning 70 is talking about it. It’s very sweet that my friends want to throw parties for me. And I was honored at the Grammys. It’s like, hang on a moment, I don’t feel any different. I feel like a kid again! I don’t know what age I am! I just want to get on with life.
Did you know Webber doesn’t use a cellphone? Visit Parade.com/webber for 10 things you probably don’t know about the composer.