European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 22, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber keeps on setting Box office records. His 1981 musical a cats Quot right has raked in More than s1  music never stops by g. Luther Whitington United press International in the 1980s. Andrew Lloyd Webber saw his name become synonymous with the musical theater achieved huge financial and popular Success and Tell in love having already introduced a musical Jesus Christ and a fashionable South american dictator s Wile to the stage the 41 year old composer added to his cast of characters a singing phantom of the opera roller skating trains and a band of performing cats the critics gnashed their Teeth and trashed the music calling his Large spectacles All hash and no substance Pyrogenic wanderings to the lowest common denominator. But audiences on Lour continents roared their approval setting Box office records and sending his songs to the lop of record charts Quot i can t explain the Success. It s something that happened i m somewhat obsessed with my work and to see it getting out to people who have never enjoyed. Or even seen musical theater is  Lloyd Webber said in an interview in los Angeles a the musical theater today is healthy and that s Good Lor everyone including me. We re reaching More people than  with the Success the Cherub laced Lloyd Webber reportedly raised his personal Fortune to an estimated $480 million. Lloyd Webber also married Singer Sarah Brightman. Who starred in his phantom of the opera. Quot we Are wonderful together Quot he said. When the decade began musical theater in new York and London was in a slump. As 1990 begins musicals Are Selling out months in Advance not Only in the traditional centers but across the nation. The Man generally recognized As responsible for the revitalization is Lloyd Webber. Consider his record Joseph and the amazing technicolor Dreamboat 1968jesus Christ superstar 1971evita 1978cats 1981starlight express 1984requiem 1985phantom of the opera 1987 and now aspects of love Jesus Christ superstar helped bring Rock music to the legitimate stage and enjoyed Success As a movie cats has had a dozen touring companies and has raked in More than $1 billion. Evita was so popular that a reworked disco hit from the musical made it into the top 10. And phantom of the opera continues to Sot Box office records from London to los Angeles. In 1982 and again in 1988 Lloyd Webber became the first composer to have three hit musicals running simultaneously in both London and new York. Recently on the West coast for a performance of the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in concert the composer discussed his career and directions Lor the 1990s but it is when talking about creating new audiences that Lloyd Webber is most animated Quot you would t believe it. When we opened this show music of Andrew Lloyd Webber in Canada we did a  he said. Quot it showed that Only 20 percent of the audience had Ever seen a musical before. A rather galling discovery you might  Lloyd Webber himself discovered music Early. His father was director of the London College of music and his Mother a piano teacher. He began studying violin at the age of 3 and later took up piano and Horn ii was a household devoted to classical music Lloyd Webber has translated that Early classical training onto the stage his musicals Are crammed with overt classical references phantom of the opera has an intricate set sextet reminiscent of Donizetti while cats has a fugue. Mixing opera composition with Rock music and Melody with rhythm the composer has created a new Brand of music that is As popular Oil the stage As it is on. The constant ingredient is the stirring of passions i Don i know How to love him from Jesus Christ superstar memories from cats and All i ask of you from phantom of the opera Are just some of the several songs that became immensely successful smiles Quot it s the music that people love Quot Lloyd Webber said Quot i receive letters and letters from people m Remote places who say please bring your shows Here they be never seen the shows but they know the music from hearing on the radio or  trying to please himself his far Flung audience and. Some say. His wife. Lloyd Webber created the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber a theatrical concert featuring his Best known songs performed by 14 singers and played by a 70-Pieco symphony orchestra the show which ended a run in los Angeles in Early january and is set to begin a second tour of major american cities in the Spring stars his wife Quot it the show was not put together specifically for Sarah. I of course love seeing her hearing her it s a special sort of feeling but that does not preclude another Singer starring in it Quot he said. Lloyd Webber s latest Endeavor aspects of love. Has been packing in audiences since it opened in London last april and is predicted to do the same when it opens in new York this april. Quot i m always every Day looking for new ideas it never really stops Quot the composer said. Quot and film interests me there s opportunities , january 22. 1990 the stars and stripes Page 17