Music of the Night – Spiritual Yearning and Religious Influences in the Work of Andrew Lloyd Webber

Clearly established as the leading and most successful practitioner of musical theatre over the last fifty years, Andrew Lloyd Webber is not usually thought of as having a deeply religious or spiritual side. Yet research by Ian Bradley, which will be shared in this lecture, reveals the strong influence on him of his Anglo-Catholic composer father, his love of High Anglican churches and liturgy, and the theme of spiritual yearning which underpins much of his work.

Analysis of Phantom of the Opera and Whistle Down the Wind will feature prominently, as well as consideration of more obviously spiritual and religiously inspired works like Jesus Christ Superstar and his Requiem.

Cover image by Ken Lund