Iconic performers mourned the death of one of their all-time favorite collaborators, composer Stephen Sondheim, Wednesday.
Streisand, who met Sondheim in the late 1960s when she was an unknown singer vying for a role in the Broadway revival of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” said in a statement that “We all knew that Stephen was very ill, but we did not know how ill.”
“What a shock to hear that he is no longer with us,” Streisand said. “Stephen Sondheim truly was the King of Song and we were privileged to work and collaborate with him. We will miss him and he will always remain in our hearts.”
Added Salonga, the Oscar and Tony-winning actress best known for her portrayal of the Princess Jasmine in the “Aladdin” movies: “Words cannot describe the immeasurable pain that I feel right now. The world has lost a genius today. The very thought of him being gone reminds me of the inner strength and clarity that will sustain me during these very difficult times. He was a gift to all of us and I am blessed to have known him.”
Alison Sweeney, who starred as the true love interest Juliet in “Sweeney Todd” and was most recently seen in the “Days of Our Lives” revival, also mourned the news.
“Words cannot describe the emptiness that I feel right now,” she said. “He was a blessing, a genius, and a friend. I will miss him with all my heart and appreciate his generous spirit every day.”