Plus, a ‘Cats’ joke.
Andrew Lloyd Webber pulled up to his piano during self-isolation on Thursday (March 19) to perform a version of “All I Ask of You” from his Phantom of the Opera after asking his fans to suggest a tune for him to play for them.
“I didn’t think I’d ever get such a response to this little tryout! Here I am in my own self-isolation,” he wrote in the clip, in which his dog interrupts him and he jokes, “It’s alright, it doesn’t come from Cats.”
The delightful instrumental — which Webber revealed was in the wrong key because his “arthritic fingers” can’t play it otherwise — wasn’t the only gift Lloyd Webber shared. The maestro, who turns 71 on Sunday, got an early birthday greeting on Thursday from acolyte Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote, “It’s almost your birthday and you give US gifts,” prompting ALW to say thank you and challenge Miranda to a play-off.
Challenge accepted! Late Thursday night Miranda took to his living room piano — accented by a white Phantom mask — to perform “Everything’s Alright” from Jesus Christ Superstar, with a note asking fans to support Broadway Cares during this time when all of Broadway is shut down due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus.
Miranda ended his performance with a challenge to Webber to sing “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton.
Watch their videos below.