Jesus Christ Superstar – A Rock Opera Sheet Music Full Score
Find the full score of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. Download and print today!
Introduction
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical is mostly sung-through, with little dialogue. It tells the story of the final weeks of Jesus’ life, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with his crucifixion.
The musical began as a rock opera concept album released in 1970. Its subsequent, groundbreaking Broadway run won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was subsequently adapted into a movie version in 1973. A new production staged for television in 2018 starred John Legend as Jesus, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, and Alice Cooper as King Herod.
History
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The musical is mostly sung-through, with little dialogue. It tells the story of the last week of Jesus’s life, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with his crucifixion.
The work was originally released as a concept album in 1970. A commercial success, it paved the way for a successful stage production on Broadway in 1971 and was later adapted into a film in 1973. The musical has been revived several times, most recently on Broadway in 2012.
Overview
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started as a rock opera concept album before its successful 1968 debut on Broadway. The musical is mostly sung-through, with little dialogue. It tells the story of the last week of Jesus’s life, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with his crucifixion.
The work’s depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychological development of Jesus and other personalities who appeared in the biblical Gospels. It depicts Judas Iscariot as a well-meaning man who is manipulated by political forces beyond his control, rather than simply being evil or traitorous; Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s disciple and romantic interest; and Pontius Pilate as an indecisive, unbiblical figure who yields to popular pressure to condemn an apparently blameless man to death.
The original 1970 Broadway production was nominated for five Tony Awards but failed to win any. Its 1971 West End counterpart was also nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards, winning Best Musical. The album topped the charts in several countries and Rolling Stone magazine called it “the greatest rock opera ever” in 1998. In 2004, Superstar was ranked No. 96 on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. In 2017, Billboard ranked it the 11th greatest rock musical ever.
Songs
“Jesus Christ Superstar” is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The musical is a rock opera that tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ, from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his crucifixion.
The musical first opened on Broadway in 1971, and was made into a film in 1973. The film was directed by Norman Jewison and starred Ted Neeley as Jesus Christ and Carl Anderson as Judas Iscariot.
The musical has been revived several times, most recently on Broadway in 2012. The revival starred Josh Young as Jesus Christ and Sebastian Arcelus as Judas Iscariot.
The song “Superstar” became a hit single for Murray Head in 1971, and has been covered by many artists since then.
Characters
The story is narrated by the character of Christ himself and focuses on his final week alive, prior to his crucifixion.
The main characters in the story are:
-Jesus Christ: the titular character, who is caught in the middle of a power struggle between Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate.
-Judas Iscariot: one of Jesus’ disciples, who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver.
-Pontius Pilate: the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to death.
-Mary Magdalene: a woman who was healed by Jesus and became one of his followers.
Plot
Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The album musical is a musical dramatisation of the last week of the life of Jesus Christ, beginning with his entry into Jerusalem and ending with his crucifixion. It was originally released as a concept album before being adapted into a stage play and then a film.
Themes
There are a number of themes that are explored inJesus Christ Superstar – A Rock Opera. The most predominant theme is that of faith, and how one’s faith can be challenged and strengthened by adversity. Other themes include love, betrayal, redemption, and sacrifice. The music and lyrics of the show help to explore these themes in a powerful and moving way.
Conclusion
Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical interpretation of the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. The story is mostly told through song, with very little dialogue. It covers the events leading up to and including the crucifixion, as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The two had previously worked together on the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Jesus Christ Superstar was released as a rock opera album in 1970, and then staged as a Broadway musical in 1971. It was later made into a film in 1973.
The musical has been controversial since its inception, with some people finding it offensive and blasphemous. Nevertheless, it has remained popular, and continues to be performed around the world.