The Sound of Music

The story of The Sound of Music

Set in Austria in the 1930s, the musical follows Maria, a spirited postulant sent from her convent to serve as governess to the seven children of a widowed naval officer. Her warmth and love of music slowly transform the strict household, and her growing bond with the family deepens as political tensions rise around them.

The show is grounded in real history, drawing on events surrounding the family's life as Austria falls increasingly under the shadow of the encroaching Nazi regime. That historical backdrop gives emotional weight to what might otherwise be a simple, heartwarming story, turning it into a tale of love, family, and quiet resistance.

The music and the makers

Richard Rodgers composed the music, marking the final collaboration between Rodgers and his longtime partner Oscar Hammerstein II, whose lyrics brought the same warmth and craftsmanship that defined their earlier work together. The book was written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, and the partnership of Rodgers and Hammerstein, which had already shaped the sound of Golden Age Broadway, closed its chapter on a soaring, deeply personal note.

The score is full of bright, singable melodies and tender character songs that have become deeply embedded in popular culture, ranging from playful children's numbers to stirring anthems of hope and love.

The Sound of Music on Broadway

The Sound of Music opened on Broadway in 1959, arriving as one of the last great works of the Golden Age and a fitting capstone to Rodgers and Hammerstein's influential partnership. Its combination of heartfelt storytelling and glorious melody made it an instant favorite.

Its enduring popularity has made it one of the most beloved musicals of all time, cherished across generations for its uplifting music, its moving family story, and its ability to find warmth and hope within a genuinely difficult historical moment.

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