Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber has opened up on his late son’s final days.
The composer, 75, confirmed in March that Nicholas, 43, had died, writing in an announcement: ‘I'm shattered to must announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a number of hours in the past in Basingstoke Hospital.
‘His complete household is gathered collectively and we're all completely bereft. – ALW’
The devastating information got here shortly after Lord Lloyd Webber revealed Nicholas, who was additionally a composer, had been moved to a hospice the place he was ‘battling’ gastric most cancers.
Now, the Oscar winner has penned a robust essay, detailing his last moments with Nicholas.
Pouring his coronary heart out for The New York Instances simply days after his son’s loss of life, he started by recalling the day earlier than Nicholas died.
‘”An apple a day, if nicely aimed, retains the physician away.” I used to be talking in P.G. Wodehouse quotes with my eldest son, Nick, who was in hospice, the place he was being handled for most cancers simply days in the past,’ he penned.
He went on: ‘”Right here’s one for you,” mentioned Nick, laughing. He had surmised that, after bulletins from New York, his father, as Wodehouse may need put it, was lower than gruntled.
“‘Has anyone ever seen a dramatic critic within the daytime? In fact not. They arrive out after darkish, as much as no good.” We hugged and mentioned our goodbyes.
‘The subsequent day, my son died. Nothing’s worse for a mum or dad than the loss of life of a kid.’
Lord Lloyd Webber proceeded to debate the ending of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, which closed this weekend after 35 years.
The revered musician added that he feels it ‘in his bones’ how ‘flawed’ it's to jot down about Phantom closing right now.
Nevertheless, he wished to ‘strive’, as he ‘owes the whole lot’ to his love of Broadway and ‘its wonderful legacy’.
The present was the longest-running in Broadway historical past, with a whopping 13,981 performances.
Taking to the stage to ship a speech on Sunday night time (April 19), Lord Lloyd Webber devoted the ultimate efficiency to Nicholas.
Taking to the stage at the Majestic Theatre in New York, amid a standing ovation, he mentioned: ‘I hope you gained’t thoughts if I dedicate this efficiency to my son, Nick.’
Turning to unique Phantom star, Sarah Brightman, the composer recalled, ‘When Nick was a bit boy, he heard a few of this music,’ in response to Deadline.
‘Sure, he did,’ Brightman mentioned. ‘When Andrew was writing it, he was proper there.
‘So his soul is with us. Nick, we love you very a lot.’
Lord Lloyd Webber has beforehand mentioned that he ‘doesn’t know’ whether or not Phantom will ever return given that he's the ‘solely composer’.
Nevertheless, in his essay for The New York Instances, he ended on a hopeful observe for the way forward for Broadway.
‘This has been a season of goodbyes, private and public,’ he confessed, referencing the present’s closure and the lack of his son.
‘With the curtain now fallen in New York on the musical that has been the most important of my profession, I passionately pray that Broadway rediscovers the urge for food for brand spanking new scores and unique work that made me so excited after I was, as Hal (Prince, his collaborator) at all times known as me, a child.’
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