What Is Your Favorite Musical Moment from The Sound of Music? | Playbill

Polls What Is Your Favorite Musical Moment from The Sound of Music? In celebration of the 50th anniversary of "The Sound of Music," the Oscar-winning film about a postulant-turned-governess named Maria who becomes enamored with a widower Austrian naval captain and his seven children, Playbill.com took to social media to see which moments they considered most memorable from the stage and screen versions of the property. The beloved musical features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.

"The Sound of Music" 1965 Film Adaptation 

There was an overwhelming response from Playbill.com readers in support of the 1965 film version starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. Directed by Robert Wise, the now-classic movie garnered two Golden Globes and five Oscar wins, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Music. Andrews was also nominated for her moving performance as Maria. Playbill.com readers chose some of their favorite moments from the iconic film.

The Gazebo Scene

Kipp Matalucci: From the film I like the scene in the garden when they finally confess their love for each other. It's so beautifully lit and staged. The song is tender and pretty, perfectly enhancing the mood. 

The long-awaited moment when Maria and the Captain finally recognize their love for one another is a fan favorite for many. The scene takes place in the gazebo, and the two sing one of two songs written specifically by Rodgers for the film, "Something Good." Maria believes that she must have done "something good" in her past to deserve such love and connection. 

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The Opening Scene

Fran Fassman: Julie on the mountain…opening sceneDavid Keyes: The opening scenes over the Alps until zooming in on Maria coming up the hill to begin the song.

The opening scene of the film, in which Maria sings "The Sound of Music," is almost as iconic as the film itself, and now recognized the world over. The camera pans over the impressive Austrian Alps, and the audience is introduced to Maria, spinning and singing in adoration for her surroundings and life itself.  

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Edelweiss

Jamie Scerbo: Edelweiss gives me the chills!!

Amy Daskilewicz: Every time I hear the reprise of Edelweiss (when everyone joins in) I always get a tear in my eye.

Georgia Heyes: Always Edelweiss in the concert before they leave.

The Captain unexpectedly lets his down guard before his children, Maria and his guests in this touching scene where he sings "Edelweiss," accompanying himself on guitar. In this moment, the audience is able to catch a glimpse of the heart beneath his tough exterior and also witnesses Maria's growing affections for him.

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Climb Ev'ry Mountain

Max Martinez: My favorite moment is definitely when Mother Superior encourages Maria to follow her heart and live the life she wants to have singing "Climb Every Mountain." 

Both Maria and the audience are taken off-guard when Mother Superior, usually very stern, changes her tune and decides to offer loving, caring advice. In this intimate scene, Mother Superior recognizes Maria's thirst and passion for life, encouraging her to search high and low and pursue every opportunity in search of her dream. The moment is as unexpected as it is moving.

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Do Re Mi

Darlene Dee G: Showing and teaching my elementary music students Do , Re, Mi for the past twelve years ! Actually my 3rd graders sing it everyday they come to music . Every year my students fall in love with this musical .

Yet another iconic scene from the film, "Do-Re-Mi" has been used as a teaching tool in classrooms around the world for decades. In the scene set outside on the hill Maria is teaching the Von Trapp children how to learn the musical scale, Do Re Mi Fa, etc. To help them remember better, she improvises a song, beginning with, "Doe, a deer, a female dear/Ray, a drop of golden sun." It turns into a wonderful musical moment involving all the children and Maria.

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The Sound of Music 1959 Broadway Production 

Louisa Cabot: Theo Bickel singing Edelweiss in the Broadway original production.

Mary Martin made me forget her age at the time. The opening scene with her perched on a tree did not serve her well; she overcame it!

Judy Beane Atwell: We all love Julie Andrews because of the movie but Mary Martin originated the role on Broadway and was awfully good. I love Julie but I also love Mary.

The original Broadway production, starring Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, was beloved by many. Helmed by Howard Lindsay, the show played a total of 1,443 performances, beginning in November 1959. It was nominated for a total of nine Tony Awards, winning five, including Best Musical and Best Actress. The role of Maria, along with that of Peter Pan in the Broadway staging, were two of the lead roles that brought Martin critical acclaim and widespread recognition.

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Lady Gaga at the 87th Annual Academy Awards

Joseph Awad: Gaga Gaga Gaga!!! I didn't get to see it live, I got to watch it online a day later, but when I did I was probably the happiest person at the Oscars! Such a smart performance on her part! She just oozed power and confidence! I'm all for Lady Maria... Oh wait... Lady Gaga!

Judy Wenrich: No one can top Julie Andrews, but I'll tell you Lady Gaga killed it on the Oscars.

Andrew Dove: Lady Gaga at the 2015 Oscars proving to the world that she can be an amazing singer like Julie Andrews and we hope that she can be the next Maria of a future production of Sound of Music

Lady Gaga set the internet ablaze with her classical performance of a "Sound of Music" medley. She was later joined by Julie Andrews onstage, who whispered, "You were amazing." It was a transformative musical moment and a highlight in the evening's line-up of stellar performances. The ceremony's musical director Stephen Oremus told Playbill.com in an interview, "I have to say, for me, personally, because I put the whole arrangement together, the Lady Gaga moment was an absolute thrill for me. It gave me chills the whole time." Oremus said that the Academy Award producers wanted the famed pop singer to do something special that no one would expect. Oremus said it was a priority for everyone, including Gaga, to "honor" the film and its music the best way possible. To read the full article and interview, click here.

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Lady Gaga Photo by A.M.P.A.S.(r)/Michael Yada

NBC's The Sound of Music Live!

Zach Ramsey: I think Maria or How Can Love Survive? From the Sound of Music Live were my favorites.

In 2013 NBC presented a live televised production of the famed story, starring a host of Tony Award-winning and nominated stars. The cast included Carrie Underwood as Maria, Stephen Moyer as the Captain, Christian Borle as Max, Laura Benanti as Elsa and Audra McDonald as Mother Abbess. Executive-produced by "Smash" duo Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, "The Sound of Music Live!" was co-directed by Beth McCarthy-Miller ("Saturday Night Live") and Tony winner Rob Ashford. The three-hour television event nabbed unprecedented ratings for NBC.

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