Re "A Weekend in the Country" - I doubt it was inspired by Gilbert & Sullivan, who Sondheim is on record as not liking much at all, but otoh one of the act finales- 2nd or 3rd act? - to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (one which famously opens with two or three characters singing, but ends as a sextet)- now that, in principle/structure/general idea/whatever, there I imagine the inspiration might be. Maybe so, maybe no :) - Eric S.
Re "A Weekend in the Country" - I doubt it was inspired by Gilbert & Sullivan, who Sondheim is on record as not liking much at all, but otoh one of the act finales- 2nd or 3rd act? - to Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (one which famously opens with two or three characters singing, but ends as a sextet)- now that, in principle/structure/general idea/whatever, there I imagine the inspiration might be. Maybe so, maybe no :) - Eric S.
(Actually, who needs love when one has music?...)