and then he did company which was the beginning really of the modern musical. reporter: prior to tonight s curtain, company s director dedicating this evening s performance to him. he was truly the greatest artist that we in our lifetimes possibly will ever know in this art form. [applause] reporter: bernadette peters, often called the foremost interpreter of sunday is heym s work, thanking the man she called a friend. he gave me so much to sing about, she wrote. i loved him dearly and will miss him so much. stephen pascual currently starring in the stage revival of assassins writes: i don t think there s an example of another person in any other field that is the size he was to ours. stephen sondheim was born in 1930. mayor bill de blasio calling the new york city native a legend,