In 2000 George Hearn reprised his Sweeney Todd role for the first time in 20 years at "Sweeney In Concert".
George stepped in at the last minute: the concert was originally supposed to star Bryn Terfel as Sweeney. But days before the concert the singer hurt his back and couldn't make it.
George said, "Bryn Terfel... is probably the greatest baritone alive now. My agent said, 'you know he's hurt his back and he may not come in to do this, so maybe you should be ready'..."
"I said, 'that's the last thing in the world I would do, is replace the best baritone living with a broadway...I'd say 'hack', but a broadway actor coming into it, and everybody's bought tickets...to hear him with Patti, and...I said I'm not gonna do it in a million years! ... Then they asked me and I did it".
Despite his hesitation, George was amazing. Outshining even his own earlier performances. His "Epiphany" might be the best ever recorded.