Stephen Sondheim: 'Lady Gaga's Oscar performance was a travesty'

Legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim has condemned Lady Gaga's tribute to The Sound Of Music at the Academy Awards, calling the performance "a travesty".

The Born This Way hitmaker sang a medley of hits, including Edelweiss and Climb Ev'ry Mountain, from the movie musical to celebrate its 50th anniversary during the Hollywood ceremony in February (15).

Her performance won praise from the film's leading actress, Dame Julie Andrews, but musical expert Sondheim was not impressed by the pop star's attempts to mimic the screen veteran's singing style.

He tells Britain's The Times newspaper, "On the Academy Awards she was a travesty. It was ridiculous, as it would be from any singer who treats that music in semi-operatic style. She had no relationship to what she was singing. What people liked was her versatility."