Since its film adaptation by Tim Burton, Stephen Sondheim's musical "Sweeney Todd" has become widely known to audiences in Germany as well. Premiering on Broadway in 1979, the work can now be considered a classic of the genre and is generally regarded as the greatest achievement of the American composer and lyricist. Due to its musically demanding texture, its strong stage presence, and the high requirements it places on singers, this bloody musical thriller is often performed by opera companies and is also excellently suited for the repertoire of a German multi-genre theater. The present study provides a detailed dramaturgical analysis of the musical, with particular attention to its musical composition.