Since 1994, I've been to Madison Square Garden twice. One of those times was to see Barbra Streisand live in concert. Tonight, with Mr. Supersweetie and his sister at my side, I entered the Garden a third time, to see the entertainment legend I had excitedly worshipped twelve years ago.
Streisand's voice sounds wonderful; better than I expected, possibly better than I remember in 1994. Time has given her sound a full, dusky quality and a warmth that doesn't come across in the recordings. Returning to songs she sang in the 60s, it would be natural for her to resort to lower transpositions for comfort. But I'm not sure she did. The high end of her range seems to be mostly still there, and she was often generous with it.
According to a man I chatted up on the subway ride home after the concert, Streisand's performance tonight was more exciting and better sung than Monday's. An Italian, from Arezzo, the man had travelled to New York especially to attend both of Streisand's Garden appearances this week.
Published reviews of Monday's concert lamented the weak spoken sections that moved the show along (or didn't) in between songs. I think Streisand and her staff paid attention to the press, because tonight these sections were paced well enough to end just before irritation set in. The "Happy Days Are Here Again" duet with the George Bush impersonator was thankfully cut. As for the heckler incident that made news of Monday's concert echo around the world and back a million times, Streisand offered this comment (which I quote to the best of my recollection):
"You may have heard about my outburst the other night." [laughter, applause] Well, I guess you can take the girl out of Brooklyn but you can't take Brooklyn out of the girl." [Cheering. Cue next song]
The male vocal quartet, Il Divo, a filler act who sang while Streisand went backstage to rest, was undermined by an amplification system that showed their voices to woeful disadvantage. (At least I hope the sound system was to blame.) Their stiff, off-the-shelf blocking is ripe for imitation, which I hope to do sometime with three other tenor friends of mine.
Here is a program list, reproduced from my imperfect memory. I think I've forgotten at least one song, and may have bungled the order slightly. I urge anyone who also attended the concert to post corrections and/or ammendments.
Overture -- Funny Girl (stage version)
Starting Here, Starting Now
Down with Love
The Way We Were
Come Rain or Come Shine
Ma première chanson
Evergreen (joined by Il Divo)
Unbreak My Heart (french version) -- Il Divo
Le canzon non si spiegano -- Il Divo
My Way/a mi mañera -- Il Divo
Don't Rain on My Parade
Funny Girl
Music That Makes Me Dance... My Man
People
INTERMISSION (20 min.)
Entr'acte (medley incl. Funny Girl opening credits music - film version, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, etc.)
Passerà (?) -- Il Divo
Music of the Night -- Il Divo (joined by Streisand)
When the Sun Comes Out
Carefully Taught... Children Will Listen
In a Very Unusual Way
What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life
Stoney End (parody version)
Happy Days are Here Again
Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair
Cock-Eyed Optimist
My Shining Hour
(I think I've forgotten a song that came at this point)
Somewhere (joined by Il Divo)
Encores:
Until I See You Again
Don't Rain on My Parade (reprise)
Just Smile
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3 comments:
my fave babs song was an obscure one called "someone that i used to love"... but maybe it was the lyrics more than her voice that i loved. she's a fantastic artist, and a legend. and a good liberal. :)
Wow, I don't know that song. To tell the truth, I've only immersed myself in her pre-1972 career, and the rest is somewhat terra incognita. I'll have to check it out.
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