Barbra Streisand Kicks Off European Tour Today in London; Celebrates Launch with Q&A!

By: Jun. 01, 2013
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Barbra Streisand kicks off her European tour today, June 1st, in London, and in celebration of the launch, Streisand's official website posted a "Barbra Tour Q&A". Check it out below!

Following her dazzling North American tour of 2012, Barbra Streisand LIVE! will visit Europe this summer. Appearing for the first time ever in Israel, Cologne, Amsterdam and returning to London and Paris for the first time in over six years, Barbra Streisand Live promises to be a magical evening of timeless hits, combining her elegant voice, with self-deprecating humor and charming banter.

Surrounded by a full orchestra and with special guests Chris Botti, her son Jason Gould, and sister Roslyn Kind, all of whom performed last year on Back to Brooklyn, Barbra's highly successful North American tour, Barbra Streisand Live will deliver a truly enchanting evening. Full dates HERE.

Q: How would you describe your show?

Barbra: I don't know how to describe it myself... that's for you guys, from the press to do. I just try to put together a wonderful show for the audience and in this particular instance it's a delight for me to have my family along... my very gifted son, Jason, and my sister, Rozzie. I also love having a sixty piece orchestra and a big choir and working again with the amazing, Chris Botti.

Q: Your concert features a 60 piece orchestra conducted by Bill Ross. When you put a great voice with a great orchestra it provides a huge emotional connection to every seat in the house. Does this help you bring the intimacy of a small theatre to the arena?

Barbra: When I'm on stage it doesn't matter to me whether I'm in a nightclub or an arena... I try to be truthful to the music and the lyrics and that has always guided me throughout my career. I always feed off the energy of a live orchestra and a live audience.

Q: With your incredible repertoire, how do you determine which songs to perform?

Barbra: I'm always amazed at how many songs I've actually recorded from which to choose. This time around I'm choosing some songs that I've never sung before and some older ones that I like to reinterpret. I've always been blessed to sing songs by the best composers and lyricists throughout the decades. I love finding new meanings in these great songs, whether old or new. If you stick with great material, you can always find inspiration.

Q: What is the most important thing you hope your fans take home with them after every show?

Barbra: What I hope they take away is a feeling of connection and emotion... and, of course, maybe a souvenir program, a t-shirt for Women's Heart research and my son's new CD.

Q: In both North American and now with the upcoming European tour, you're appearing with your son Jason Gould and your sister Roslyn Kind. How did this come about and how does having your family with you enhance the experience?

Barbra: Well, I must tell you it was all quite a surprise. I didn't even know that Jason sang. He brought me a couple of songs he recorded in a studio, as he was about to put out an EP, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing... my jaw dropped! I asked him if he would come on tour with me and happily, he said yes! I then asked Rozzie to join us and make it a family affair. I love having them on stage with me.

Q: You have introduced a section on 'Truth Alerts' on your website. Are you enjoying the direct to fan connection that the internet enables you to have? Is this something you plan on continuing and possibly expanding?

Barbra: I hate made up stories, so I will continue. The internet has given me an opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings about the issues of the day directly with my fans. If you read it on my website, it's something I actually said or wrote.

Q: You've won Oscars for Best Actress (Funny Girl) and Best Original Song (Evergreen); received 8 Grammy Awards; your combined album sales of more than 72.5 million in the United States alone (International many more, 120-140 million) exceed that of all other female singers and your first book "My Passion For Design" debuted at number Two on the New York Times Best Seller List. You're an established philanthropist and a staunch supporter of civil rights. What's next for the woman's who's bold, creative achievements have already garnered so much?

Barbra: There aren't enough hours in the day... I love recording... I am now working on a Duets album with some wonderful artists. I have my eye on a couple of films to direct and, of course, my devotion right now to My Women's Heart Center at Cedars in Los Angeles and other philanthropic interests. I would like a little more time to tend to my garden, but I'm happy to have my days as full as they are.

Q: This is the first time you've performed in Amsterdam, what are you most looking forward to?

Barbra: That's not an easy question to answer... there are so many wonderful things about Amsterdam. I have been here before, this is just my first time performing. This city is so culturally rich... the home of Van Gogh, Bruegel and Vermeer and I came here to do research for my film Yentl by studying the Rembrandts at the Rijksmuseum.

Q: This is the first time you've performed in Koln, what are you most looking forward to?

Barbra: This is my first time going to Koln, either as a visitor or to perform, but when last in Berlin in 2007, I remember with great fondness the audiences and then looking forward to more of the same.

Q: On June 17th The Hebrew University is presenting you with an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in recognition of your professional achievements, outstanding humanitarianism, leadership in the realm of human and civil rights, and dedication to Israel and the Jewish people. Jerusalem and study are very important to you, what emotions were you feeling when this was proposed?

Barbra: Of course I thought of my father. It was my great honor to dedicate The Emanuel Streisand Building at Hebrew University many years ago. The thing that I love most about the University is that people of all faiths and philosophies are welcome to study there. Israel is a shining beacon of hope in the world.

Q: This is the first time you've performed in Israel, will you be performing anything special at these shows?

Barbra?: Yes, I've given this a lot of thought and I do have something special planned.

A star for over four decades, Streisand received Tony nominations for her Broadway debut I Can Get It For You Wholesale and for her star-making turn as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl (she would receive a Star of the Decade, Hall of Fame Tony in 1970). Streisand went on to recreate the role on film for a 1969 Oscar. She was also nominated for her performance in The Way We Were. She received another Oscar for co-writing "Evergreen" for A Star is Born and was similarly nominated for "I Finally Found Someone" from The Mirror Has Two Faces. Other film credits include Hello, Dolly!, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, What's Up, Doc?, Funny Lady, Nuts and Yentl. She has also produced several of her movies.

She is second in the all-time charts, ahead of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, exceeded only by Elvis. Streisand remains the only artist to receive an Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Golden Globe, Cable Ace, and Peabody Awards, and the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award.

The winner of multiple Grammy Awards, Streisand has sold many millions of records, with 50 of them gold and 30 platinum. She is also the only artist to have Billboard #1 albums spanning four decades--the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s. Her many albums include "Guilty," "Duets," "Higher Ground," "Memories," "Lazy Afternoon," "The Broadway Album" and "The Movie Album." In addition to her Tony, Oscars and Grammys, Streisand has won five Emmys, eight Golden Globes, two ASCAP Film and Television Awards, as well as the American Film Institute Award.



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