Barbra sings from GYPSY

[ComingUpRoses2]

Here's an actual video I found. It sort of helps. She looks genuinely pissed here. I'm sort of scared of her, actually. That's a good thing for a Rose. I think it sort of works.
Rose's Turn/Some People

[SNAFU]

No, it doesn't this is an abortion! Leave this property alone Babs!

[TheatreDiva90016]

It's all just talk. There is no script. And unless this were to go into production tomorrow, it's just not happening

Besides, she is just TOO DAMNED OLD.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Music Review NYTIMES

A Sentimental and Glorious Brooklyn Homecoming for Streisand

By STEPHEN HOLDEN

Published: October 12, 2012 Comment




Those words sung by Barbra Streisand from the “Sunset Boulevard” showstopper, “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” elicited a roar of welcome from the sold-out crowd at the 19,000-seat Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday evening.

Ms. Streisand’s return to her roots for two concerts (the second on Oct. 13) was a sentimental homecoming and a royal act of noblesse oblige in which a show-business monarch regaled the adoring subjects of her native province in a concert that was steeped in Brooklyn lore. With lyrics revised to mention “Brooklyn docks and nova lox” and “knishes,” the song conveyed a message that was reiterated again and again: deep inside, I’m just a commoner like you. As she bonded with her flock, her Brooklyn accent seemed more pronounced than ever.

Ms. Streisand’s voice, at 70, is still singularly compelling, although not in prime condition. As it has lowered and acquired an occasionally husky edge, her high notes have disappeared. Even the upper register of “People” challenged her. The days are long gone when Ms. Streisand projected the fearless bravado of a vocal prodigy skipping over a tightrope. The Streisand of 2012 is a vulnerable if imperial semi-operatic diva who carefully conserves her power.

In spirit, the concert, during which she was supported by a 60-member plus orchestra conducted by Bill Ross, was a family and neighborhood affair that included a short film, shot some years ago, in which assorted Brooklynites who knew Ms. Streisand back when, reminisced. Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top,” was outfitted with new lyrics to be a celebration all things Brooklyn.

Who knew that Jason Gould, her 45-year-old son by the actor Elliott Gould, was a polished crooner who could comport himself comfortably in an arena? His home movie of photographs of the two them from infancy into adulthood preceded his performance of “This Masquerade” (reminiscent of George Benson’s late ’70s recording) and a touching mother-son duet of “How Deep Is the Ocean?”

One of the evening’s most glorious moments joined Irving Berlin’s “What’ll I Do?” and Rodgers and Hart’s “My Funny Valentine,” in a duet by Ms. Streisand with her special guest, the pop-jazz trumpeter Chris Botti. His silvery tone and trailing phrases combined with the orchestra infused both songs with an aching film-noir melancholy.

Mr. Botti was also involved in two of the evening’s low points, a showpiece for trumpet and drums based on “When I Fall in Love” (of all inappropriate songs), and a soupy trumpet and violin duet with Caroline Campbell.

Also on hand was the Italian teenage trio, Il Volo, which has been called a cross between the Jonas Brothers and the Three Tenors and who delivered a polished, impassioned “O Sole Mio.”

Other memorable moments were segments celebrating Ms. Streisand’s professional relationships with Marvin Hamlisch and Jule Styne. Her rendition of “The Way We Were,” sung with Mr. Hamlisch’s original orchestration was in a word, exquisite. The Styne portion led off with “Being Good Isn’t Good Enough,” from the 1967 musical “Hallelujah, Baby!” that led to a fragmentary medley of songs from “Gypsy,” delivered with an appropriate ferocity.

“Being Good Isn’t Good Enough” is the sensational first cut on Ms. Streisand’s newest album, “Release Me” (Columbia), a collection of outtakes from her recordings going back to the 1960s. Originally chosen to open her 1985 “Broadway Album,” it was replaced by Stephen Sondheim’s “Putting It Together,” in retrospect not a good choice.

Another high point of “Release Me,” is the Jimmy Webb torch song, “Didn’t We,” which she also performed with intense feeling. A bare voice-and-piano version of Randy Newman’s “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today,” recorded in 1970 with the composer at the piano anticipates the stripped down sound of her 2009 album, “Love is the Answer.”

The most recent outtake, “If It’s Meant to Be,” by Brian Byrne and Alan and Marilyn Bergman recorded for her last studio album, “What Matters Most,” is stronger than much of the material that was left off the record. The Bergmans, who are also Brooklyn born, were exalted in a suite whose high point was “The Way He Makes Me Feel,” from “Yentl.”

Late in the show, Ms. Streisand tackled “Here’s to Life,” that autumnal summing up and looking back ballad that has become the de rigueur anthem for singers over 60. Hearing Ms. Streisand sing “I had my share, I drank my fill/ And even though I’m satisfied, I’m hungry still,” I connected them to one of her earliest recordings, “Much More,” from “The Fantasticks,” in which an innocent girl dreams of going “to town in golden gown.” Ms. Streisand went there, was crowned queen, and drank more than her fill.

Appetite, yearning, curiosity — whatever you call it — is a quality embedded in Ms. Streisand voice. Like few singers of any age, she has the gift of conveying a primal human longing in a beautiful sound. She is hungry still.

[broadway guy]

Barbra still has it.WOWW she still has it.She still sounds amazing even at 70.She just has that quality of voice that can not be matched.She truly has some unbelievable talent. It's so cool to hear people clapping and cheering when she statrted "dont rain on my parade" that gave me goosebumps.It just shows that People are still in Awe of her talent and skill.Barbra truly is one of the greatest performers this world has ever known.

[NewYorkTheater]

Here's a five-minute video of her chatting and crooning at the Barclays Center, courtesy Playbill
Barbra Back in Brooklyn

[Rainbowhigh23]

Absolutely wonderful show. So happy I was to able to finally see her live.

[jimmycurry01]

She sounds to me like she is sick and still doing her best to go on with the show. Kudos to her.

[Rainbowhigh23]

She was drinking chicken soup through the whole show. Her high notes were gone but she still gave a great performance.

[bk]

"It's all just talk. There is no script. And unless this were to go into production tomorrow, it's just not happening"

Finally, someone with a lick of sense. It's hilarious reading these posts that say when she goes in and records and is on film - WHAT film? There has never been a film, just her want and her publicity. Nothing wrong with that, but really - by the time a script happened (not difficult, since I don't think they'd make huge changes), by the time it was green-lit, by the time it was cast and staffed, she'll be seventy-two.

[strummergirl]

Miss Julie Klausner (anybody who is into SMASH better know who she is) wrote a recap for Vulture:


Barbra Streisand's from Brooklyn

[Caring Soul]

Nice to see ageism is alive and well even in so-called "enlightened" communities.

[qolbinau]

This is not prejudice; 'ageism'. This is descriptive. Descriptively, Barbara Streisand cannot sing the songs very well - this might be due to her age - but the same comments would be made if she was 40 and giving the same performance.

[matty159]

I realize this thread is more in reference to her Gypsy songs from the concert, but I do have to say the concert as a whole was simply magnificent. Having never seen her live, it was like a dream come true. Sure, her voice isn't wasn't it used to be, but she still sounds pretty darn amazing after all this time. So many good moments, but the true highlight was Make Our Garden Grow as the finale. I'm a sucker for a choir anyhow, but it was the perfect end to a grand evening at the Barclays.

If anyone doesn't have tickets to tomorrow night, get them! I know it is sold out, but climb on StubHub at about 5:15 as the prices plummet. We got great seats at $50 each as all the brokers unloaded their last minute instant download tickets at quickly descending prices. And as much as I hate to admit it (since it is two blocks from my apartment and looks like a rusty ol' mothership), the Barclays is a pretty cool venue.