A handful of notes. That is what the "Minnelli Overture" is down to; the opening notes of Kander and Ebb's "New York, New York". On Sunday evening, the lights went down in Mohegan Sun's Arena, Musical Director Bill LaVorgna gave the orchestra the signal and it was on. The audience barely had a chance to adjust to the fact that it was happening...and there she was.
Liza Minnelli strolled out onto Mohegan Sun's stage to a thunderous ovation and sang.
She began the evening with "I Can See Clearly Now". The song is not new to Ms. Minnelli's repertoire, but the arrangement she sang is new. There are broad, sweeping low notes, with rich tones. Clipped, succinct, notes finish phrases. In complete control of the pace, Ms. Minnelli segued into "Here I'll Stay / Our Love is Here to Stay".
If there was a lyric that captured the tone of Sunday evening's concert, it was "Time has left us older and wiser, I know I am", from
Melissa Manchester's "Come in from the Rain". An older, wiser Minnelli was on stage. Minnelli doesn't take anything for granted. Not her voice, her body, her talent or her audience. Ms. Minnelli's concentration and control over every aspect of her performance was in evidence.
The sound is essentially the same, but there is a difference. I have seen Ms. Minnelli perform live about 15 or so times in the past 18 years. The last time I saw her perform was
Michael Jackson's 30th Anniversary Celebration and before that it was
Minnelli on Minnelli on Broadway. The thing is,
Liza Minnelli is in better voice now than she has been in a decade and with over 40 years of concerts and recordings, Minnelli can choose the songs that best suit her voice now, and does.
Sunday evening's performance of "What Did I Have that I Don't Have" had the audience whooping and clapping in mid-song. A wave of goose bumps swept through the crowd.
Singer/pianist
Johnny Rodgers presided over an interlude during which Ms. Minnelli made a costume change.
Ms. Minnelli returned to the stage wearing black velvet slacks and a sequin, off one shoulder, top. Rodgers played a spirited rendition of
Tom Jones "Leave Your Hat On". Ms. Minnelli danced her signature choreography, with hat, during a reprise of the song. He and the band opened up on "Birth of the Blues", which
Sammy Davis Jr. made famous.
In 1972, Charles Aznavour's "You've Let Yourself Go" was included in
Liza with a Z. That recording of the song is generally regarded as the definitive, english language, version. Last evening, Ms. Minnelli sang a rendition that was more nuanced, bittersweet and beautiful. It was, for me, the highlight of the evening.
As a special treat, Ms. Minnelli sang "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", which Ms. Minnelli's mother, Judy Garland sang in
Meet me in St. Louis which was directed by her father Vincent Minnelli. It is a shame that the song can only, feasibly, be sung at Christmas. Kander and Ebb's "My Own Best Friend" from
Chicago was next, followed by "Cabaret" which capped the evening.
For her encore, Ms. Minnelli sang a spirited version of "New York, New York".
This concert is another in a series of successful concerts for Ms. Minnelli. In its totality, it was an event. Did she nail every note she sang? No. She nailed most of them...and beautifully. If Ms. Minnelli's imperfection has had an impact on her audience, it has endeared her to them. She is human. She isn't 22 anymore. Neither are we.
On Sunday evening we were reminded that,even now, there is "Liza" and then there is "everyone else".
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