So far what I have read has been very good. But I found this blog entry amusing. What a kvetch.
http://blogs.phillymag.com/the_philly_post/2012/10/09/barbra-streisand-philadelphia-review-big-bird-mitt-romne/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/08/barbra-streisand-philadelphia-concert/1621767/
Joined: 12/31/69
Wow- I really really really hate Barbra Streisand and even I thought that review was uncalled for.
Yeah that was a stupid review. But the rest have been very good.
http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Music/Article.aspx?id=287126
While I found the review meanspirited over all, I have to agree that it did feel like a dress rehearsal for the Brooklyn shows. The show felt unrehearsed - way too many flubs in lyrics and staging. I was under impressed.
I won't lie, that review made me laugh... A lot.
Glad that it sounds like she's still doing her disco segment (much to the "critic's" annoyance). To be fair, I do kinda agree that arenas are really not a good venue for her (I don't think they're a good venue for any concert--but particularly someonelike Babs), but she sells them out, so *shrug*.
But the thing is that if she played smaller venues most people would not be able to get in. Question.. Was 3 hours too long?
Looks like she's not doing Roses Turn after all.
Diva; one of the reviews says she does a whole Gypsy segment.
Swing Joined: 10/9/12
Yes... The Jule Styne medley of three extraordinary show tunes.... Rose's Turn/Some People/Don't Rain On My Parade !! Performed very powerfully and proving that Barbra will indeed be a FEROCIOUS Mama Rose, IF the film gets produced....
Swing Joined: 10/9/12
I agree that the show was UNDERrehearsed.... cues missed and a few really awkward vocal flubs. I admit that the Il Vovo segment was a good time for a bathroom break!!
Overall, though, I was happy with Streisand's vocal power and interpretive skills. Her mature phrasing and in-the-moment performances of the ballads (Some Other Time/My Funny Valentine/People/The Way We Were and especially Here's To Life) thrilled and delighted me. On some of the sustained high notes, a slight rasp is evident, but at seventy, this is the reality of aging and very human.
Her son, Jason was quite good vocally. The mother and son repartee was sweetly endearing.
By the time this concert is filmed, I'm certain we'll see a polished show. Unfortunately, for those of us in Philadelphia -- it wasn't "poifect"!!
I have a ticket for the Brooklyn show on Thursday and I am seriously thinking of just not going. Not sure I want to sit through the show again.
Whoops, guess I missed that.
Good, I'm glad she's doing them in the concert, because that means she won't try doing a film.
I must say it was brave of her to perform the Gypsy songs considering the rumors of her being cast as Rose. If I was a producer sitting in the audience, I don't think I'd pluck down millions of dollars to have her sing the role based on her performance in Philly.
I imagine the concerts that will be filmed from the tour will be the Hollywood Bowl ones?
"But the thing is that if she played smaller venues most people would not be able to get in. Question.. Was 3 hours too long?"
Absolutely--there's not really anyway around it, I guess. Out of curiousity, has there been much mentioned about how well she's selling (very well, I'd imagine).
3 Hours does seem long (I guess that includes the apparently long intermission though)--and I hate those crossover opera/pop groups so have no real interest in some of the acts who help her fill up the time (Chris Botti comes here a couple of times a year, as well, so if I really wanted to see him I could--my parents are big fans and always go). Still, I'm excited to see her in Vancouver, partly, I admit, just because I thought I'd never see her live.
I'd imagine she would film the Brooklyn shows--but if not, I would vguess Hollywood Bowl as well. But it would be easier to control the filming in Brooklyn, and she's doing a number of shows they can easily edit together.
A medley of Rose's Turn/Some People/Don't Rain on My Parade is an excellent idea. If this were 1988.
There is a post on YouTube of this medley and she sounds old. Just because she sings the songs does not mean she should make the film.
The only reason I thought Brooklyn wouldn't be the one that is filmed is because it is so early in her tour. But now that I look back in the past she seems to film a few of them and then they are edited together. As far as the persistent Gypsy story.. anyone remember when Cher was suppose to do Mame? It was even talked about on Oprah.
A friend of mine working on the show told me today that the Brooklyn show is the one that will be filmed and released.
I've never seen her live, and that makes me sad.
I actually liked the Styne medley. No, it's not Barbra in her prime. But hell, I'm not in my prime either, I suppose.
When I saw her at Madison Square Garden in 1994, three hours would not have been long enough.
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