Barbara Cook at Barnes & Noble

[boombaboy]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 11:48am

The incredible Barbara Cook appeared at Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble last night to celebrate the release of her newest cd, "Rainbow Round My Shoulders." The 81-years-wonderful National Treasure was interviewed by Steven Sorrentino and spoke quite movingly about finding the truth in a song and being willing to go there, and how being oneself is the most important thing in singer's career, not imitating others. She cited Judy Garland and Mabel Mercer as the two biggest influences on her career and Tina Turner and Patti Austin as two of the singers she most admires today. She apologized for canceling the event in Dec. due to illness, and for having a cold last evening. She talked about the lowest point in her life, in the early '70s when she wasn't working, and how she was saved by Wally Harper, her late accompanist and music director, and her triumphant return as a singer after her 1975 Carnegie Hall Concert. She then performed three songs from her new cd, which despite her cold, sounded fantastic. To be in her presence was like falling in love again, and she received 2 standing ovations from the SRO crowd.

[once a month]

Posted: 1/7/09 at 1:58pm

I agree. I felt like she did her entire Sondheim concert for me in Princeton at McCarter Theatre. I sat in the small first row with no one to distract me on either side, and to hear her velvety voice is an experience I won't ever forget. It was so intimate, I felt like we were confidentes!