Linda Eder and the Boston Pops

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 1:48pm

I attended last night's performance at Radio City Music Hall and it was excellent. Ms Eder has a powerful voice and can rattle the rafters with it. She was particularly outstanding with "Don't Rain On My Parade" and "I Am What I Am". She also sand a few songs from the upcoming musical that Frank Wildhorne has written for her. Forgive me if I can't provide names, but the Music Hall's "program" didn't list the musical numbers or provide biographies of the artists: it was little more than hype for their upcoming events.

The Boston Pops Orchestra played magnificently under Keith Lockhart's baton, and Mestro Lockhart seems to grow handsomer by the day! The program consisted of all Broadway or New Yoprked themed music. There was a splendid medley of tunes associated with Jerome Robbins and a show-stopping rendition of "New York, New York"--all sounding terrific when played by a 100 piece orchestra. Of course, it wouldn't be a Pops concert unless the final encore was Sousa's "Stars and Stipes Forever" and the unfurling of the American Flag.

It was an excpetional night of music. I pity those who were unable to attend.

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 2:18pm

I was there too.....it was a fantastic show.
The two "new" songs she did were from Camille Claudel - one of them was "Gold" (the second), I believe the first song was "In His Arms", although I'm not sure of the title.
I was so thrilled that she sang "Man Of La Mancha" - it's an amazing song and her performance is just incredible.
I can't wait to see her perform again.

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 3:34pm

Did she sing VIENNA? Thats one of my favorites :)

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 3:48pm

Of course

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 3:49pm

What numbers did she sing for her encore(s) ?

Posted: 2/8/04 at 11:24pm

DAMN I MISSED IT
this is when one is too poor to afford anything.
I just wish someday to see her perform there again.
She is my favorite person in the whole wide world.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:50am

I went. Linda was good. She has such a beautiful voice, and the Boston Pops are a fantastic group; However, I was not overly impressed by the concert. I read on Linda's message board how some people (people who have seen her in concert many times before) were "Shaking" during certain parts, or crying...but I certainly wasn't moved that much. I've seen/heard Linda sing much better than she did on Saturday. She can't hit that last note in Man of La Mancha anymore, which is really dissapointing. I had such hopes that she would hit it on Saturday, but she didn't. Also, she moves the microphone away from her mouth way too often. Linda is a great singer, but performer she is not.
I might as well just listen to her cd's. Her performances are so scripted.
The songs she did sing though (other than the fact that she moves the microphone too much) sounded great! :) I would never credit her as not being an excellent singer.

Updated On: 2/9/04 at 10:50 AM

[Peter]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 4:16pm

I was at the concert as well and have seen Linda several times before. It was an excellent concert, but Linda did seem a little nervous to me. I have noticed her tendency to move the mic away a little too fast before..and I think this is more noticeable in the larger houses..not sure whether the sound people didnt adjust the sound right to accomodate the larger theatre. She did cut the high note in La Mancha short, but its not as if she cant hit it anymore. She did it recently on The Today Show. She did nail Dont Rain on My Parade and Vienna though and hasn't lost any of her beautiful voice. She has a truly excellent range and a certain warmth that always comes true. I do think she was a little nervous though.

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:06pm

If it were *my* RCMH debut, I'd be a little nervous too!

She was fabulous, as always. I've always sort of liked that pulling the mic away thing. I've never seen her do it when she was *not* belting the hell out of something, so to me, it always came off as more of knowing her own strenght and not wnting to have to hold back in order to spare the crowd's hearing (if she never pulled the mic away I would be likely be rather deaf by now). I've noticed several belters do that in concerts.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 2/9/04 at 10:13pm

While it seems true that many performers "pull the mike" down a bit when they belt, what Linda does is a bit different. I noticed it too, not so much on her belting notes, but she seems to "wisk the mike to the side" in such a way that it cuts the word and note off. She did it last summer too. It was so prevelant that I mentioned it discretely in a review. It definetly take away from the last sung words. Something this great singer should be aware of, in my opinion.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 12:03pm

"she seems to "wisk the mike to the side" in such a way that it cuts the word and note off"

Exactly! Sometimes I can't hear the words at all. When a person is belting a song, and they move the mic away, you are still supposed to be able to hear them in a normal way.

Perfect example: Christina Aguilera at the Grammy's the other night...or anytime for that matter. When she pulls the mic away from her face (but still in front of her face), it's because her voice is getting noticably louder; therefore, you can still hear every word the same way you've been hearing it.
What Linda does is she tries to be dramatic, and she ends up cutting off entire words from the song(s).
Linda has a great voice. She just needs to work on her stage presence.

Posted: 2/10/04 at 12:11pm

I still love her and to me she can do not wrong.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 12:23pm

That's good Jon. I'm certainly not trying to sway people's opinions of Linda. Just offering my opinion and some constructive criticism. I love her too...I just don't believe she's perfect (nor do I think anyone is perfect).

Posted: 2/10/04 at 12:33pm

I am not trying to be rude TheaterBaby... I just am saying that (as many know from my ramblings on and on and on) that I absolutel love her. Other people are allowed to have their own feelings about her (they are wrong tho... just kidding).

I guess what I like about her the most is that she, to me is the whole package.. she is incredibly talented AND even better she is so very nice to her fans and very friendly and kind. I think that is what makes her even more special to me.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 2:53pm

I didn't think you were being rude. I hope you didn't think I was either. I know a lot of peple on this message board can be sarcastic, but I wasn't. I honestly think it's a great thing that Linda has a nice, dedicated fan like you (and I know you're not the only one...she has many). :) and she is a very nice person.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 4:45pm

Linda Eder had a marvelous voice, but would someone please teach her how to walk in high heels?

Updated On: 2/10/04 at 04:45 PM

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 7:41pm

Dolly- were you reading my mind? You are soooo absolutely right!!! I love her though!

[~*Triple Star On Broadway*~]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 8:18pm

Linda Eder is probably the best woman singer I have ever heard. She is one of the only ones I can listen to for long periods of time. What a fantastic talent....

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/10/04 at 9:58pm

Yes, Linda Eder has a wonderful voice to LISTEN to--actually her career is made for recordings where she doesn't have to be WATCHED while she sings.

Now, did anyone notice what a pleasure it wa sto WATCH Keith Lockhart while he was conducting? The music actually seems to flow out of him! (ANd he's incredibly handsome!)

Posted: 2/10/04 at 10:18pm

I went to her concert a few years back when she was still pregnant and wanting to steal people's food from the first few rows, lol, but she still belted the HELL outta everything, and she was nearly ready to pop!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/11/04 at 9:14am

I thought Keith was scrumptiously adorable.
He was having so much fun up there, and that made it fun for the audience. lol I loved when he just stopped conducting, walked away while the orchestra was still playing, sat down leaving only the flute section to be distinct in sound, and then walked back over and brought everyone back up to speed and sound with one wave of a batan (sp?).

I found myself watching Keith even while Linda was on stage singing.

Updated On: 2/11/04 at 09:14 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/11/04 at 9:54am

Keith often clowns around during that particular passage in "Stars and stripes Forever". Sometimes he walks off the stage, other times he sits on the conductor's platform and puts a fake pout on his face. Other times he sits in a vacant seat amid the orchestra.

During baseball season, Maestro Lockhart has been known to conduct the orchestra with a toy baseball bat emblazoned with the Red Sox emblem. Gotta love that guy!

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 2/11/04 at 10:00am

Conducting is a very complex job, much harder than people would imagine! I've not seen Keith, but heard great things.

I can say that Peter Nero, conductor for the Philly Pops is also very "entertaining" as well as an excellent conductor. He plays into the audience like a cast member of a fun show. The thought of "canned music" in light of this talent just floors me!

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 2/11/04 at 11:48am

I love watching conductors in front of an orchestra. It is absolutely beautiful the way their hands move; and when you can tell they are having fun and really getting involved with the music, it's amazing to watch.

Even at Broadway shows. I was at Gypsy not too long ago, and I had a clear view of Marvin Laird (the conductor). I could not help but be awed at how he was conducting during the overture. It was brilliant.

OK, lol I know I'm a loser for thinking like that. But I don't care.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 2/11/04 at 9:59pm

Keith Lockhart has nicer buns than Marvin Laird. That's a fact!