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I remember seeing her on October 11, 2012 – it was a night I will never soon forget. Barbra was truly and utterly sublime. The audio recording is a marvel, the sound is fantastic. The orchestra sounds so lush and Streisand’s voice is front and center! Was she really 70 years old last fall?! Her voice remains beautifully intact after five decades of dazzling millions worldwide. There isn’t a single track on the CD that warrants skipping, honestly it’s Barbra, why would anyone skip over a song she sings.
The album opens with what has to be the greatest comeback song ever written, it is of course, ”As If We Never Said Goodbye” from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, Sunset Boulevard. Streisand used it almost 20 years ago to open her triumph New Years Eve concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1993/94. Here, the song gets retooled with new lyrics to commemorate Barbra’s return to her hometown. Funny, poignant and moving, the crowd roars its approval when she reaches that immortal line, “I’ve come home at last” – simply amazing!
“The Way He Makes Me Feel” from Yentl, is one of the songs that Barbra has never performed live in concert! Now that the film has celebrated its 30th anniversary, the song is all the more special. Barbra’s voice sparkles here and it’s amazing to me how wonderful she sounds.
“Didn’t We” is a song Barbra sang live in 1972 for the McGovern fundraiser and her earlier version can of course be found on Live Concert at the Forum. I loved this when I heard it at the concert, Barbra’s voice is strong and the reverb on the big chord near the end is fantastic! I saw video footage from Phildelphia (10/8/12) and she talks about that back in 2006, she and music director, William Ross, tried to do the song but it didn’t work. I’m glad Barbra decided to try it out again, it’s wonderful!
“The Way We Were/Through the Eyes of Love” needs no introduction, her tribute to her dear and late friend, Marvin Hamlisch is so emotional. Listen to it! If you don’t get even a little misty-eyed then you have no soul.
“Rose’s Turn/Some People/Don’t Rain on My Parade” - The Styne medley is a killer, and possibly the best track on the album. Seriously, I repeated it like four times. Her shout at the end, “You bet your ass, Papa” is the best – it’s a remarkable statement to Streisand’s naysayers who frequently shout that she’s too old (or she can’t sing anymore) to play the role of Mama Rose in Styne and Sondheim’s Gypsy. Although it’s a missed opportunity, she could have tackled “Rose’s Turn” and ended the concert’s first act with a big bang. Nevertheless, it’s a showstopper as only Barbra can deliver!
“You’re The Top” is definitely from the second night (10/13) as during Thursday night’s performance, the song seemed clunky and out of place. It’s been polished and rehearsed, again with special lyrics dedicated to all things Brooklyn. Barbra really seems to have fun with it, so does the audience.
“What’ll I Do/My Funny Valentine and Lost Inside of You”
Despite the fact that I am thankful Chris Botti’s solos were cut from the audio CD, his duets with Barbra are wonderful and his trumpet playing is a great compliment to her voice. I also love the arrangements of these pieces. The high note near the end of “Lost Inside of You” gets a great reaction from the audience.
“How Deep is the Ocean”
Jason Gould has a beautiful voice. Obviously, he has inherited his mother’s gift of singing. The mother and son duet is beautiful! Don’t take my word for it, give it a listen.
“People”
How many version of this song has she performed live?! Not that it matters, this one is just as beautiful as any of the others!
“Make Our Garden Grow”
This is the big finale and Barbra delivers her money-note at the end with great gusto! This is identical to the arrangement Rupert Holmes did in 1988 for the abandoned Back To Broadway sessions. It’s funny too, IL Volo also sings but their duet with Barbra on “Smile” isn’t included. The end of truncated as the tail end of “Somewhere” is left off, which was heard during the concert. I love this song from Candide, and I can only hope that the studio version of it recorded in 1988 will come out soon!
The Voice: I just read a recent review front the New York Daily News, in which Jim Farber writes, “…her lower notes have a phlegmier texture. When she wants to belt, she turns hoarse before chopping the note down to a length she can sustain. That means bravura numbers, like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” or a rare “Rose’s Turn” from “Gypsy,” have to borrow some of their drama from acting rather than vocal chops.” I will admit, Barbra’s voice has lowered since her last live concert tour in 2006. No, she doesn’t sound like she did 20 years, even 30 years ago – but who would expect her to? The woman is 71 years old. Yes Mr. Farber is entitled to his opinion; however, I think he’s being a bit unfair – obviously he forgets that the voice is also part of the body, it ages too. Barbra is well aware of her narrowing vocal range, but does that stop her?! No. The concert tour was still SOLD OUT. Age has unfortunately taken some of her higher register; however, her middle range is lush and intact. On such gems like, “The Way He Makes Me Feel” you can hardly tell that her voice has aged at all.
Verdict: Barbra is in fine form on the album, I am stunned that she is 71 years old.. truly! This definitely deserves repeated playing. The mastering is great, there’s a real improvement in this CD over the two disc 2006 outing. Too bad we don’t get any extras (read: bonus tracks) like “On A Clear Day” which was used as an opener later in the tour and there are other varied songs that Barbra performed elsewhere but not in Brooklyn.
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Reviews with images
A LEGEND.
Legend.Once you’ve said it, you realize that not even that, nor any accolade in the dictionary, can truly describe the 50 + year phenomenon known as Barbra Streisand.She has been described every way possible – from a diva to demanding. Her life has been photographed, written about and recorded down to every last nuance. But nothing, as you will hear when you listen to BACK TO BROOKLY, can accurately detail or even hope to describe the woman and all her talent.I was in the audience when she held a crowded auditorium rapt. In a world where twenty something youths are holding the reins, it was delightful to see a master of her profession, at a young 70, holding fort.Although she had previously stated that she did not like live performing, this record will show that Barbra Streisand has learned to meet, and conquer, her fears. The songs – all beautifully sung classics – are delivered with gusto and, in most cases, unrequited joy on the singer’s part.Listen to her playful rendition of Nice ‘n’ Easy or You’re The Top. Then she puts her heart and soul into her own standards – People, The Way We Were and Evergreen.Her showcasing of Jules Styne hits – with a smattering from Gypsy – manage to take well known songs and present them with a force and power that knock the notes out of the arena as only Barbra Streisand can do. Hearing her sing Rogers and Hart (Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered) makes you yearn for the golden years where torch singers ruled supreme. Whatever song, whatever challenge, Ms. Streisand faces it head on and makes the song her very own.The audience that night, and those who listen to this CD, loved every second of the performance. And the naysayers? I’ve heard people say she can’t sing like she did 50 years ago – well, age may have slightly shaved off a few of the higher notes but it did not take away the power, volume or masterful control she has of her instrument. And, nobody can phrase like Barbra Streisand. Listen to Here’s To Life – she makes it a three act play so that it is an entity unto itself. Others take delight in the hoarseness. Here again, the lady awoke with a cold (and bravely did not cancel the performance) but it did nothing to impair or negatively impact the beautiful sounds that are Barbra Streisand singing. And her political views? She has always been vocal – you know that so get over it. Instead of knit-picking and finding fault, why not enjoy the legendary singer who has an unequalled career spanning over 50 years? A gift like hers comes once in a lifetime and those who have heard her singing in concert, or listen to this record, are truly the luckiest people in the world.
Top reviews from other countries
Angel Delta
A Celebration Of Streisand Magic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 25, 2013