I could complain about some things:
-The concert was only an hour long.
-She didn't sing some of my favorite songs.
- I didn't get to meet her afterwards.
Or I could look at it this way:
-It was the best hour of my life.
-She did sing some of my favorite songs.
-I didn't freeze half to death waiting for her.
General comments: Bernadette looked absolutely radiant. She was glowing and it wasn't just the lighting. She wore this dress. Her hair was down. She truly is even more beautiful in person. It had been three years since I saw her last, and I'd forgotten how powerful her voice is in person. There are no words to describe it. Her stage presence alone is unbelievable. She could have read the phone book and I'd have been satisfied. Marvin and Cubby were there. Most of the people in the audience were at least in their 70s, and I'm almost 22. I was the only one who gave her a standing ovation, and I got some looks from audience members when I screamed. I didn't care. I was there to support my goddess. She didn't hit the high notes as well as she did in her younger days, but her voice now has a depth and maturity that I love. Onto the songs.
Overture- Marvin is amazing. I was so happy to see him again.
Let Me Entertain You- Fun.
No One Is Alone- This is my favorite Sondheim song. She sang it perfectly. I got teary.
Nothing Like a Dame- Very flirty. After it was over, she did her pose. You know, with her arms out and her head back. It was great to see her do the pose in person.
Fever- Very sexy. She has more sex appeal at 58 than most women will ever have.
The Gentleman Is a Dope- Great song, lots of fun.
Unexpected Song- I could tell she was thinking of Michael, and I could almost feel his spirit with her. I was openly bawling.
Mister Snow- This song had never done anything for me, but she was so sincere that I loved it.
Some Enchanted Evening- Perfectly done. I got teary here too.
Shenandoah- My least favorite song of the evening, but her rendition was gorgeous.
Not a Day Goes By- This is my 2nd favorite Sondheim song. I was expecting to be a basketcase, but instead she left me breathless. She did enough crying for both of us anyway.
You Could Drive a Person Crazy- I love this song and I was thrilled that she did it.
With So Little to Be Sure Of- Beautifully done.
Children Will Listen- Everyone else in the room seemed to disappear. It was just Bernadette singing straight to me. I will cherish that memory forever.
Being Alive- She really pulled out all the stops. It was intense. She did her pose after this song too.
Count Your Blessings (encore)- Very soft and beautiful. Her voice cracked at one point because she got choked up.
Afterthoughts: She had a reception afterwards so we just went back to the hotel. My dad was amazed that she did Fever so well considering it was her first time singing it. I burst out laughing. She got him, and he's not easy to fool. I feel sad that it's over and happy that it happened. Bernadette is a true goddess, but she's also incredibly human. I feel truly blessed to have been in her presence last night. Here is a picture of me at the hotel right after the concert. I think it's very approriate that I was wearing the same dress that I wore when I saw Bernadette for the first time, three and a half years ago. I think I covered anything but feel free to ask me any questions about it.
This is simply one of the best--and sweetest--write-ups of a Bernadette event I've read. Thanks for sharing. And I love it that she fooled your father on "Fever" !
I'm sorry that you didn't get to meet her, but, with this being a Gala, I guess she had obligations. You'll have plenty more opportunities. (So just look at our stage-door pictures again.)
(Oh, would you re-do your link to the dress--it's not working right now.)
So she didn't do Rose's Turn, Time Heals Everything, My Romance/Way You Look Tonight, or Move On? Was this the second half of a Pops concert or a stand alone thing? One hour seems so short.
Great description though. I know perfectly what you mean about feeling frustrated by some elements but loving it anyway.
Oh, I get it now. One of those annoying evenings where you're forced to listen to the orchestra sawing its way through Gershwin and Bernstein medleys. Is there ever anyone in the audience who's there to hear that part, or who can even contain themselves until the real point of the night arrives on stage?
I'm just happy that someone among us made it out to a show in...Omaha!
Sweet review. I hope you can learn to love Shenandoah - that song has a rich, long history. Some versions of it date back to the 18th century. Such a beautiful melody and timeless lyric. Bernadette really sings it, too.
Gawd, I do hate those 2nd have of symphony concerts. It's a con game just to get people in to hear local symphony orchestras. Oh that's the dress from Avery Fisher Hall - gorgeous. I'm sorry you didn't hear her Rose's Turn - she's ridiculously strong in it these days. I'm surprised at your comment about her high notes - I don't hear that she has any problem at all hitting them - at least she didn't recently at Strathmore or before that at Avery Fisher Hall; if anything, her headvoice is as pure as ever. I too am glad we had a representative way out in the middle of the middle of nowhere.
I forgot to add that I now appreciate her performance as Mama Rose even more. This was technically my 4th time seeing Bernadette perform live, but I felt like it was my first. The woman I saw in Gypsy WAS Rose. The woman I saw in concert was Bernadette.
I know exactly how you feel. I remember the second time I saw Gypsy she wasn't Bernadette Peters she was Rose and even though I knew it was Bernadette I couldn't think of her as that during the show.
I'm glad you enjoyed the concert.
"Oh no, you won't. No, not a chance. No arguements, shut up and dance." -You'll Never Get Away From Me
"And if it wasn't for me then where would you be Miss Gypsy Rose Lee?" -Rose's Turn
This business about the audience response has me interested. I recall people mentioning that the audiences in Florida were older. I don't know whether the older folk just don't care for Bernadette's act as much as younger ones, or perhaps just aren't as demonstrative. Frankly, it would not occur to me to yell out, "whoop", or otherwise be demonstrative during a performance. (And I am 67 1/2). Of course, that is me clapping until my hands hurt, and I try to be among the first to stand up for her. Well, anyway, this is what Bernadette said about audiences (interview in the Omaha World Herald, November 5, 1995, byline Kyle MacMillan):
" 'I think my music,' she said, 'as I do it now, lends itself to a large orchestra. I think it's wonderful to be able to perform around the country. I love playing the Midwest. The audiences are so appreciative.' Unlike a Broadway musical where she has little room for interpretative liberties, she said, she feels considerably more flexibility approaching a song in a concert setting.
'You're free to sing it however you wish,' she said, 'whatever tempo you wish
and in any style you wish, which is what I love about it. I love the freedom.'
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And about the high notes--I am mystified--I even commented about her hitting them at the Strathmore concert, and Leebee was kind enough to explain that it is a "C sharp", and she hits it every time. Don't want to make more of this, but I think that hitting that note (I'm thinking now of "Unexpected Song") is important. I want to make it clear that I am not challenging anyone-we hear what we hear--nor do I want to start a big ruckus about this. But, I really want to go on record as restating that I did, indeed, hear that high note at the Strathmore concert.
Based on the four concerts I've been to in the last year and a half, Bernadette's voice at this stage of her career is as strong as or stronger than it's ever been. Her upper register is especially secure and lustrous. There is no sign of aging or diminution of range.
That's not to say that on isolated individual nights there won't be a problem caused by anything from illness to allergies to fatigue or strain. I've been lucky enough not to have experienced any concerts like that, but I'm sure they happen. They always have though; it's not a function of her age. She probably has fewer nights like that now than she once did.
But Jean, you are atypical and delightful. My friend Wanda, also retired, your age and who was with me at the Saturday night in Strathmore, is as well. I much prefer your kind. The unfortunate thing about so many subscribers is that they are often upper middle class to wealthy retired folks just looking for a social event rather than exercising a dedication to the arts. I see it at Lincoln Center (LCT, NYPhil, The Met) and Carnegie Hall constantly and it is very frustrating. They buy up the seats because they think they should and then promptly fall asleep or talk loudly through out performances. It was like that when Bernadette performed with the Houston Symphony and even to a certain extent at Bethlehem. As frustrating as it is for me as an audience member, I can't even begin to imagine how frustrating it must be to be the performer having to still give 100%. I recall John Dossett quoting Bernadette on a particularly dead day at Gypsy, "Let's go get them" or something like that. It must be exhausting.
Jean
Colleen
leebee
Sister Rose
Rose
