Customer Reviews

Barbra Streisand: The Concerts

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4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Those of us fortunate enough to have bared witness to the career of this amazing artist since the beginning, know we have been and continue to be in the presence of absolute one-of-a-kind greatness. Those that haven't and think they know and have heard greatness, you can't even imagine.

Even if one isn't into this genre of music, you owe it to yourself to purchase this DVD and experience some of what so many of us have had the pleasure of for what's approaching now 50 years! I tell you, you will become magnificently enlightened because there's been no other vocalist to date that can come close. Yes, she IS that much better than any other.

You will hear the message in every song, every expression. A message of truth and passion from an artist who must have been inside the heart of every songwriter whose songs she has interpreted through her soul and her magnificent vocal instrument. There can be no other answer to how she is able to convey the depth and meaning of a song, all the while commanding you to listen to the lyrics and feel the meaning the way the composer had intended, and all without you even realizing it. You will find yourself waiting to exhale after every powerful note, but the greatest power is in her ability to deliver a note so softly, so gently, as nearly a whisper--it will leave you breathless. I'm sorry, but you don't need to scream and high-power through every song to show you can sing, like so many today. The true artistry is in the nuances, the subtleties.

I recommend this DVD to anyone truly interested in having your heart and soul, not just your ears, entertained. And when you're done with this magnificent selection, treat yourself to Streisand from the beginning, from Funny Girl through the years to this piece of work . . . then you too will understand what millions of us have been experiencing for nearly five decades, and why we feel we have been in the 'presence of true greatness'.

The Concerts DVD documents another milestone in Barbra's career.

2006 is simply Streisand at 64. Fresh. Surprising. Intimate. Silly. Supreme. After a dozen viewings I'm thinking this is Barbra's greatest concert recording.

If you 'GET' Barbra, get the 2006 concert asap. I'm not giving any spoilers, keep the surprise for yourself.

My copy arrived from Amazon-UK mid March - who could wait? The inclusion of the '94 Anaheim Concert and Putting It Together (the making of the Broadway Album) makes this a must have set. The three UK discs are region free and PAL.

I was there, in 2006: Barbra in Las Vegas.
And again in 2007, in Berlin, Dublin and London.
Four wonderful concerts - and finally the DVD is here. It's everything I hoped for - and more. Barbra's simply brilliant: she's in great voice, sings songs she hasn't sung in ages and is very, very relaxed: she really seems to be enjoying herself.
This (Florida)concert is very close to what I saw in Vegas and Europe. The Bush skit is missing - many people don't mind, but I would have loved to have seen it here - even as a bonus.
The quality of this DVD is amazingly good. it has been shot in HD/widescreen and it shows. Both the picture and audio look and sound great, although this version of the concert is completely blown out of the water by the Blu-ray edition - but that's a different story.

Highly recommended - for the casual fan, the hard-core fan (like me) and anyone who simply enjoys great music - and a great performance.

Oh - and the Anaheim '94 disc, plus the bonus Making of the Broadway Album are more than icing on the cake. The Anaheim show features one of Barbra's greatest performances ever, while The Broadway album is one of Streisand's top albums - ever!

Siep

It is true that Barbra's voice has changed over time. In the 2006 concert DVD you will notice that her range is lower and there is, at times, some hoarseness, which I did not notice at the two concerts that I attended. Nevertheless, it is still a remarkable instrument and her interpretive abilities are in full force. If in doubt, simply listen to "Unusual Way". I recently attended a Celine Dion concert and, although her voice is in top form, as an audience member, I did not feel a connection to her singing. When Barbra sang "People" at the St. Paul concert, I was astounded at her ability to deliver this song to the audience after 40 years of singing it. She simply touched us all at the level of Soul.

In the 1994 concert DVD, Barbra was in top vocal form. I especially recommend the 1994 concert CD which is taken from her New York performance. Her rendition of "My Man" from that concert is vocally stunning.

Well my friends, I think that this 2006 concert DVD is Barbra's swan song, at least in terms of singing concerts. So don't be overly critical; simply watch and enjoy one of the greatest performers to ever grace the stage. When will we see the likes of talent like this again?

There's some new stuff to add to your Barbra collection with the BARBRA STREISAND: THE CONCERT DVD set.

First off, the concert from 2006 features songs that have been beloved by Barbra fans for many years but we've never had the treat of seeing them performed live. Some songs have been performed on live albums like "Starting Here, Starting Now" (from Live Concert at the Forum) and "Come Rain Or Come Shine" (from Streisand: Live In Concert (2 CD's) or if you were lucky enough to get the bonus CD from the "Timeless" Concert). Other songs like "(Have I Stayed) Too Long At The Fair?" and "Funny Girl" have never been performed live (at least not to my knowledge) so you get some new stuff to see.

The musical intro and outro is from the Funny Girl (1964 Original Broadway Cast) overture and Barbra performs "The Music That Makes Me Dance," which was replaced with "My Man" in the movie version of Funny Girl.

Another highlight from the 2006 concert DVD is a Q&A with the audience where they get to participate in a short sing-a-long to the song "Stoney End" (Stoney End). I wish this was longer!

---BONUS MATERIAL ON DVD #1---
(performances unless noted/play-all feature/selection)

***Nobody's Heart (Belongs To Me)/When The Sun Comes Out***
I love the song WTSCO from The Second Barbra Streisand Album and Barbra can still work this song. Oh I wish she would do an album of these types of torch-songs!

***The Woman In The Moon***
Truncated version of the song from the end of the tour in Los Angeles, CA. Another song heard live on A Star Is Born (1976 Film) soundtrack and movie, but never performed since.

***Senza Catene/Regressa A Mi***
These are performances by the group Il Divo. They also duet with Barbra during the concert.

***Interview****5:50-Minutes
Behind the scenes with crew on the production of the concert and song selection.

***Interview***10:05-Minute
Executive director of the Streisand Foundation, Marge Tabankin, discusses the many charities that benefit from the foundation.

---DVD #2---1994 CONCERT AT THE ARROWHEAD POND
I believe this is the concert that aired on HBO that was filmed after Barbra's triumphant New Year's Eve Concert in 1993-94.

---DVD #3---MAKING OF THE BROADWAY ALBUM FROM 1985
First time on DVD showing the recording sessions for acclaimed The Broadway Album and Barbra talks with famed movie director William Friedkin. The bonus clips are all from the various Streisand Television specials which aired from 1965-1973. These television specials are available in their entirety from the box set Barbra Streisand - The Television Specials.

The CONCERT... set also comes with a small color booklet with liner notes by writer and musical supervisor Jay Landers and has some pictures in it.

So even though it isn't an earth shattering live cabaret performance filmed at the "Hungry-i" from the 60s that was "found" among the vaults, STREISAND: THE CONCERT offers enough new material to keep us fans happy.

Of course Barbra's voice has changed over the years, as she might not have the range she used to, but she still has that vocal power and unmistakable sound that is pure Streisand.

One word to say is WOW!!!!! this boxset is amazing!!!! Okay now lets get one thing straight..... No her voice isn't what it used to be, However she is still the greatest female singer of all time!!! PERIOD!!!! Although I do believe the 2006 concert is The best for a few reasons mostly because She is more relaxed and she puts way more emotion into the songs than she EVER has before!!!! Her relationship with her fans has grown and it is very noticable!!!! I also think that the live perfomance of My Man in the 2006 concert is the ABSOLUTE best she has ever sang the song live!! Although I must say one performance that shocked me and had me jumping up and down was the reprise of Don't Rain On My Parade! that performance I think is also the greatest live version to date!!! The Arrowhead Pond concert is simply brilliant!!!! it being the first time she ever sang the Yentl medley live is breathtaking.... All in all this boxset is a must have!!! Barbra is still amazing!!! This should be treasured for generations to come!!!!

I attended the LA concert, and this DVD completely captures the joy and magic of Barbra Streisand singing LIVE! What more can one say? She is the one true Diva living today. What an honor it was to have been able to see her in person, and what pure ecstasy it is to be able to see her again whenever I wish! You rock Barbra; don't ever let anyone stop the magnificence that is You!

No matter what, you can always depend upon Barbra Streisand to deliver the goods.

At one time, she was criticized for her highly emotional delivery of tunes but this boxed set (and let's focus on the 2006 concert) shows that her embellishments aren't trimming - she pours her emotional soul into the songs turning them into fascinating plays.

I attended the concert here in NYC and was thrilled (to put it mildly) when her voice - still both powerfully strong and amazingly gentle - managed to wring every emotion out of the songs so that they still sound fresh and new.

Ms. Streisand, in show business for almost fifty years now, sings new numbers (Cock Eyed Optomist) and revisits others that she hasn't sung in many decades (of particular note is Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair - the old Billy Barnes number that is given a fresh new approach by tinkering about with it). Unlike others, she has grown into her music. In listening to the heart felt way Barbra Streisand delivers such gems as Somewhere or My Man you know that she has taken her years of experenice and is now pouring them into the songs. The song remains the same but it has an added texture and depth that comes with wisdom.

For a woman who has recently celebrated her 67th birthday (4/24/09), she still looks, and sounds, fabulous. No. She looks and sounds BETTER than ever.

The three disc set also contains her 1994 concert (you will note how a 12 year span did nothing to diminish her powerful deliveries) and a cable special that was aired to coincide with The Broadway Album.

In all, the set is a fascinating look into a truly great American classic.

Not only does this DVD collection have outstanding concert and interview content it has a feature that allows you to find and play single songs.
So after viewing the DVDs you can replay the songs like a CD.

Also the packaging is wonderful and it makes an extra good gift.

Quite nice all around!

As the DVD co-director/producer Gary Smith says, this Streisand concert MUST be documented for generations to come. Whether or not you're a die-hard fan, owning this piece of history is also a MUST. Barbra Streisand, the 'perfectionist' also shows the truth in her imperfections. A missed note, a hoarse voice at times, her connection (or non-connection) with a lyric, everything that makes her human is included here. Not only the amazing concert of 2006 but a little bit of her maturing process as an artist is here, too. Watch the newest concert first but be sure to enjoy the look back at her first specials from the mid-sixties, her creative process for her huge success on The Broadway Album. Barbra, thanks for sharing!