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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Dazzling Evening of Entertainment, November 28, 1999
This review is from: Bernadette Peters in Concert (DVD)
Who is a two-time Tony Award winner that radiates a rare sweetness and a lush sensuality? Who is scoring rave reviews on Broadway as Annie Oakley in the must-see, smash revival of Irving Berlin's "Annie Get Your Gun?" Only the hottest diva on the stage today, Bernadette Peters. I remember the first time I watched Bernadette Peters perform. She was a guest on "The Carol Burnette Show." The next time was in the Steve Martin film "The Jerk." I could not figure out why this woman appeared on television or the big screen with her unusual speaking voice, not realizing her career in musical theatre. Did you know that Ms. Peters made her Broadway debut in 1967 in "Johnny No-Trump?" In 1968, she starred with Joel Grey in the musical "George M," earning a Theatre World Award for her memorable portrayal of Josie Cohan. During that same year, she received a Drama desk Award for her show-stopping performance in the smash off-Broadway hit musical "Dames at Sea." It is no wonder that Ms. Peters quickly became one of the most sought-after stars in musical theatre. I have gained a new respect for Ms. Peters as a performer throughout the years. One reason was due to learning more about her career. The other reason was Ms. Peters recorded an AIDS benefit concert for the Gay Men's Health Crisis in December 1998 at New York's Carnegie Hall. She sang one of my personal favorites: "Making Love Alone" ("you'll save on cologne"). You now have the opportunity for a front row seat for a dazzling evening of entertainment, "Bernadette Peters In Concert." She performs songs from her illustrious stage and recording career, including renditions from legendary Broadway composers Stephen Sondheim's "Broadway Baby," Jerry Herman's "Time Heals Everything," Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight," and the Grammy-nominated "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight." "Bernadette Peters In Concert" was recorded live from the Royal Festival Hall in London, and it aired on PBS as part of the August 1999 pledge drive. Ms. Peters' admirers' will be thrilled to discover that the video and DVD releases contain songs not previously broadcast on PBS. The DVD version contains a comprehensive biography and extensive career credits with specifically selected photos. "Bernadette Peters In Concert" is absolutely fabulous, and it's a must own!
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
She's Bernadette, she sings Sondheim. Result: bliss, July 8, 2000
The late British critic Kenneth Tynan once wrote of Katharine Hepburn: "She is not versatile, but like any star of true magnitude, she can do one or two of the most difficult things in the world supremely well." In a program devoted primarily to the songs of Stephen Sondheim, Bernadette Peters does many things supremely well. She sings an Andrew Lloyd Weber number ("Unexpected Song") and she makes it seem as immediate, emotional, and important as anything on her well-chosen program. The colors in her voice do not represent an unlimited palette, but she uses what she has as only a true artist can. She brings to numbers by Jimmy Webb and Jerry Herman every ounce of feeling and intelligence that she naturally gives to Sondheim. This is a video to cherish for all times: one of the greatest of all Broadway singers pays tribute to one of the greatest of all Broadway composer/lyricists - and several others as well. No one who watches this will ever forget Bernadette's performance of "Time Heals Everything" from Jerry Herman's masterpiece Mack and Mabel. Not everybody loves Bernadette Peters as much as I do - but if Bernadette and her unique artistry is as dear to your heart as it is to mine, you will not want to be without this video. Most of this concert is devoted to the songs of Stephen Sondheim. His songs don't need a champion, but he's still a lucky guy to have Bernadette as his interpreter!
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Songs of Bernadette, May 30, 2000
I love the comment by the editorial writer above that Bernadette Peters is a "glorious anachronism." It's true. She has those Gibson Girl looks and a 30s movie star quality about her. And she has a voice that can melt the hardest of hearts. It's hard not to get a little misty eyed on hearing her version of "Not a Day Goes By" or "The Unexpected Song." I did buy one of her poppier albums once, the one with her version of the old Carla Thomas song "Gee Whiz," and it was fine stuff, but some people were born to be--dare I say it?--Broadway babies. It really is her metier, and she virtually reigns supreme over Broadway today. Who else even comes close? The concert format allows Ms. Peters to tackle material not previously associated with her. She mixes a little standard pop into her repertory, but the bulk of the concert is devoted to Broadway, specifically Sondheim. She is so skilled, however, that it in no way seems monotonous. I know a few anti-Sondheim types in my circle of acquaintances, and I would not hesitate to recommend this concert to them. Or to foist it on them, come to think of it. Is Bernadette Peters an anachronism, glorious or otherwise? Well, Sondheim himself has said that the form is dying, so perhaps in that sense, Peters, as one of Broadway's brightest stars, may be one of the last of a dying breed. However, when you see her handily out-vamp Madonna on "Sooner or Later," you know that she really transcends all genre distinctions in any event. She is, plain and simple, a true star, and in that sense, timeless.
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