Customer Reviews

My Favorite Broadway - The Love Songs

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Sure The Leading Ladies Broadway was pure delight, but! what great moments there are on this DVD; Heather Headley singing "He Touched Me" was so powerful(my husband and I usually replay this song several times before going forward); then the amazing tenors are so intouch with each other and then to beak into the upbeat stuff was a treat; plus, there is the overwhelming duet of Headley and Pascal (how much would we pay for that moment?); Marin Mazzie and Linda Eder are great to hear again; Pascal's joining with the choir was also an unexpected pleasure; and then there is the awesome Nathan Lane, Robert Goulet, and Michael Crawford are part of this musical soul food; even Barry Manilow singing from his musical was completely stirring--besides, I'm glad to know that someone cares enough to still be writing musicals (could anyone have delivered this moving song any better?); and lastly, the most spectacular event was Michael Crawford with Julie Andrews as she is finally, finally heard again! Judging from the crowd's reaction in the theater, my husband and I were and are not alone in basking in the sound of her voice; it was a moment.

Perhaps I have caused you to get sick to your stomach from too much cotton candy, perhaps you may think this review is too sweet or to upholding and praising for the singers and the wonderful Amercan Orchestra, but what if? Can't we use some more beauty in this world? Wouldn't we be better off if we applauded those who seek to share the overwhelming gifts of their voices and talent? Obviously, I loved it, and if I may speak for my husband, so did he. We have watched this DVD over and over, and we have shared it with many of our friends who have been delighted in this performance. Five stars? You bet!

I truly truly loved this video. It showcases so many talnted men and woman, who all have a true gift and talent from God on for performing. Julie Andrew's makes a delightful comeback and sings, it's beautiful! Rebecca Luker really sang like an angel. She has an amazing voice. Michael Crawford was heavenly, and as always sings with such tenderness and emotion His dancing with Julie is delightful and so sweet. I'd give this video ten stars if I could. It's well worth the price, and I never tire of watching it. Buy it and you wont regret it, if you enjoy good and talented performers and beautifuol music.

Whatever you love about music- passion, rousing chorus numbers, or just plain fun- is demonstrated in this enchanting concert. Broadway veterans such as Chita Rivera, Robert Goulet, and Nathan Lane share the evening with newcomers Adam Pascal, Heather Headley, and many others. It's a delightful evening of music that demonstrates what Broadway is all about. It captures so many human emotions (Bebe Neuwirth's delight that "Someone Loves Me!" to Michael Crawford's musings that "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face"). The climatic ending with Julie Andrews singing with Crawford completes a truly enchanted evening.

Personal taste tends play a role in whether you highly recommend or merely endorse a particular DVD, concert, etc. I might have selected different songs, preferred other or additional performers, but I'm wasn't consulted.

I do have my favorites on this DVD, ranking Linda Eder's medley "I'm Gonna Love You," "I Don't Know How To Love Him," and "What Kind Of Fool Am I?" at the top. Robert Goulet makes two separate appearances, both adding to the program. I must also mention "Lullaby Of Broadway," performed by Tom Wopat and dancers. "I'm A Brass Band" was new to me, and I especially liked Bebe Neuwirth as the "brass band." "Brush Up Your Shakespeare," performed with class by Michael McCormick and Michael Mulheren is followed by an equally impressive "How Lucky Can You Get," by Chita Rivera.

Julie Andrews sings a couple of lines from "The Rain In Spain," with Michael Crawford and they dance across the stage bringing the program to a close.

Watching these performances so beauifully reproduced with DVD technology makes me a little sad. What a shame, being reminded that we can't experience Julie's performances in "My Fair Lady," and "Camelot" on DVD -- among other performances.

I had the luck to be in New York on October 2000 and managed to buy tickets to this sensational one-night-only benefit show. And it paid well! The cast was very good and this DVD shows exactly what we saw: the charm of Michael Crawford, the fun of Nathan Lane, the incredible voices of Marin Mazzie and Linda Eder (who I was seeing for the first time - and the next day I ran in to a store and bought 2 of her CDs), the incredible Robert Goulet singing Camelot tunes to Julie Andrews, Barry Manilow, Chita Rivera and many many others. I loved the show and loved the DVD. Even for those who did not see the show in person, I recomend this DVD as a very good sample of Broadway artistry, good music and charm.

I am a big Julie Andrews fan, and this is a nice addition to any of you guys who collects julie andrews stuff. It is true that she teases the audience the whole time, and towards the end of the show, finally, she did it. It was a great moment, most especially by knowing her voice is damaged. she only sang 10 words, but it will not make the program as spectacular without it. Well worth your money, enjoy!

"MFB: The Leading Ladies" was a thrilling concert and DVD. (As I noted in my review of it, I bought a DVD player simply to own the disc.) Although there were certain notable "absences," stars abounded, some of whom gave marvelous performances. In addition, the production was elegant and glamorous. "MFB: The Love Songs," on the other hand, looks and feels almost like beauty pageant entertainment.

Certainly, there are stars. Of course, Julie Andrews is the host. One of the things that keeps me from giving this disc fewer than 3 stars is the presence of one of the notable "absences" from the earlier concert -- Chita Rivera, who looks astonishing and performs almost as well. Other highlights of this concert are the sweet-voiced and charming Rebecca Luker and the always-stunning, should-be-a-legend-in-the-future, Marin Mazzie. But even without these performances, there is one that makes the disc worth its purchase price. Heather Headley is a revelation!!!! Forget her performance at the end of "Elaborate Lives" with Adam Pascal. While her entry into the duet certainly elevates it to something worth seeing and hearing, the song is still nothing to get excited about. On the other hand, her performance of "He Touched Me" is nothing short of magnificent. Her beautiful, rich voice is full of color and emotion, her phrasing is intelligent and moving, and her pitch-perfect attack is astonishing. Not having seen "Aida," I was shocked last year when Miss Headley won the Best Actress Tony over Ms. Luker, the always-amazing Audra McDonald and, in the best performance I have ever seen live, Marin Mazzie in "Kiss Me Kate." But I think I understand now...

So, for Ms. Rivera, Ms. Luker, Ms. Mazzie, Nathan Lane, and, most of all, the electrifying Heather Headley, this disc is worth owning. But be prepared to push the skip button many times.

This DVD is a wonderful evening's entertainment. If you're anything like me then you'll applaud after the acts even if you do look like an idiot. Rebecca Luker, Bebe Neuwirth, Chita Rivera and so many others shine--such talent! My favourite numbers include "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" "I'm A Brass Band" "Every Single Day" and of course, the finale.
When Michael Crawford sings "I've Grown Accustommed To Her Face" and Ms. Andrews comes on and speaks her lines in the cockney accent, you can tell that the whole audience is captivated. Then, when she starts to sing...it's just incredible. That standing ovation was well-deserved.

You can see when the camera goes to the audience that they have had a wonderful and entertaining evening. And so have I, and so will you.

This is one of those things where you have to have to aquire a taste for it. Sure there are some songs that are definitely a good add to any Broadway collection, but if you're a classical Broadway fan you might be a little...disappointed.
The singers include-
Nathan Lane
Chita Riviera
Michael Crawford
Robert Goulet
Bebe Neuwirth
Marin Mazzie
Barry Manlow
Adam Pascal
Brent Spiner
Rebecca Luker
Peter Gallagher
Tom Wopat
Heather Headley
Ron Raines
Jeffrey Denman
Joan Hess
Brent Spiner
Linda Eder
Michael McCormick
Michael Mulheren
and of course, Julie Andrews, who provides us with some of her memories from "My Fair Lady" and briefly sings in "The Rain in Spain".

It is fun seeing some of the women who were in the Leading Ladies make a return (Linda Eder, Marin Mazzie, Rebecca Luker, Bebe Neworth, Julie Andrews, and anyone I've forgotten) but if you have not gotten the Leading Ladies (though you should!), this is lost on you. Some of the songs have been jazzed up and were better left alone. Other songs too do not really fit into what you'd think of as a "love song" category-do "Lullaby of Broadway" and "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" speak "love" to you?

Though it is definitely worth buying to see such stars as Julie Andrews, Michael Crawford, Chita Riviera, Robert Goulet, and Barry Manlow (if you're a fan) if you're expecting love songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, West Side Story, or Jule Styne you might be a little disappointed.

From October, 2000: Approximately 19 performers participate in "MY FAVORITE BROADWAY: THE LOVE SONGS."
The results range from the sublime to the absurdly ridiculous. The show is a wildly uneven grab bag of Broadway songs. You'll have to take what you get, and either suffer through, or skip, several mediocre selections of song and perrformer, as I did. The title is rather mis-leading: A few songs aren't love songs, two songs are from musical films, not Broadway musicals -- and the descriptive phrase "my favorite broadway" is used rather loosely, abused, and
put to the test, here. A few songs and performers, in fact, represented my least favorite Broadway musicals.

The sublime aspects feature Rebecca Luker, Chita Rivera, and Julie Andrews. Ron Raines sings a surprisingly touching rendition of Lerner and Loewe's "GIGI" from the film of the same name. And it's a treat to see Chita Rivera and Brent Spiner (Data from "STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION") sing a medley of songs from Chita's 1960 Broadway hit "BYE BYE BIRDIE."

But for every magical performer like Chita Rivera, there's one like Linda Eder. Miss Eder, or "She Who Would Be Barbra Streisand", blasts through her Broadway medley in bombastic style. Also like Barbra Streisand at her very worst. Eder is so in love with herself, she does not need or necessarily want an audience. It gets worse! After Eder mercifully exits, Michael Crawford appears to sing "Music Of The Night" for the UMPTEEMPTH TIME
in his career! He can no longer hit the high notes. This time, Crawford is frightening without his "PHANTOM OF THE OPERA" mask and make-up. Robert Goulet butchers the beautiful "This Nearly Was Mine" from Rodgers and Hammerstein's "SOUTH PACIFIC." Earlier in the show, Goulet ruins his own "If Ever I Would Leave You" Las Vegas style. Hostess Julie Andrews is nevertheless forced to gaze adoringly at her "CAMELOT" co-star from 1960.

What on earth is Barry Manilow doing here? And why is Linda Eder front and center when wonderful Rebecca Luker, Marin Mazzie, and Peter Gallagher are stuck singing song snippets in brief medleys? Tom Wopat, who can't dance a step, barely survives "Lullaby Of Broadway"; even though he is surrounded by dancers.

Michael McCormick and Michael Mulheren sing "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from "KISS ME, KATE" which, of course, is not a love song, but after Eder and Goulet, it is a joyous relief! Chita Rivera sings Kander and Ebb's "How Lucky Can You Get", from the film musical "FUNNY LADY", the stinker Streisand sequel to the original "FUNNY GIRL." Chita Rivera turns a stinker into a showstopping tour-de-force!

Michael Crawford redeems himself by revisiting "MY FAIR LADY" with Julie Andrews. A radiant Andrews shares several stories about the show's creation. Originally, she sang a song called "Shy." (She recites the lyrics). Lerner and Loewe decided "Shy" was too overt a romantic expression for a show based on George Bernard Shaw. They replaced it a few days later with a song that did stay in the show-- the divine "I Could Have Danced All Night." For a few glorious moments, Julie Andrews returns to Eliza Doolittle's Cockney accent and performs "The Rain In Spain"/I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face/Embassy Waltz." with Crawford. Now that's real Broadway magic, and worth
the price of the DVD. Still, I'm glad I bought a used DVD for around $13.00 instead of a new DVD at full price.