32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent celebration!, December 16, 1999
The video shows an all-star cast performing Sondheim's songs. Special attention is required all the time because of the high quality of the interpreters but I have to choose my favorites : Liza Minelli is superb, Glenn Close is fantastic in "Send in the Clows" and you will simply adore the girl that sings "Broadway Baby"! Have lots of fun and enjoy the diversity of the work of this composer. Must have it.
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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed that the full performance not shown, November 15, 2000
By A Customer
I am a huge Sondheim fan, but I am disappointed that some of the performances that made the CD recording did not make it to the videotape. For example, the medley of "Waiting for the Girls Upstairs - Love, I Hear - Live Alone and Like It" would have been enjoyable to watch, as was the "Remember" piece from "A Little Night Music." It makes an uneducated viewer wonder why these people join everyone in singing the end to "A Weekend in the Country." The order in which they present the songs is a little perplexing. This videotape would work much better if they maintained the integrity of the production by presenting everything in the manner in which it was performed.
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28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Memorable Night At Carnegie Hall, January 26, 2003
This review is from: Sondheim - A Celebration at Carnegie Hall (DVD)
On June 10, 1992, I had the good fortune to be in the audience for "Sondheim - A Celebration At Carnegie Hall." As someone who has seen the original Broadway casts of every Sondheim show since (and including) "Company," I can only say that this was a THRILLING concert. And though some numbers have been omitted, this DVD captures the excitement of that memorable evening.
Bill Irwin's hilarious opening monologue apologized for Angela Lansbury not being on hand to host the celebration. This of course alluded to Ms. Lansbury's great success presiding over the Tony Award telecasts, and how she'd become everyone's first choice to host ALL theatrical events. The audience got the joke and thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Irwin's routine. From all indications even Ms. Lansbury was amused; she happily narrated the "Anyone Can Whistle" concert at Carnegie Hall three years later.
Madeline Kahn delighted the crowd with her rendition of "Getting Married Today" and, based on the strength of her performance that night, was also invited to participate in the "Anyone Can Whistle" concert.
Other rousing highlights included (and this is just a partial list) Liza Minnelli's "Back In Business," Dorothy Loudon's "Losing My Mind"/"You Could Drive A Person Crazy," Patti LuPone's "Being Alive," Karen Ziemba & Bill Irwin's "Sooner Or Later," Patrick Cassidy & Victor Garber's "Ballad Of Booth," Bernadette Peters' "Not A Day Goes By," Harolyn Blackwell's "Green Finch & Linnet Bird," the New York City Opera's "Weekend In The Country," and Glenn Close's "Send In The Clowns." Paul Gemignani (Sondheim's conductor of choice) performed his usual magic with the orchestra, and - if that wasn't enough - a proud Stephen Sondheim appeared at the end to set up the evening's moving finale, "Sunday."
As you can imagine, this was a night of old-fashioned, full-throttle Broadway charisma. Truly an evening to remember!
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