...don't get me wrong, I agree that for -- undeniably -- the greatest single figure in the past 50+ years of musical theatre history a longer tribute was in order. I suppose we all wanted something akin to the Kennedy Center Honors medleys, but perhaps that's unfair expectation.
That said, I found Bernadette's Children Will Listen very moving. I actually think her voice sounded quite strong in relation to her vocal performances of the past 5-6 years. I guess I've grown to accept that this is where Bernadette's voice, in her mid 70s, sits. I still think many of those notes in her head voice were lovely and, equally importantly, she connected to those lyrics as only she can. Sometimes, all you need is an orchestra, a gifted singer-actress and some tasteful lighting. Maybe this is partly generational. I'm a child of the 80s and 90s and grew up on endless reruns of Into the Woods and Sunday on Bravo (when it was an arts channel... remember that?).
Like a lot of people of my generation, Bernadette was my entry-point, my beloved guide to the world of Sondheim. If there was going to be a single-person tribute to Sondheim, who else but her? When she turned back to Sondheim's portrait, clapped and then clasped her heart I couldn't help but get emotional.
Sunday (the song) brought both the 80th birthday concert and the Carnegie Hall Sondheim concert to a rousing climax, but sometimes a smaller, quieter moment can be just as moving. It was for me. |
