Sondheim Etc. Etc.: Bernadette Peters Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It) [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Bernadette Peters's Sondheim Etc. Etc. is, naturally, an addendum of additional material that was not included in Sondheim Etc., the initial recording of her December 9, 1997, Carnegie Hall concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis. We always figured there was more, especially considering that the original CD mirrored a lot of her 90-minute DVD, Bernadette Peters Live in Concert, which was recorded a year later at London's Royal Festival Hall. And sure enough, a number of songs from London appear on Sondheim Etc. Etc., including her pig Latin rendition of "We're in the Money" (a device originated by Ginger Rogers), songs from her solo albums (the oldie "If You Were the Only Boy" and Peter Allen's "I Never Thought I'd Break" from Bernadette and the country standard "Faithless Love" from I'll Be Your Baby Tonight), and two beautiful and moving songs that would make anyone's list of Bernadette's greatest hits, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Unexpected Song" (from Song and Dance) and Stephen Sondheim's "Children Will Listen" (from Into the Woods). And because Sondheim is the prevailing theme of the evening, she also sings the gorgeous "With So Little to Be Sure Of" (also from the London DVD) and "Later." The 52-minute program does include a lot of chatter, which will charm some listeners and bore others. But there's also a lovely encore of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," after which Peters wishes her audience a good night. Even if the song selection isn't quite as strong as on the original CD, it's great to have more of the concert available. --David Horiuchi

Tracks:

Broadway Baby
No One Is Alone
Sooner Or Later
Time Heals Everything
Raining In My Heart
Some People
Johanna
Happiness
Hello Little Girl
Any Moment
There Won't Be Trumpets
You Could Drive A Person Crazy
Not A Day Goes By
Being Alive
Move On

Amazon.com

This live concert from 1997, a benefit for the Gay Men's Health Crisis, was Bernadette Peters's Carnegie Hall debut, and it's a joy. Peters has always had a special affinity for the music of Stephen Sondheim, and she spotlights some of his best songs, only a few of them from the shows she's best known for, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George. The program is part career retrospective--including non-Sondheim selections from Mack and Mabel and Dames at Sea--and part wish list, which provides a forum for Peters's pouty humor ("In this movie [Dick Tracy], this song was sung by a blonde bombshell... not me. Although we both have religious names."). She's backed by a full orchestra conducted by Marvin Laird, who also directed Peters's similar program a year later at London's Royal Festival Hall (captured on VHS and DVD). The very appreciative and knowing audience (there's applause at the first words of Dames' "Raining in My Heart") includes Stephen Sondheim himself. No doubt he was very proud. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

She is wonderful!!.......2007-01-06

This concert was an unforgettable performance. I happened to be in the audience that memorable night. This CD captures the excitment of that night beautifully. Her voice is amazing and I don't think anyone has ever sung Sondheim better. Her interpetation of Being Alive and Not A Day Goes By, are unparelled. She sings with such passion and understanding of the music and the lyrics that she just breaks your heart. I thought it was an interesting choice for her to sing Johanna and boy did she pull it off.
An amazing amazing performance and CD.

wonderful.......2006-04-25

Bernadette Peters is essentially my idol. That being said, this cd was one of the reasons I fell in love with her years ago. With such wonderful source material to work with (Sondheim never fails) and her marvelous voice, it would be difficult to have a bad album. She puts so much of herself into every song that she sings, something that I can only aspire to do. If you're a fan of Bernadette Peters, of Stephen Sondheim, of broadway, or just of amazing voices coupled with amazing songs, you will enjoy this album.

3 stars for the voice and vim.......2005-05-29

Who wouldn't/couldn't/doesn't love Bernadette Peters? Her voice, interpretation and all-around style signify star quality. I loved her in person in Annie Get Your Gun. I didn't "get" her as GYPSY"S Mom, or on this CD,either. It was on my wish list, but I could only stand listening to the angst-driven offering once, before I tossed it in a bin... The lyrics are that overwrought and maudlin. The background laughter and applause from the audience includes pauses & patter that are intrusive and annoying. The most tender song is Time Heals Everything, from Mack and Mabel. Please let someone revive this underrated musical; Bernadette could still pull it off...........

"Making Love Alone" - GONE.......2003-12-20

I bought this for one song that was track 4. It has been removed. Needless to say, it is a disappointment.

Wonderful!.......2003-10-19

I don't usually care much for out of context "personal interpretations" of songs from musicals. I don't hate those, it's just that they don't interrest me much. This is an exception.

Most of the SJS songs Bernadette Peters sings on this album are either definitive versions, or when they are too different from how they were written, they are at least handled with such skill that it doesn't matter to a SJS purist like me.

Tracks:

Overture
We're In The Money/Pennies From Heaven
If You Were The Only Boy
Unexpected Song
Faithless Love
Other Lady
I Never Thought I'd Break
(They Ask Me Why) I Believe In You
Later
With So Little To Be Sure Of
Children Will Listen
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Amazon.com

Bernadette Peters's Sondheim Etc. Etc. is, naturally, an addendum of additional material that was not included in Sondheim Etc., the initial recording of her December 9, 1997, Carnegie Hall concert to benefit the Gay Men's Health Crisis. We always figured there was more, especially considering that the original CD mirrored a lot of her 90-minute DVD, Bernadette Peters Live in Concert, which was recorded a year later at London's Royal Festival Hall. And sure enough, a number of songs from London appear on Sondheim Etc. Etc., including her pig Latin rendition of "We're in the Money" (a device originated by Ginger Rogers), songs from her solo albums (the oldie "If You Were the Only Boy" and Peter Allen's "I Never Thought I'd Break" from Bernadette and the country standard "Faithless Love" from I'll Be Your Baby Tonight), and two beautiful and moving songs that would make anyone's list of Bernadette's greatest hits, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Unexpected Song" (from Song and Dance) and Stephen Sondheim's "Children Will Listen" (from Into the Woods). And because Sondheim is the prevailing theme of the evening, she also sings the gorgeous "With So Little to Be Sure Of" (also from the London DVD) and "Later." The 52-minute program does include a lot of chatter, which will charm some listeners and bore others. But there's also a lovely encore of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," after which Peters wishes her audience a good night. Even if the song selection isn't quite as strong as on the original CD, it's great to have more of the concert available. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

What a voice!.......2007-03-15

We were fortunate enough to see Bernadette in concert in Medford, Oregon, and loved her performance. We couldn't wait to order both of her Carnegie Hall CDs. We were not disappointed. Wow, what a voice that lady has been blessed with!

Perfection.......2007-01-16

Most of the songs included on this CD are superior to Peters' original 1997 CD of highlights from this benefit concert at Carnegie Hall. Given that that CD was superb, this one only enhances Ms. Peters reputation as a technically skilled and deeply interpretive singing actress. And her inner warmth toward her audience radiates throughout. Having seen her at the encore of the Broadway revival of "Gypsy", raising funds for Actor's Equity Fights Aids in the most genteel, warm and ingratiating style one can imagine, it's obvious this performer has respect for and appreciates her audience. Now. let's get to the music.

Peters is in exceptional voice throughout and some of these lesser known songs display her uniquely personal yet humorous style of interpreting a song's meaning, always a special treat with this lady. Using Ginger Roger's pig-latin rendition of "We're in the Money" is a canny way to begin this CD, and it immediately warms listener to performer, but the best is yet to come. Her rendition of "Unexpected Song" from her Tony-winning role in "Song and Dance" surpasses the one on the original cast recording and is immediately followed buy an exquisitely reorchestrated version of "Faithless Love" from her mid-90s disc, a beautiful example of her growth as a mature vocalist. Stunning.

And the surprises keep coming. Peter Allen's "I Never Thought I'd Break" from her late 70s solo debut is an unexpectedly moving and beautifully interpreted song that proves Allen was more than glitz and glamour. She also sings Stephen Sondheim's little known "(They Ask Me Why) I Believe in You" in such a stirring manner you think you've always known this atypical Sondheim song. Of special note, she renders the rarely sung "Later" from Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" in a manner that exposes both her vocal expertise (listen to that sustained high note!) and her instinctive humor. A real treat.

Finally, she closes the concert with an audience participation rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" because this concert originally occurred in December, 1996. It's so warmly delivered (by everyone) that even though I bought this CD in July, it immediately put me in the Christmas spirit.

The bottom line about this CD is that Bernadette Peters has never been presented on a recording in all of her facets as effectively as this disc does. One of the great ones.

CD to watch.......2006-07-22

Think Bernadette Peters must be preferably watched while she is singing.Yet, this cd is worth buying. Search for DVD edition better.

It's good, but it could have been much better.......2005-09-04

If you love Bernadette Peters, you'll love this CD. However, her original Carnegie Hall album is much better than this one. I will never understand why they didn't release the entire concert as a double CD in 1997 (especially since a full-length DVD of the performance has been available for years). Instead they picked the best highlights from the show for the first CD, and then eight years later they decided to throw the rest of the selections onto another CD. The result is that both CDs lack continuity and the first CD is much better than this one. That being said, however, this IS Bernadette Peters we're talking about, and there is no such thing as a "weak" Bernadette Peters performance. The songs on "Live at Carnegie Hall (The Rest of It)" are all classic Bernadette, and they're all fabulous: "Unexpected Song" and "Children Will Listen" are two of my favorites, along with the lovely encore of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." The album would be even better, however, if it had been released eight years ago along with the rest of the songs that Bernadette performed during that memorable concert at Carnegie Hall.

Almost BETTER than the first one!.......2005-09-01

I really love Bernadette Peters singing Sondheim. She is also one of the very few singers I'd listen to for voice alone when the material isn't that interresting in itself.

Here we have a few more Sondheim tunes - "Later" is worth the price of the album itself. "I Believe In You" have been recorded other places, but not as beautiful as here. "With So Little To Be Sure Of" is a gorgeous song, here combined with the more dull "Children Will Listen".

Of all Peters' renditions I've heard of "Unexpected Song", I think this is the best. It is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber's greatest songs.

The rest of the album consists of less interresting material, but is still awfully nice to listen to. As with the first Sondheim, Etc, I'd recommend getting to know the songs in their original context, then immediately buy this gem!

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