It was my first time for hearing Audar live in concert. In fact, I had only seen her live once before in Porgy and Bess. My expectations were high, and they were met.
I'm a big fan of Kelli O'Hara and Kristin Chenoweth, and have seen each in concert several times. As wonderful as these women are, Audra is perhaps a step higher. There is a color and warmth to her voice that can't be taught. She is at complete ease singing and interacting with the audience; she tells genuinely funny stories.
I confess that at the beginning of the concert, backed by the entire New York Philharmonic, the combined sound of Audra and the orchestra sounded a little muddled at times. At peak moments orchestra and vocalist seemed to be competing to be heard, and once or twice the vocalist lost. Geffen Hall I believe is notorious for its acoustics.
But I noticed this less and less as the concert progressed, although it was refreshing to hear her perform with just her jazz quartet.
The transcendent moment of the concert came about a half hour into it. I wasn't looking at the stage between numbers. I was searching for something in my pockets. I heard the unmistakable introduction to "Summertime." I hadn't looked up yet. Then I heard the vocal begin and I quickly asked myself what voice this was. I looked up and Audra had dropped the mike to the floor and was singing gloriously without the aid of rogue electrons. Her voice just soared, easily filling the Hall. The difference was so noticable.
After the prolonged applause and cheering ended, I felt certain that nothing else Audra would sing would produce a bigger reaction. And I think I was correct, but she had much more that would draw a prolonged response, including an intertwining of "Children Will Listen" with "You've Got to be Carefully Taught."
Wish I could have been there. Huge Audra fan. Here is from the press release about the recording:
Decca Gold is proud to announce the forthcoming release of Sing Happy, the live performance of the New York Philharmonic’s 2018 Spring Gala starring Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald. Recorded live on May 1 at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, the recording represents McDonald’s first collaboration with Decca Gold – as well as her first solo recording with full orchestra.
Sing Happy features many songs that are either new to McDonald’s repertoire or have never before been recorded by her – such as "I Am What I Am"from La Cage aux Folles, “Vanilla Ice Cream”from She Loves Me, and “Children Will Listen” from Into The Woods– and offers a sneak peek at the repertoire she’s performing on her upcoming North American concert tour. The album will be quickly mastered and sequenced and set for digital release on May 11 and physical formats on May 25.
In the past 50 years, I have seen many concerts on Broadway -- Judy G, Liza M, Bette M, Diana Ross, Shirley MacLaine, Hugh Jackman, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, Debbie Reynolds, Patti Lupone; living in Sarasota now, I have seen Audra twice in the past two years, Kristen Chenoweth, Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin, and others. I mention those because I am not sure that I have ever enjoyed any as much as the MacDonald shows (and there were some incredible shows). She may not generate the audience fervor (at least in Sarasota) that some of the above did; but in terms of putting on a great show in which the star at the center is so talented, has such entertaining and personal anecdotes threaded throughout the show, and seems so normal, she is peerless.
When I saw her in March, we attended with four people who had never seen her perform live, two of whom had never even heard of her(!). All were as impressed as we were (although we knew it was going to be a great concert). One (from the 'new er heard of her' camp went on-line the next day and purchased tickets for a (since performed) concert at Boston's Symphony Hall.
When I left the show, I remembered wondering whether there was anything that she couldn't do, and with so much class and modesty.
PS -- I really enjoyed the Chenoweth show, although I got a little tired of her referring to her strong Christian upbringing -- I didn't care. I also found it sorta comical that she was wearing an outfit that must have depended on major double-sided tape to keep things in place, while repeatedly returning to her strong Christian upbringing...seemed s little silly.
^^ I saw Audra in concert at Disney Hall in Los Angeles a number of years ago. Perfection. I’m thinking of making the trek down to Orange County to see her later this month. She is spectacular in concert.
I have to confess that I didn’t know quite a few of her songs. This was partly due to my ignorance and partly because, as Audra explained at the beginning, her approach to this concert was to sing songs that she had never sung before, and many were from not well known sources.
Audra opened with “I Am What I Am” and “It Might As Well Be Spring.” She reached back into the early sixties for two songs. “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have,” I believe, from On a Clear Day. (She then played with the audience, addressing us “And that song was written by Lerner and ?” “Loewe” came back from many but it was Lerner and Lane. Burton Lane. “And the lead female was ?” Barbra came back from many, but Streisand had played the role in the film. Barbara Mason in the musical.) I hope they preserve the audience interplay on the album.
She also sang “Some Little Things” from 110 in the Shade. Her last number that she said she took personally to heart was “Make Someone Happy.” Her encore I’m sure was known to everyone in the audience except me.
A curiosity was a song written by Benny Goodman and I think Duke Ellington that had never before had lyrics. Ella had just sung the song scat. Audra demonstrated what Ella had done. But a colleague whom she had met at MIT had actually put lyrics to the song. Very intricate lyrics that flowed very quickly. About halfway through she stopped, saying that she had blown the lyrics. I think this was intentional to set up the nice moment that followed. As she picked up the song again she gave a wide gesture to the audience, “Come on, everyone. Sing along with me. Join in!”
Very pleased to hear that there will be an album.
Kristin is pretty selective about which tenets of her religion that she chooses to follow, but she has a good heart. After seeing her more than once in the revival of On The Twentieth Century there is no denying her talent and spunk.
In two weeks, I will see Audra perform in concert here with the San Diego Symphony; and later next year, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Very excited!
The quality of this video is not terrific. But watching it, I'm reminded what a talent she truly is.
Wow. I had to go to Youtube to check that out. Shuffle Along. A huge hit for 1921 Broadway. Launched the careers of Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson, among others. Any more Audra on Broadway, can’t miss it.
I hope everyone who gets to see her on tour has a magical time! I had gotten tickets in January but then I got a gig and previews for my show start the day I was supposed to see her. So glad there will be an album so I can at least hear what I’ll be missing.
Just saw her tonight with the KC Symphony here in Kansas City. She was beyond great. I have seen her numerous times before but tonight was just next level brilliance. Agree with others - go see her if she is coming to your city!
I saw her in Melbourne at Hamer Hall a couple of years ago (it must have been 31 October 2015 to be exact!). I’ve seen many incredible concerts there - Idina, Sierra, Megan, Lea, 6 years of my school’s speech night - and Audra was absolutely a standout. I think my favourite numbers were I’ll Be Here from Ordinary Days (which I had never heard before) and Baby Mine from Dumbo (which holds special meaning to me) - apparently I like to cry! Another favourite was the hilarious Facebook Song by Australian singer-songwriter Kate Miller-Heidke, who I’d actually heard sing it at a small charity concert a few weeks earlier. It is a bit risqué, and she said how grateful she was that our Australian humour appreciated it as she’d had some bad reactions performing it in the south; unfortunately I doubt it would be included in a set list for a recording!
MichelleCraig said: "^^ I saw Audra in concert at Disney Hall in Los Angeles a number ofyears ago. Perfection. I’m thinking of making the trek down to Orange County to see her later this month. She is spectacular in concert."
OC is too hard during the week but she’s also at th Dorothy Chandler on Sunday May 20th which is more doable. I’m very tempted to go!
I was happy to buy the digital album today, but I noticed the New York Philharmonic put the entire album on YouTube for free (for the time being, anyway).
joined:5/31/10
joined:
5/31/10
Posted: 5/2/18 at 12:18pm