Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
#1Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 9:30pm
Sick in bed on New Year's Eve and just finished watching this concert. Wow was it good. Bernadette was the host and Katrina Lenk came out to sing a few songs from Follies, but other than that it was all orchestral medleys of his scores. The orchestrations were gorgeous (they included a great new arrangement of Assassins) and the musicians were just flawless. My only advice is turn it off right after the encore and before Auld Lang Syne 
#2Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 9:35pm
Just got back from the show. We were sitting in the second row right in front of the spot where Bernadette introduced each piece. The show was wonderful ... Katrina was fantastic!
Updated On: 12/31/19 at 09:35 PM
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#3Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 9:50pm
The symphonic performances are glorious. Ms. Lenk was an unfortunate choice for those two Follies numbers, middle age ruminations on love/regret. To compensate, she over characterized them and ended up coy and arch, and because of nerves, vocally tentative and histrionically overcooked. The songs are iconic because they don't need that much push to put them over; just a trust in the character voices and the lyric. Lenk is a gifted theater artist; this wasn't her night in my opinion.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
ArtMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
#4Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 10:04pm
Auggie, Was that Katrina who was singing Losing My Mind? I was flipping the channel and it caught my eye. I had thought it was Samantha Banks. Even though I only watched 30-40 seconds, whoever was singing it, I didn't think was doing a good job.
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#5Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 10:06pm
It was Ms. Lenk, and the interpretation was bizarre.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#6Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 10:12pm
Auggie27 said: "The symphonic performances are glorious. Ms. Lenk was an unfortunate choice for those two Follies numbers, middle age ruminations on love/regret.To compensate, she over characterized them and ended up coy and arch, and because of nerves, vocally tentative and histrionically overcooked. The songs are iconic because they don't need that much pushto put them over; just a trust in the character voices and the lyric. Lenk is a gifted theater artist; this wasn't her night in my opinion."
I feel like they should have had her perform "Being Alive" considering they promoted the revival a few times. "Losing My Mind" was underwhelming.. she didn't seem completely comfortable vocally
ArtMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/10/08
#7Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 10:14pm
Now I only watched for fourty seconds, but I had the impression she was reading the lyrics from the teleprompter.
#8Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 12/31/19 at 11:06pm
As someone who thought Katrina's performance in the Band's Visit was among the best I have ever seen, I could not help but feel as though this truly showed what concerns me over her casting in Company.... Her incredibly unique vocals, which I just do not believe to be suited to singing traditional Musical Theatre scores. Her voice, in my opinion, closely resembles that of an Edith Piaf type (Piaf revival starring Katrina, anyone?) So, for those who didn't watch, just imagine Edith Piaf singing Losing My Mind and Could I Leave You. Additionally, count me in the party of those who just did not understand what Katrina's interpretation of Losing My Mind was...... grinning through the entire song like a giddy young ingenue? Don't think that's quite what Steve had in mind....... Last, I guess I have answered my own question in thinking now that it's because Sondheim did not compose the Overture to Gypsy that it was not an option to be performed in this show, as when they began with the Forum Overture, I could not help but think "why on earth would they not choose to begin with one of the most iconic Overture's in the entire musical theatre cannon?!" Haha. Oops. However, overall, a simply gorgeous night of music.
JaredBway
Featured Actor Joined: 7/30/05
#9Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 12:03am
broadwayboy222 said: "As someone who thought Katrina's performance in the Band's Visit was among the best I have ever seen, I could not help but feel as though this truly showed what concerns me over her casting in Company....Her incredibly unique vocals, which I just do not believe to be suited to singing traditional Musical Theatre scores. Her voice, in my opinion, closely resembles that of an Edith Piaf type (Piaf revival starring Katrina, anyone?) So, for those who didn't watch, just imagine Edith Piaf singing Losing My Mind and Could I Leave You. Additionally, count me in the party of those who just did not understand what Katrina's interpretation of Losing My Mind was...... grinning through the entire song like a giddy young ingenue? Don't think that's quite what Steve had in mind....... Last, I guess I have answered my own questionin thinking now that it's becauseSondheim did not compose the Overture to Gypsy that it was not an option to be performed in this show, as when they began with the Forum Overture, I could not help but think "why on earth would they not choose to begin with one of the most iconic Overture's in the entire musical theatre cannon?!" Haha. Oops. However, overall, a simply gorgeous night of music."
She made me very nervous for Company. I wonder who her cover(s) will be.
#10Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 12:19amWas this on pbs or something? What did I miss?
#11Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 12:26am
CATSNYrevival said: "Was this on pbs or something? What did I miss?"
It was and I believe they'll be replaying it throughout the night.
#14Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 1:13am
I just saw a very small clip of "Losing My Mind" on Twitter. Sometimes it sounds like she unintentionally sings with an accent, when she doesn't have a natural accent. Her "Last Midnight" at the JRB/Sondheim concert was very good, but it worked with her unique/quirky sound.
In terms of Company, I'm going to trust Elliot and Sondheim on this one.
bwayobsessed
Broadway Star Joined: 5/28/13
#15Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 1:32amI saw Katrina live and I thought her performance of Losing my Mind was enchanting. She was performing a song not a character. This isn’t a Follies concert and therefore I thought her interpretation of the lyrics was really interesting: going from losing her mind because she’s in love to losing her mind because she is not loved back. Could I Leave You I Thought was also well done.
#16Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 1:37am
ljay889 said: "I just saw a very small clip of "Losing My Mind" on Twitter. Sometimes it sounds like sheunintentionally sings with an accent, when she doesn't have a natural accent. Her "Last Midnight" at the JRB/Sondheim concert was very good, but it worked with her unique/quirky sound.
In terms of Company,I'm going to trust Elliot and Sondheim on this one."
I think I watched the same clip you did, and I definitely agree on the accent. Just seems like she didn’t quite have a handle on if she wanted to sing with or without it. It really struck me as a lack of practice with the song. I imagine for company she will have an easier time ironing this out with all the rehearsal/preview time.
On a different hand, does a recording of her ‘last midnight’ exist? I’ve searched but haven’t found one.
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#17Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 2:26am
I thought it was a wonderful concert. Katrina Lenk was terrific. There is nothing in the lyrics to suggest "Losing My Mind" can only be sung by a middle-aged woman.
#18Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 2:33amDid Bernadette sing anything? I don’t like that she has apparently been reduced to introducing others to sing??????
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
NightMusic3
Swing Joined: 4/12/15
#19Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 2:38amCaught the first half and recorded the rest. Superb orchestral suite of Assassins by Michael Starobin. A couple of the others were Don Sebesky's arrangements from the Symphonic Sondheim album. Bernadette Peters introduced each piece and noted at the beginning the focus of the concert was on Sondheim's music rather than music and lyrics. Thus the lack of vocal performances, except for Katrina Lenk's.
#20Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 2:49am
qolbinau said: "Did Bernadette sing anything? I don’t like that she has apparently been reduced to introducing others to sing?????? "
According to a random tweet I saw, her and Katrina sang ‘Auld Lang Syne’ at the end. I agree it’s strange that such a legend was resigned to simply hosting and not being a performer but, it’s not like legends haven’t hosted before(company reunion concert).
carnzee
Broadway Star Joined: 9/2/11
#21Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 3:08am
qolbinau said: "Did Bernadette sing anything? I don’t like that she has apparently been reduced to introducing others to sing?????? "
Someone on Twitter said that having Peters in front of an orchestra and not sing is orgasm denial.
#22Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 3:17am
Live, Katrina was great. It seems like all of us who were there enjoyed her performance, and people who saw it on tv did not. Maybe something was lost in the translation.
When I got the tickets many months ago, there was no mention of Bernadette Peters. I remember I was surprised to hear about her involvement only very recently. For one reason or another, from what I can tell, she was added a few weeks ago and maybe that is why she didn’t sing. Or maybe she didn’t want to sing, who knows. But she was very cheerful, in good spirits and looked dynamite.
#23Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 3:58am
JPeterman said: "But she was very cheerful, in good spirits and looked dynamite."
Doesn’t she always?? 😍😍
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#24Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 7:04amThe symphonic performances were simply beautiful. The “Sunday” suite was especially rich and engendered emotion with every subtle segue to another piece of the Iconic score. The unhurried tempi lent an ideal formality. And they tore into the “Merrily” overture with a perfect attack; it’s never sounded fresher. The percussive components were in no way softened by the larger orchestra. Overall, a sublime night.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
#25Sondheim NY Philharmonic Concert
Posted: 1/1/20 at 10:04am
last night the NY PHILHARMONIC sounded wonderful, truly...Katrina on the other hand sounded not quite right for both numbers...her voice is not what you might want for standards such as 'Losing My Mind', but i thought her 'Could I Leave You' was a little better, as it is more a character-driven song...having seen Katrina in The Bands Visit i know she can act a song as well as anyone, but to have here just stand there and belt out 'Mind' was god awful...Company makes me nervous...
btw...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL US BROADWAY QUEENS!!
