Barbara Cook

Having been on a musical cloud after Barbra Streisand's concerts at The Hollywod Bowl what does one do, go to Walt Disney Concert Hall and see another Barbara. Barbara Cook that is the Broadway legend who spends her time interpeting the American Songbook and exploring it's fine composers. I was thrilled to see that Barbara Cook has added some Broadway classics to her set, compare to when I saw her this past summer. These classics being "It Might As Well Be Spring", "A Wondeful Guy", "No One Is Alone" and her own "Till There Was You" However this program consists of material Barbara Cook is not really known for. Sometimes sounding brassy, bouncy and somber Barbara Cook performs "Makin Whopee", "Lover Man", "Let's Fall In Love", the dark "House Of The Rising Sun", "Bye Bye Blackbird" and the exquisite "The Nearness Of You" by Hoagy Carmichael. Barbara Cook may be living in her beloved New York City for the last 60+ years but she digs down to her southern roots and comes up with a touching "Georgia On My Mind" that Ray Charles would be envious of. These songs of course have been around for generations .With Barbara Cook interpeting them they have a new meaning and feeling, these songs are given a new life. The woman of a certain age anthem I call "Here's To Life" is about a woman looking back, examining and still having the thirst to want more. This is probably the most true to her own life. Just her pronounciation of the lyric "hungry" is worth the price of admission. At 85 years old Barbara Cook's voice has a clarity and strength that some singers half her age would be envious of. Being backed by The Los Angeles Philharmonic in the magnificent Walt Disney Concert Hall with Ted Rosenthal as musical director are a winning combination on all levels. Strangely the evening displayed an intimacy reminiscent of the Cafe Carlyle. The LA Philharmonic's rousing "Glitter And Be Gay" from Leonard Bernstein's Candide was out of this world.( FYI: Candide is the show that put Barbara Cook on the map). Also out of this world was Barbara Cook opening with her own "Till There Was You" Even though Barbara Cook has to sit down for her show she commands the stage like a fierce captain. Closing out her show Barbara Cook stood up at the center of the stage for "Imagine" without a microphone and just a piano. This was one of life's moments where it got as good as it gets.

Barbara Cook is a fabulous interpreter of the wonderful American songbook written by such icons as Sondheim, Carmichael,Berlin,Porter, etc. Her lovely soprano voice is a joy to listen to and her lyrical and emotional delivery of the lyrics tells the story in a way no one else does. What a special evening! We loved and cherished every moment!! Please bring her back soon.Alas, we will continue to enjoy her as we purchased a set of CD's so as not to break the magical spell. Thank you, Disney Hall and the L.A. Phil for making a perfect evening possible.

She's 85. She still has the voice of an angel, Backed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic she gave a concert.to delight, instruct, inspire and sometimes astonish an enthusiastic audience. I wish there had been more young people there to enjoy a master class in singing.

It's not every day you get to see and hear a living legend, a singer's singer, a woman who at 85 can hold a note, sing pitch perfect a capella, and hold the audience in the palm of her hand. Barbara Cook came on stage to a standing ovation of her adoring fans, on a cane with a bad back, but hardly bowed and broken. She sat in a chair for the entire performance, and after a few opening numbers, sang in that sweet, full throated voice with impeccable phrasing, diction, and breath control. Who does that at 85? Singing from the diaphram seated on a chair. A master class for sure. Then there was the emotion of each song, the thoughfulness of song selection, the saaviness of knowing what she can sing, what she needs to sing to move her and her audience. Impeccable taste, classy NY broad that she is (said with strong affection, a self admitted girl from Georgia who knew she had NYC in her blood early on). No Sondheim, no Rogers and Hammerstein. No, on this tour, she's swinging and singing standards that give you another take on Broadway's Golden Girl of the 1950's. Think about being 85 and pushing your own limits, not playing it safe, thinking outside the box, and singing those self described "list" songs with lyrics that would challenge and intimidate most singers. Sweet, sassy, funny, warm, and classy as always, an American treasure of song. I've seen and heard her countless times for over 20 years, and her voice, her style, her ability to make a memorable evening is undaunted and unparalled....still.

Despite still recovering from a serious medical condition, Ms. Cook delighted her audience. I have been to many of her concerts and this new program shows her ability to communicated in any music style. Her phrasing is wonderful. One highlight was her rendition of "Georgia, House of the Rising Sun and Bye, Bye, Blackbird." She gave a whole new sound to each of these songs. The highligth for me however, was the closing song. A rendition of John Lennon's, "Imagine." Soug with no musical accompaniment and with out a mike. It was so very touching.

Dear Barbara, I am your age and have been a devoted fan for over 30 years, but was disappointed in this performance. You did not sing many of the songs that you are famous for, preferring instead to try some material that I didn't feel was up to your standards. You are as witty, warm and sincere as ever, with a voice that still pulls at my heartstrings, but I wanted to hear "the good stuff". I would have melted had you sung some of my favorites; "In Buddy's Eyes", "It's Better With a Band", "Ice Cream" or, best of all, "Errol Flynn". Love 'ya, Barbara. You are a national treasure. Thanks for the memory of all your wonderful performances.

A true Broadway legend, Barbara's evening of classics and standards was a delight. In spite of recent physical challenges her voice and interpretations of some of the world's greatest songs was a memorable evening.

Barbara Cook has been gracing stages for over half a century now, but her voice still has a clarity and a youthfulness that many new performers try to acheive. Barbara Cook has to be one of the finest interperters of the American Songbook. From the sophistication of Rodgers and Hart to the elegance of Gershwin and Porter or the complexity of Sondheim. Barbara Cook will adopt and care and nurture a song from start to finish. The emotion this woman displays for the music and lyrics is truly remarkable. However I think the theme of this concert was to still stick with the old classics and standards. Although a lot of the material was new for Barbara Cook she will educate herself about the songs so much that it appears as if she had been performing these for years. For anyone who would like to go on a musical journey with stories led by a master captain than Barbara Cook is the performer to see. I also have to give a nod to the beautiful Valley Performing Arts Center for providing a wonderful sound system and for just making the concert going experience truly pleasurable. Having recently dealt with health issues and still recovering from them does not diminish her enthusiasm for being on a stage performing this music.

No on can deliver the meaning of a song as well as Barbara Cook. there is so much feeling in every word, every note. Whe gets "inside a song" And that silvery shimmering voice! Loved the show

It was a pleasure to sit in an audience with adults who knew what kind of music they were coming to hear, and paid artist Barbara Cook the respect she was due, by not yakking, crinkling their wrappers, acting like drunken morons, all behaviors usually encountered as large outdoor venues like the Bowl or the Greek. Seeing Ms. Cook reminded me of a Ray Charles concert attended years ago. The experience of life and living distilled into sheer musical perfection, with just the right phrasing and arrangements for each song sung, each story told. A request to PAC, please try to book more of these revered artists who are still out there performing, they are treasure, and it's nice to be with an audience who understands and appreciates their value!

"Incomparable" may be an over-worked cliche in describing entertainers. But in Barbara Cook's case it is the appropriate adjective. At 83 she sings better than almost anyone living. Her recent performance at UCLA's Freud Playhouse was a night to remember.

We have seen Barbara Cook many times and are constantly amazed at how well she sings as she ages. Monday night was no exception, She gave a sublime performance of standards she does so well. It was not a performance to knock your socks off, but one to savor - and we did.

Some people, like expensive old wine, just get better with age and this great lady is certainly one of them. Once the silvery soprano with few equals she has adjusted her repertoire wisely to her seasoned voice -- choosing a set of songs that showcase her unparalleled touch as a story teller above all. If you like musicals and the "Great American Songbook" , nobody sings Sondheim or Berlin like she does. And fight it all you want after about half an hour you forget all about age or perfect pitch and simply have to give in to a performance so warm and personal, you feel like spending a cozy evening with an old friend in front of her fireplace...

She was incredible! i had front row center seat which never happens and that was worth the evening! well, not the entire evening but she was brilliant as ONLY she can be. The way she delivers a lyric there is non else! She is my mentor.

Barbara Cook is known for her clear, bell-toned voice and superb interpretation. She's 80something and was quite lovely. The voice not quite what it once was, occasionally raspy and yet, occasionally glorious. I think this was a must see event.