I turned down a gig to see it (Ok a lousy gig). here's IMHO:
show opens w/a ballad!.amazing. TB is singing "Smile",
with marvelous expressiveness...then..spell is broken: spotlight goes on Streisand, who is not singing with him, but up on a pedestal, and she takes over most of the rest
of the song..she still has great pipes, and still is boring, and it's really offensive that the network felt they needed
to have the godess effect to get it rolling..really insulting.
Then Tony did some duos w/various famous singers, none of whom are remotely in his league artistically, especially that wannabe ratpacker Bubl�, but it was all pretty nicely done, w/excellent choreography and a wonderful trumpet interlude from Chris Botti. The next to last number was
absolutely ecstatic, however. One of the greatest musical
moments on TV, ever..TB and Stevie Wonder sang "For Once in my Life" together, and each nonpareil brought out the best in the other..absolutely goosebumps when it got
near the crescendo ending..incredible! Then Christina A.
did her song/dance turn w/TB and she was quite good.
The truly amazing thing is this: as background to the
out credits they played a record of TB singing "This Could Be the Start of Something Big". It must have been from
30 or 40 years ago, when he was in his 40's or early 50's, when most singers have their best years- and he sounded great. BUT: he sounds twice as good now at 80!!!!!!!!
his pipes, his high notes, his drama, his phrasing...
kiddies, we will never see his like again. Appreciate!
Miami Mo