Barbra Streisand "Stunning" at Dress Rehearsal

Sources tell me that Barbra Streisand was "stunning" at her dress rehearsal for Monday's night tour opening performance at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. After rehearing all week at Temple's Liacouras Center, she performed for her 500 of her nearest and dearest for nearly three hours this afternoon. Carole Radziwill of Real Housewives of New York City, former "Biggest Loser" host Caroline Rhea, who described Streisand as "phenomenal," and Pat Ciarocchi of CBS were some of the invited guests. 

Trumpeter Chris Botti and tenor hearthrobs Il Volo accompanied the songstress.

In a poignant moment, she dedicated the song "The Way We Were" to her good friend and frequent collaborator Marvin Hamlisch, who died this year. The diva made 5 costume changes, which included a sequined Brooklyn Dodgers baseball shirt. After opening in Philadelphia, the Brooklyn born star returns home to play at the recently opened Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 

Jason Gould, her son, performed with her at the dress rehearsal. His proud mother has described him as "having a chamber music orchestra in his vocal chords". She is hoping to record a duet album with him.

Today's performance was his first time singing in public. Monday night's concert in Philadelphia will probably be his public debut. 

There are still a few tickets left for Monday's night concert, which is promising to be unforgettable evening.  This will probably be her last tour as well as her first performing with her son.

My Last Interview with Marvin Hamlisch

I interviewed pianist/composer Marvin Hamlisch last year before his appearance with performer Michael Feinstein at the Kimmel Center. One day, I picked up the phone and Marvin was on the other line from California. He died today at the aged of 68. To honor his memory, I repeat the interview here.

On December 26, Marvin Hamlisch, on the piano, will accompany five time Grammy nominated singer Michael Feinstein in a musical tour of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. Rarely has such a talented duo graced the stage at the Kimmel Center. They will perform songs from Hamlisch hits such as “Chorus Line,” “The Way We Were,” and “The Sting.”

With the exception of Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Marvin Hamlisch is the only person in the world to have all the major performing arts awards- Oscar, Emmy, Tony,
Grammy, and Pulitzer. In addition, he has won two Golden Globes.

The public listens to his music all the time without realizing it. If you love a movie, Hamlisch probably composed the score. His movie credits include “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “Frankie and Johnny,” and “Ordinary People.” Hamlisch also wrote the score for “Theme for Peabody” for the “David Letterman Show.”

Hamlisch has garnered two Emmy wins for his work as a musical director for Barbra Streisand. 

He says, “Barbra is brilliant. Her great instincts are spot on. Our collaboration works because it was two people working together who know what they are doing.”
 
Hamlisch, who recently wrote the music for “The Informant” starring Matt Damon, described how he got that job after not not composing movie themes for many years. 

“The director Steve Sonderbergh really enjoyed the score from Woody Allen’s “Bananas,” he said. "It apparently stuck with him all these years. He said get me the guy who did that,” said Hamlisch.


Hamlisch, in an attempt to explain his composing process, said, “When I am asked to write a score, I see the movie and feel for the characters and what they are doing on the screen. Other people will talk about their feelings in English. I will talk about them in the language of music."

Thanks to Dafni Comerota of the Kimmel Center for arranging the interview.