The Verizon Center in Washington DC

The Verizon Center in Washington DC

13 October 2006

Song List

ACT 1

Funny Girl Broadway (overture)
Starting Here, Starting Now
Down With Love
The Way We Were
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Ma Premiere Chanson
Evergreen (with I'll Divo)
I'll DIVO SET #1: (no Barbra)
(a) Unchained Melody
(b) Don't Break My Heart
(c) My Way (dedicated to BJS)
Don't Rain On My Parade
(she forgot the lyrics)
Funny Girl (film version)
The Music That Makes Me Dance
My Man
People

ACT 2

Music Of The Night (Duet with Il Divo)
When The Sun Comes Out
Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen
Unusual Way
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
Happy Days (George Bush skit)
Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair
Cockeyed Optimist
Somewhere (with I'll Divo)
My Shining Hour
Encores:
Don't Rain On My Parade (Broadway version reprise)
Smile

Fan Reviews

**Matt Howe (www.barbra-archives.com) -- attended this show. Log on to his website for a FULL report of the Washington Show (among others) -- and also download his Podcast.

Donna:

Good morning everyone. It is about 10:30am here on the east coast –Washington D.C. time. When my husband and I arrived home last night after the concert I was just to wiped out to share my experience but I have had a good night’s sleep, 3 mile run, a shower and I am now ready to share. This was my second concert of Barbra’s (I attended the one in Philadelphia) and I must first say that this woman sure can sing. Her vocal abilities still amaze and outshine any female singer I have ever listened to, her interpretation of song lyrics are unparalleled. She is one of a kind and I feel privileged to have seen her perform twice this time around.

Now a few tidbits from the concert: The audience here in D.C. was good but not as enthusiastic as Philadelphia. She performed a shorter version of the Bush skit and sang Happy Days Are Here Again solo, what a terrific rendition it was. The skit seems to me to run smoother and flows more naturally. The comic and Barbra seem to have worked out the timing of the material. As usual Streisand gets better with every performance of this skit and as I think Morosky said in a post you have got to watch her expressions they are priceless. Barbra’s comic timing is still sharp as ever. They changed and increased Il Divo’s conversation with Barbra after singing Evergreen. I liked the changes.

Speaking of Il Divo when the second act started the boys immediately began singing The Music of the Night----their solo had been cut. One of the biggest things I have noticed in comparing the two concerts is that in Philadelphia Barbra appeared to be a little unsteady moving about the stage but in Washington she had full command of that aspect. She seemed very at home on the stage which makes you, an audience member feel very comfortable too. At this arena they had put up a black curtain across the back of the stage. I don’t know if Washington was ever selling the seats behind the stage but nobody sat there last night. After a song I think from the first act Barbra blew a kiss to someone sitting front and center. My feeling is it was Jim because of the lyrics she had just sung. Can’t remember the song (my senior moment is kicking in) but it could have been What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?

I don’t think she wore any new outfits but I could be wrong. Her hair appeared to be styled slightly different than Philadelphia, still looked great. (I love her hair color and would love to find someone here locally to duplicate it) This observation is weird but maybe someone who attended last night can confirm it. I don’t think Barbra was wearing eye make-up for the first act but was most definitely during the second act. I think I overheard two women talking about this in the bathroom. I enjoyed the songs in the second act a lot more here in Washington as I was able to pay more attention to the lyrics being sung instead of anticipating what she would be singing next. The highlight of the Philadelphia concert for me was the song “Woman in the Moon” ---I often do my running to the A Star Is Born soundtrack and it is one of my favorites. I had just turned 19 a few months before the movie came out and it will always be a classic film of hers in my mind. Hopefully you “WITM” fans will get your wish and she will put it back into the line-up.

The last thing I can remember right now about the concert is the comment she made during I think the encore segment. Very Mae Westish: Come up and see me sometime” I’m paraphrasing here because my memory for detail sucks. As with the Philadelphia concert I am on a tremendous high but in a few days will be crashing and longing for another Barbra experience. To all of you still awaiting your concert experience with Barbra enjoy every minute of it because it goes by so quickly and what a cherished memory it will be.

Best Regards, Donna

Dana:

I think I'm finally coming down from my Barbra high from last night! My evening started with finding out that our seats had been upgraded from behind the stage. We ended up on the side, about 2 sections from the stage. And that was just the beginning. I can't describe my feelings when the overture began, or when I saw the "trap door" open, and Barbra appear! Priceless! Loved Down with Love, and I think this version of The Way We Were is my favorite since With One More Look at You special for Star is Born. Perfection. When she hit THE note on Music of the Night, I got chills. This was my 4th time seeing Barbra live. First and only chance for this tour, and I kept reminding myself that this was it, take it all in and remember it forever, but with a memory like mine, I sure hope there's a DVD in the future.

As for the Bush skit, I don't know how much the verbage has changed since the opening, but I can tell you that the people all around me were in hysterics. It was "laugh out loud" funny. I think it was a great move to not have him sing with her anymore. To Steve Bridges credit, he has W down pat. When he came out and I looked at him through binoculars, I was amazed at how much he looks like him as well.

All in all, an evening that I will never forget, and worth every penny!

Dana

Space Captain:

Wow...what a night! First, kudos to Matt! (www.barbra-archives.com) Thank you Matt for putting it together...I, and I am sure I speak for others, had a great time. I enjoyed meeting everyone. By the way Matt, I saw your interview with Arch...WTG!

Where do I begin? For starters, like many others, my seat was upgraded to a better seat. I had what I thought was a great seat, but I was moved so close...that I had the pleasure of sitting behind Barbra's body guard!!! Now, I had no idea I was sitting behind her bodyguard until intermission. An interpreter, who was in the same row as her bodyguard, casually mentioned this to the person sitting beside me.

The concert...it's hard to express my excitement..it was definitely a night to remember! Yes, when Barbra first hit the stage...she looked rather fatigue. However, imo...she looked radiant during the second act. The sound was crisp, and Il Divo...Not bad! I thought the Bush skit was comical...I had no problems with it, but glad to have Barbra solo on "Happy Days". Barbra was also very comical on the piano...I am still laughing about that! DC was not treated to "Stoney End" or "Woman In The Moon". It would have been nice...but I was OK with it. During her "Dont Rain on My Parade" performance...she forgot part of the lyrics, but she of course, nailed it during her encore performance, and "Smile" was simply smashing!!! "Somewhere" was a powerful performance on both ends...Streisand (of course) and Il Divo.

Show Photos