Pure Barbraby Dwight98

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July 01, 2009: A very enjoyable time with Barbra , who looks and sounds amazing. Not suprisingly she has changed , the voice is more reserved and mature.Her warm nature and connection to her audience was most comfortable.Suprisingly she is no less visually stunning than in her youth because her perfectionism has continued to evolve.She is an artist in every sense of the word and has given her fans another reason to celebrate her gift which she shares here very generously.

Streisand's First Blu-ray is Stunningby Mark-I

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May 02, 2009: Live In Concert 2006 far surpasses all previous Barbra Streisand concerts released on home video in the artistry of its production, from Barbra's marvelous performance to appealing staging, elegant lighting, dazzling sound, and overall warmth. Indeed, the Blu-ray presentation is the ideal way to enjoy the show, as it realizes the true enhanced resolution captured by the many high definition cameras in Sunrise, Florida's BankAtlantic Center on that special night in October 2006. Seeing the amazing concert in its entirety relives the memorable evening my wife and I shared with Barbra in Atlanta only a week later and promises to be a wondrous experience for first-timers. Barbra's complete program is here, including her humor-filled Q&A with the audience via note cards, shout-outs, and a surprise short version of "Stoney End." The George Bush comedy sketch is excluded but not missed, while the bonus features include Barbra's extraordinarily delicate "Nobody's Heart (Belongs To Me)" backed only by piano, "When The Sun Comes Out" (an early '60s concert number), and "The Woman In The Moon" filmed with regular lighting and standard definition at L.A.'s Staples Center at the end of the tour. Barbra delivers an inspiring introduction to the song and to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senator Barbara Boxer in the audience. Il Divo's "My Way" appears right before "Come Rain Or Come Shine," with their other two songs viewable among the bonus features. "The People Behind The Scenes" is a neat 6-minute segment with comments about Barbra from manager Marty Erlichman ("I still get goosebumps"), Jay Landers ("She discovered new meaning in songs she sang when she was younger"), director Gary Smith ("This is forever and should be"), Richard Jay Alexander, and conductor-arranger Bill Ross. Marge Tabankin, The Streisand Foundation's executive director, speaks for 10 enlightening minutes mainly about Barbra.

While we have enjoyed the Live In Concert 2006 CD for two years, the concert on video, particularly in full 1080p HD only available on Blu-ray, really brings you front and center, and Barbra's musical performances are truly compelling. "Funny Girl," sung for the first time in 40 years, is almost all in close-up and sounds as poignant as ever. Another highlight, although often performed, is "The Way We Were" with a gliding camera move from one side of Barbra to the other. Throughout the concert, the multiple camera work is flawless and flowing, with graceful editing, harkening back to classic television and concert videos with long-lasting shots that allow us to savor each lyric instead of today's quick-cutting style. "Unusual Way" is definitely one of the highlights, as one camera pulls in and pushes out and another captures Barbra's figure from the sides and her contented smile at the song's conclusion. "Don't Rain On My Parade (reprise)" is a perfect first encore, a sheer delight and bare-footed triumph. For the final encore, "Smile," Barbra and the audience focus attention on Samantha, her darling white poodle/bichon, whose great affection for Barbra is also evident elsewhere in the program. Barbra's final performance of the evening is sublime and further conveys a renewed emotional connection with her adoring audience.