Barbra Streisand - Classical Barbra

Barbara at Her Best

This is the best album by her by far. The songs are old and I did not know them but they showcase her magneficent voice to perfection. August 3, 2008

Magnificent

If you enjoy classical music, and you like Barbra Streisand, this is a wonderful choice for you. It was published years ago, but is timeless in its production. A beautiful album of music! May 15, 2008

Easy Listening

You could call this easy listening at it's best. I've always loved Barbara's clear and defined voice and got this album out of curiosity. It was much better than I expected. It's just beautiful and relaxing to listen too. Different than anything I've heard before. April 22, 2008

The music is more important than any singer - including BS

Barbra believes (as do her fans) that she is omnipotent, able to turn her unique voice to any kind of music. Classical songform defeats Barbra because she does not have enough technique to sing with quiet control throughout her range.

For instance her attempt at 'Apres Un Reve' by Faure is marred by a 'what the heck' chesty bellow, followed by a typically impassioned Barbra-ism on 'Elas!', both of which ruin the bridge passage. She reaches for that top note as if she was Ethel Merman. French with a Brooklyn accent has always been a difficult trick to master.

Barbra only just manages to hold her pitch and breath control in check in the Wolf lied. She must have thought that because the song was so short and seemingly had little scope for drama, it would be an easy piece of filler. As a lover of Lieder, someone who had Classical training and took a particular liking to singing this song, I'm afraid Barbra's attempt will always bring tears to my eyes for the wrong reasons. The one song in English (composed specifically for Babs) is an embrarrasing trifle which does not deserve to sit with any of the poorly executed but genuinely beautiful pieces that preceed it.

Of course because I've had the nerve to criticise Barbra, my opinion will probably be read with horror by everyone else, or it might not even make it on to the page. Criticism is actually more valuable than praise - and every singer and their admirers should accept that. I've always taken it on the chin (and I don't have a fanbase in my flat!), and I wish Barbra would - just occasionally... January 23, 2008

Pretty, but leaves you cold...

Another Barbra Streisand album that is more experiment than commercial, and more interesting than engrossing. Streisand herself has said that this was one of the most difficult projects she has ever taken on, and it is not difficult to see why.

While classical music can be pretty, relaxing, and just great background music, it is often very detached from the listener, and very rarely makes you feel any true emotions. That is the main problem here, since Barbra is uncharacteristically cold and personality-free in her renditions, making it very hard to feel involved in the music, or to even really pay attention to it. Also, it is really hard to be impressed by her voice here, since it is really restrained here, so you will not here her raising it up many octaves or her holding notes for ten seconds.

It gets three stars, though, because, while not Barbra Streisand's most successful venture, it is still a beautiful recording. If you are throwing a classy party or doing some kind of paperwork, this is great music. But you'll rarely listen to it for the music of it. January 22, 2008

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