Julie Andrews Returns to The London Palladium (Private Recording, 1976) скачать в хорошем качестве

Julie Andrews Returns to The London Palladium (Private Recording, 1976)

FOR A FAN RECOUNT - READ BELOW ------------------------------------------------------------ Opening Night At The London Palladium, June 9th 1976 On the hottest day of the year friends Larry, Sharon, Marie-Jeanne and I were ecstatic. We have coveted tickets for Julie’s opening night! When the news broke a couple of months earlier, there had been tremendous excitement. It was billed as Julie’s return to the London stage since My Fair Lady, [...] Fans, celebrities, and Joe Public flocked through the doors of this iconic theatre. We took our seats in the front stalls and endured a seemingly interminable first half, which included Michael Bentine whom Julie would have known from her early career. Come the intermission, everybody headed for the bar. We caught a glimpse of Julie’s mum, and with her a lady we speculated was Julie’s Aunt Joan. What were they thinking, I wondered? Julie had left England as a teenager, and returned as a superstar! Amazing. As the audience settled themselves in their seats the growing excitement was palpable. Then off stage we heard that inimitable voice, “All I want is a room somewhere” Before the announcer could finish his introduction, as one, the audience erupted! Everyone was on their feet, cheering, clapping, whistling! I have never experienced anything like it before or since. What an incredible welcome for the Fairest of Fair Ladies, before she had even set foot on stage. As Julie came on stage the standing ovation continued. Finally the audience managed to calm down enough to take their seats as Julie dressed in a white tunic top belted loosely at the waist, with matching trousers began her opening number, “Happy.” A contemporary number, followed by “I Won’t Last A Day Without You” Another contemporary song whose lyrics I much preferred. However, both demonstrated Julie’s ability to sing modern works provided the lyrics fitted her famed diction. In what became a hallmark of Julie’s concerts, she interspersed many of her songs with snippets from her career. One was how, as a child, she would sit in the gods, at the Palladium, eating chocolates, and drinking lemonade. Then a dramatic rendition of “Being Alive.” before “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly.” [...] She recounted the oft told story of how Moss Hart took a weekend to transform her into Eliza, and how he noted she “had that terrible British strength that makes you wonder how they ever lost India?”! We then embraced her breathtakingly beautiful rendition from “Kismet” via Borodin, of “This Is My Beloved.” Perfection personified. Yet even those words cannot adequately describe its beauty. A change of pace, and into a flapper dress for the rip roaring twenties medley in which she was accompanied by a troupe of male dancers. Nobody but Julie could so seamlessly make the transition that verged from the virtual light opera of “Beloved,” through “ Everything Old Is New Again,” to the all singing, all dancing medley of twenties songs including old favourites, “Millie,” “BabyFace,” and “Won’t You Charleston With Me.” Phew! No wonder Julie needed a drink, as she commentated tongue in cheek, “Wish this were Johnny Walker.” [...] Followed up by, “Mary Poppins sweats.” Amidst much laughter from the audience. She followed this by an introduction, and dedication to Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for “Whistling Away The Dark” from the film “Darling Lili.” It was especially poignant as Johnny Mercer was terminally ill at that time. Sadly, he died shortly afterwards. Whilst Julie went off stage we were entertained with a fun instrumental interlude as the dancers cavorted to the tunes of the Pink Panther theme, and Baby Elephant Walk. When Julie returned she wore the most beautiful peachy apricot coloured evening dress with long chiffon batwing sleeves ( very 1970’s) as she began her closing medley, “My Favourite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Supercalifragilistic…..” “Camelot,” Show Me,” and “I Could Have Danced All Night.” The latter another favourite of mine. It so captures the exhilaration of having achieved something really special. Roars of applause, bravos, another standing ovation, flowers and gifts. Nobody wanted it to end. Then for her encore, what else but “The Sound Of Music”? More cheers and applause as an extraordinary, unforgettable, magical evening ended. Creativity takes many forms, all of which require nurturing. Julie was blessed with an incomparable voice, but it was the careful nurturing of it by her singing teacher, “Madame,” Lilian Stiles-Allen, that allowed it to blossom, enabling us to treasure forever, whether live, or through these archives, Our Fair Lady’s creativity. Jenny The other audio file:    • Julie at the London Palladium (Private Rec...   ----------------- PS.: A lot of people were involved getting this video online. Sound files needed to be found, silent footage digitized, pictures and photobooks scanned before everything could be compiled. Best you'll get. #JulieAndrewsInConcert