My Favourite Broadway: The Love Songs
| My Favourite Broadway: The Love Songs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Live album by Various artists | ||||
| Released | 27 February 2001 | |||
| Recorded | 16 October 2000 | |||
| Genre | Show tune, pop | |||
| Label | Hybrid Recordings | |||
| Julie Andrews chronology | ||||
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My Favourite Broadway: The Love Songs is a cast live album recorded during a special Broadway concert at New York's City Center in October 2000. The event brought together several notable Broadway performers, and the album was released on compact disc (CD) by Hybrid Recordings on February 27, 2001.[1] The concert featured a variety of musical theater love songs, performed by an all-star lineup, and served as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.[2][3]
Julie Andrews served as host for the concert, introducing many of the acts and even performing a brief but impactful duet of "The Rain in Spain" with Michael Crawford.[4] The show featured selections from a wide array of musical theater classics, with songs drawn from productions such as My Fair Lady, Funny Lady, The Music Man, West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot. Featured performers included Bebe Neuwirth ("I'm a Brass Band"), Nathan Lane ("Sue Me"), Heather Headley ("He Touched Me"), Linda Eder ("What Kind of Fool Am I?"), Marin Mazzie ("What Did I Have That I Don’t Have?", "Not a Day Goes By"), Chita Rivera ("How Lucky Can You Get?"), Michael Crawford ("The Music of the Night"), and Peter Gallagher ("Too Late Now").[5][6][7]
Some performers delivered one-time renditions of relatively obscure or underperformed songs from Broadway's past. For instance, Rebecca Luker performed "Too Late Now", a piece less commonly heard. Robert Goulet contributed "If Ever I Would Leave You", and Adam Pascal offered "Seasons of Love".[1][8] Barry Manilow and Tom Wopat also made appearances, adding variety to the tracklist.[8]
The CD was edited under the musical direction of Paul Gemignani, who helped bring a sense of theatrical coherence to the collection. The entire project was recorded live, capturing spontaneous audience reactions and stage interactions. A portion of the proceeds from CD sales supported AIDS-related charities and services.[8]
In addition to the performances, the event highlighted the legacy of Broadway music and its impact. Julie Andrews's introduction and participation was seen as especially significant given her vocal limitations following past throat surgery.[9] The CD thus became a celebration not just of romantic Broadway numbers but also of the artists and traditions that brought them to life.
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Back Stage | Mixed[8] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B-[9] |
| Playbill | Mixed[1] |
| The Hour | Unfavorable[11] |
William Ruhlmann from AllMusic described the album as "an appealing sampler of romantic Broadway music" and appreciated its balance between classic Broadway staples and lesser-known gems. Ruhlmann highlighted performances by Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan Lane, Heather Headley, and Marin Mazzie as particularly strong. He also called attention to the brief but impactful appearance of Julie Andrews singing with Michael Crawford, emphasizing its nostalgic and emotional value.[10]
Robert Simonson from Playbill offered a favorable review, underlining the emotional resonance of the concert. He singled out the surprise appearance of Julie Andrews singing "The Rain in Spain" with Michael Crawford as the highlight of the evening, writing that "the moment that brought the house down was Julie Andrews' surprise duet". Simonson emphasized the significance of Andrews returning to the stage following her vocal health issues, suggesting that the event held symbolic importance beyond its musical content. He also praised the diversity of the repertoire and the presence of iconic Broadway figures such as Chita Rivera, Robert Goulet, Heather Headley, and Marin Mazzie.[1]
David Sheward from Backstage also delivered a favorable review, describing the album as "a Broadway lover's dream". He underscored the philanthropic aspect of the concert, whose proceeds went to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and celebrated the production's ability to blend professionalism with heartfelt emotion. Sheward praised the musical direction of Paul Gemignani and noted that "the performances, even when restrained for recording, carry the warmth and immediacy of the live event". He commended the impressive caliber of performers and gave special attention to Julie Andrews, acknowledging that while her vocal range was limited, her presence brought emotional depth and warmth.[8]
Mike Daly from The Hour wrote a unfavorable review, acknowledging the strength of the cast and the broad selection of love songs from musical theater, but expressing reservations about the album's overall cohesion. Daly wrote that many arrangements seemed tailored for "one-shot performances", giving the project the feel of a polished pop sampler rather than a fully unified Broadway concert. He did praise standout artists such as Michael Crawford, Linda Eder, and Heather Headley, but felt that the recording lacked the narrative continuity and depth typically found in a live musical production.[11]
Melissa Rose Bernardo from Entertainment Weekly remarked that "Julie Andrews joins Michael Crawford for a snippet of 'The Rain in Spain', a charming but fleeting moment", indicating appreciation for the performance yet suggesting its limited impact. While Bernardo mentioned other featured performers like Nathan Lane and Marin Mazzie in a positive light, the overall tone of the piece was reserved. The review lacked the enthusiasm and in-depth analysis present in the more favorable critiques, implying that the album is more of an intriguing document for fans than an essential listening experience.[9]
DVD release
[edit]The album was also released on VHS and DVD by Image Entertainment, with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes, featuring highlights from the event.[12][13] John Kenrick gave a positive review of My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs DVD, praising the star-studded PBS gala. He highlighted standout performances by original stars like Robert Goulet and Michael Crawford, and noted surprising appearances by Marin Mazzie, Nathan Lane, Linda Eder, Bebe Neuwirth, and Chita Rivera. Kenrick also emphasized the emotional moment when Julie Andrews made her first public attempt at singing after her throat surgery. He concluded that "serious fans will enjoy wallowing in this showtune-fest".[14]
Track listing
[edit]Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of My Favorite Broadway - The Love Songs.[15]
- Music director – Paul Gemignani
- Orchestra – The American Theater Orchestra
- Recorded live at City Center, New York City, on 16 October 2000
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Jones, Kenneth (27 February 2001). "'My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs' CD Appears Feb. 27". Playbill. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Daniels, Robert L. (18 October 2000). "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs". Variety. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Bessman, Jim (3 March 2001). "Andrews' singing is the high point of Broadway funder-raiser for AIDS". Billboard. Vol. 113, no. 9. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ "Photo call: Andrews and Crawford Sing Love Songs for Favorite B'way Oct. 16 | Playbill". Playbill. 19 October 2000. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ Miller, Daryl H. (3 March 2001). "A Tribute to Broadway Love Songs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (18 October 2000). "POP REVIEW; Show Tunes, From Personality To Propulsion (Published 2000)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ Archerd, Army (25 October 2000). "Andrews making comeback? Not so fast…". Variety. Archived from the original on 18 February 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs". Back Stage. 2 March 2001. Archived from the original on 16 April 2025. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ a b c Bernardo, Melissa Rose (2 March 2001). "Various Artists: My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs". Entertainment Weekly. No. 585. New York. p. 71. ISSN 1049-0434.
- ^ a b Ruhlmann, William. "My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs - Various... | AllMusic". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ a b Rosenberg, David A. (4 March 2001). "Songs of Broadway". The Hour. 130 (62): D5. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Cling, Carol (9 March 2001). "The Race Heats Up". Las Vegas Review-Journal: 52J. ISSN 1097-1645. ProQuest 260183107. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Larson, Gale K.; Crawford, MaryAnn Krajnik (2002). Shaw: The Annual of Bernard Shaw Studies. Penn State Press. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-271-02227-7.
- ^ Kenrick, John. "Musicals on DVD 6: Reviews by John Kenrick". Musicals101.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
- ^ Various artists (2000). My Favorite Broadway - The Love Songs (liner notes). Hybrid Recordings. HY-20020.