Sarah Brightman In Concert

DVD Review
Sarah Brightman became a household name with her performances in Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, but she has roots in classical music. Here in a 1997 live performance at London's Royal Albert Hall, she presents renditions of music from both classical and popular genres to provide a nicely rounded musical portrait.
Although the concert starts slowly with Bailero from Songs of the Auvergne, much of the first half of the concert is devoted to classical compositions where Brightman can let loose with her soprano. Puccini's O Mio Babino Caro and Solveig's Song by Grieg come off the best here. Summertime is handled in the same grand operatic manner as the others, which seems a dire misinterpretation and a complete abandonment of the jazz idiom. This is surprising in light of Brightman's roots in musical theater.
The second half of the concert is devoted to musicals and songs in the popular idiom. Not surprisingly, the material that was written for her specifically by Andrew Lloyd Webber comes off best. The numbers from Phantom of the Opera are as expected quite excellent; she also has the opportunity here to do the gorgeous Music of the Night. Although originally written for her, the song was eventually assigned to the Phantom for purposes of the show. Three numbers from West Side Story make it clear that she can do more than Lloyd Webber, however. She also has the opportunity to do a few quieter songs in the second half, so that we aren't overwhelmed by her voice as was too often the case during the earlier part of the program.
Brightman concludes with two encores, during one of which she is joined by classical favorite Andrea Bocelli. The other is the highlight of the program, a sensitive and moving rendition of Don't Cry for Me, Argentina. I don't particularly care for that song myself, but was irresistibly drawn in by Brightman's delicate and longing performance. The 75 minutes pass rather too quickly. Now all we need is a DVD of Phantom of the Opera, featuring Brightman.