BBC Proms 2010 - Sondheim at 80 - Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music

[iancv]

Judy Dench 'sings' this the way Sondheim wanted it sung. I saw Judy in 'Cabaret' at the Palace Theatre in London - she was a brilliant Sally Bowles. With the superb Lila Kedrova in the cast!

[videk2010]

Beautiful portrayal of the song, but she does mess up a lyric. ;P

[vbplayer50]

@videk2010

Can you tell me where she messed up the lyric?  Seriously.

[videk2010]

@vbplayer50 "And where are the clows? There ought to be clowns. Don't bother, they're here." This line should be: "And where are the clows? Quick, send in the clowns. Don't bother, they're here."

[vbplayer50]

Really.  Thanks for the "lyric lesson". "Send In The Clows" as you put it twice must be another version.

I thought the Dame Judy D "rendition" was beautiful as it was sung. I'm sure Sondheim didn't mind.

[videk2010]

@vbplayer50 Lol okay so I made a typo which I copied and pasted without noticing. Woops. Everyone makes mistakes. Even Judy Dench. And actually Sondheim was incredibly meticulous about his lyrics being sung correctly right down to every last word.

But like I said, she sings it beautifully. She just messes up a lyric, which no one would notice unless they were really paying attention and knew the song really well. Which I was and do.

P.S. You're sounding aggressive. Chill out, man.

[avidpianist]

So much passion and emotion and beauty hiding in that one woman. I'm in love with her.

[04turners]

Proof that musical theatre is not for crystal clear sounding voices.. it is for actors who capture the true emotion of the music.

[cherilyn999]

Thanks for posting this wonderful video, I just love this sad song..

[thereds1959]

Sings it beautiful. Dame Judi is a National asset.

[mandragorra]

No more powerful image of despair can be felt than through this song and through her performance.

[ariel0785]

true lady

[elvenlove]

What a silver fox. And hot damn, this song!

[melc1949]

Judy Dench is a national treasure. In a class all by herself. Gets more beautiful every year.  She delivers this song perfectly.

[broadwaysteve55]

That was Amazing what a great performance. If you like Broadway and Movie Musicals check out my channel Broadwaysteve55 I have hundreds of videos.

[paulwien65]

touches my soul...thank for that..

[armcon3012]

Whatever.. It is her poise that later singers will find hard to follow. Just opening her mouth is so angelic.

[edwardjames50]

@SingleSpy ~ I'm a Bassey and Streisand fan, but you are dead-on! The song was first sung on Broadway by Glynis Johns, who has a far from perfect voice. This is a self-reflexive song that doesn't require the belting skills of Ethel Merman or Celine Dion.

[kasha1932]

Alert! I just finished reading that Dame Judi does NOT like being called a National Treasure! I thought that would be such a great honor. Well, maybe it's because I'm such a patriotic American ...she said it makes her feel like she's finished and boxed in...She has no idea of quitting what she loves doing so very much. BRAVA!!!!!!! May you live to be 100 (at least) Dame Judi...I think there will be some of us who'd love to see and hear you at 100! BRAVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[kasha1932]

Thanks so much for your answer...company themusical....I will tune into your works as soon as I can. Yes...I agree with "in moderation" wholeheartedly!

[kasha1932]

After watching and listening to Dame Judi for about 50 times ,I noticed something that really shows just a bit of her personality and character.Although she knows very well that most admire and love her, she just does not want to bring big attention brought to her personally. You notice it as she calmly walks in, but after she sings, she can't walk fast enough to get away...no pompous , fancy bow after bow after bow. No...it's the message she brought that she wanted you to see and hear. BRAVA!

[kasha1932]

Perhaps I've worn out this wonderful selection by Dame Judi because I keep getting that dreaded white circle spinning around in the center of the screen and interrupting the song until it's unbearable. Maybe it's my computer...I'll have to try it again later. So sorry...I do love Dame Dench and this particular song so very, very much. Could U Tube do something about this problem?

[kasha1932]

Oh Dame Judi...how I love hearing this song sung by you! Maybe it's because you and I are close in age, and have experienced quite a long life. It may seem incredible to some but I see and hear a classy, even a bit sexy old gal...showing the world what God-given talent is for those of us less talented, but most appreciative of what you do for us...give us a glimpse of what Heaven just might be like... I believe that. BRAVA Dame Judi! Thank you so very, very much!

[kasha1932]

@kasha1932

That "DAME" in front of Judy Dench's name is a very, very great honor. An honor I didn't realize till a few days ago. Queen Elizabeth dubbed her some very important words, but the greatest one for me is this one: She is now considered a NATIONAL TREASURE! Isn't that wonderful? Wish we had an honor similar to that in our wonderful country, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! BRAVA DAME JUDY DENCH!

[LordCutlerBeckett]

Such a heartfelt and honest portrayal of this beautiful piece!! Never once did I think she was "acting"!! Amazing!

[furzilla]

Dame Judy Dench owns this song, she reminds me of my grandmother so much.

[furzilla]

Dame Judy Dench owns this song, she reminds me of my grandmother so much.

[MrSwifts31]

Dear Judi is a quiet,modest and self effacing person.

You can see from the look/suprise/shock on her face that she certainly wasn't expecting (or seeking) the welcome tha the prom audience gave her! LOL

An her rendering of the song?

Let's just say that all others attempting this have to reach her heights.

Sure,there are better sung versions,but NONE that mange to convety the emotions.

I saw her at the National Theatre sing this,and I wouldn't exchange the memory of it for anything

[nickydubai]

the short phrases were actually written this way because the character has nothing left to say, she's said it all (saw Sondheim talk about it an interview). it wasn't written with the actress in mind, but the character!

[MrJosephRizzo]

I recall Glynis Johns bringing a bit of wry humor to the lyrics. There is room for some self-mockery in the song. I think Judi Dench is a little too sad as she sings it.

[autopolydidact]

Sublime.

[LassieLo]

When I saw this on television I was beyond captivated. Best rendition by far.

[MigsMusic]

I take Mr Sondheim at his word that, no matter what, all of his songs are written for the scene, the moment. Yes much is written that the song was written for the capacities of the original actor. As a consumate professional he might well have used those restrictions and turned them into opportunities. Mr Sondheim's quotes have said this is a monologue of regret. And for us a character study that only the most gifted of actors could ever perform. See ALL Dench, ALL Sondhiem. Treasures!

[chelsealuvsmusic]

Yes!!! Its because Dame Dench is a far better actress than any of those that has attempted to tackle the song. Voice aside...this song is about the message and Dame Dench NAILS IT!

[Teladian2]

@chelsealuvsmusic Don't forget that Julie Andrews has also tackled this song, and I think that she is comparable to Dame Dench in acting ability. However, that being said, since the other comparisons on this thread are Babs and Ms. Bassey SPEWWWWWWW. I can only imagine that Babs slides all over this song making it sound like crap. I like this performance it's wistful and haunting, which is what it should be.

[musicball17]

Love how Sondheim hates this song haha. He's a genius!

[companythemusical]

if thought , it works, like any good text, this is sublime, of course great singers have sung it, but has the meaning ever rang as true within the context of the show and song itself...and to be cheap,..can we talk about how beautiful this lady is, i could watch it with the sound down...her red wined commentary a pure plus...

[kasha1932]

@companythemusical companythemusical...Your commentary on Dame Judi is just fine and I'm glad you mentioned her beauty. But...if you should read this, could you please just take a minute or two and explain what, "her red wined commentary a pure plus..."What does red-wined mean to you? I have read that Dame Judi does love to tip the glass a bit...LOL! does it have anything to do with that?

[UESyorkie]

Thanks so much for posting this and the rest of the Prom 19 vids... they perfectly compliment the NY Philharmonic Sondheim Birthday Concert recently shown on PBS here in the USA.

[vincaful]

I missed this and after listening to it, sort of glad I did.

[LawdHelp]

@vincaful You're an idiot. No less than Sondheim himself said he prefers Dench's performance.

[vincaful]

@LawdHelp

I completely disagree, she sounds likes she smokes 40 a day. She didn't sing it, she spoke it like an actress in a play, it was very self-indulgent. Have a listen to Shirley or Barbra, you will appreciate the difference. Oh and as for Sondheim, he is 80 years old, the birdy song would sound great to him right now!

[Elizannchan]

@vincaful Uhm, but isn't this song not really meant to be sung like other songs. I believe that's how Sondheim wanted it to be sung, so that's why he wrote it that way. Not to be spoken, but not really sung.

[siroakleigh98]

@vincaful You obviously have never listened to Sondheim talk about this song. It is meant to be conversational. It is a woman releasing a flood of emotion while sitting at the foot of her bed with the man she loves but cant have. If you ask me, anyone who tries to take this song and full out sing it is not doing it correctly. But apparently you are happy being ignorant, so go ahead and listen to Barbra screw it up.

[MasterIsh91]

@vincaful He may be 80 but he's definitely sharper than you, fucking idiot.

[fatheranthony4pope]

@vincaful Ummm you do realise - it WAS written to be sung this way. He wrote it with Glynis Johns in mind for the role so he wrote it for her. He deliberately wrote it so that it had short lines so that there would not need to be a lot of breath retention, and with out any long held notes. It is a song for the short of breath actress. Plus Sondheim is VERY picky on how his songs should be performed. He is known for being over critical of the performers who are singing his songs in theatre.

[busterbobby]

@fatheranthony4pope Quite correct. I saw Sondheim interviewed on the subject of this song, and that's exactly what he said.

[fatheranthony4pope]

@vincaful ... in ways that were not his intent (this is generally only in the original casts I think though - but then that sets the bench mark doesn't it.)