I had a relationship come to an end today and went searching for this song. How fortunate I was to find this performance! It just doesn't get any better than this!
What an incredibly rich voice and a heart stopping performance... his disappointment is palpable to say the least. Brings tears to my eyes. Awesome does not even come close to describing his rendition.
A true successor to Ezio Pinza. Brian has that deep resonant voice that previosly could only be found when listening to Pinza. I watched the whole production on a PBS station last year and was an instant fan of this great singer.
When we saw this on the original broadcast, we were blown away by Brian Stokes Mitchell, having never heard him sing before. We have since seen him three times in person and he constantly amazes. What a talent he has to bring and convey genuine emotion with his music. Whatever you have to do to see him perform live, bite the bullet and just do it!
truly, one of the all-time greatest show-stoppers. brian emotionally nails it and his woice is absolutely authentic to the character. bravo !!! one of the great baritones of our time. can't help thinking of the great "paul robeson".
truly, one of the all-time greatest show-stoppers. brian emotionally nails it and his woice is absolutely authentic to the character. bravo !!! one of the great baritones of out time.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL - Beautifuly and amazing peformance of this wonderful song. I saw Ezio Pinza sing this song as a youth. I can say without any equivocation that Brian's version is the best performance of "This Nearly Was Mine" I've ever seen!
A great singing performance at Carnegie Hall. May even be better than the original movie performance of 'This nearly Was Mine' sung by Rossano Brazzi as Emile.
Having known Mr. Stokes Mitchell only as the upstairs neighbor who unfurled a giant US flag over his balcony in order to annoy Frasier...I'm astonished and delighted by his voice. And it's great that people here are so kind to each other in their posts, they're fun to read!
@macbethp What's worse than that is I knew him only as an older shallow boyfriend of Hillary Banks on the Fresh Prince of BelAir. I was later surprised to learn of his extensive Broadway experience. Frazier was a show that had on people who are respected in the theater world but not well known to the TV audience. They also had on Eva Marie Saint, Donald O'Connor, and other stars of older movies.
This is the all time best rendition of this song I have ever heard. I saw Mario Lanza in the original show and of course Rosana Brazi in the picture. But nothing can compare with Mr. Stokes performance of this beautiful, heart wrenching song. Mr. Mitchell, you have one of the best voices I have ever heard. I brings chills to my spine and tears to my eyes and I have watched it many times as I bought the DVD from PBS. Bravo to you. You are the best!
Absolutely incredible. I remember the first time I saw this, goosebumps and tears, and every time I have friends over to watch it, their reactions are always the same. I can't imagine anyone being able to truly "nail it" like Brian Stokes Mitchell did here.
Like howbeck, I searched for this rendition many times. I was skeptical when I started watching this special on PBS, but I was honestly blown away by the sublime performances, including Reba. But of all the songs from that show, and of all the performances of that evening, THIS performance by Brian Stokes Mitchell stuck in my soul for months afterwards ....
Haunting, pitiful, and so familiar are the words to us - To lose a love you so strongly crave .... This song is my own heart.
@TrajanGregory I hope you're satisfied and happy......Just as I started to read your comment, Brian began the lyric, and now I'm nearly a wet mess, keeping down the tears long enough to type, laughing at my too-tender mood........but completely feeling your comment about your own heart. I hope it recovers and gets bigger and tries again.
@iamintheburg - Aww .... This song is such a heartbreaking piece .... Not only the exquisite delivery by Mr. Stokes Mitchell, but the lyrics, the harmony, and the melodic sweep are Rodgers-Hammerstein hallmarks ... Weren't they extraordinary ? ...
Don't tell anybody; I am a rocker who prefers Trent Reznor and David Grohl over showtunes, but, I am helpless before this wonderful work of art ...
And yes - My broken heart is on the mend .... I'm gonna be OK .... Thanks for caring ....
There is not an Artist alive both in the past nor in the future who can perform this song like Brian Stokes Mitchell. He is the epitome of show business, of musicals and of a singing voice that he is so fortunate to have been blessed with. I have listened to this many times and it always has the same amazing affect. The audience reaction was unbelievable and justified and I even saw some of the cast behind Brian crying, what a performance! Brian Stokes Mitchell, you are an inspiration!
Absolutely one of the finest perfomances of this song ever on the stage. You could see the power of his performance in the reaction of the audience...I was truly floored by it
I have the recording of this performance and, while I love Paulo's performance in the revival, still believe that Brian should have been cast as Emile. I think it could have netted him his second Tony.
@MsTruNorth I have removed things I have posted, so I think you have the ability to remove what you yourself have posted. If you are not able to remove your own post, you should probably contact some type of youtube administrator about it. I don't know who you would contact.
A special award should have been created for this performance. I sobbed at the end of the first viewing of this performance, then I replayed it to see if it would strike me the same way on second listen...sobbed the second go round too. This guy can sing and act as few can. I am totally certain Oscar Hammerstein--whose book/storyline is being conveyed here-- would have hired this guy. What is his name?
A special award should have been created for this performance. I sobbed at the end of the first viewing of this performance, then I replayed it to see if it would strike me the same way on second listen...sobbed the second go round too. This guy can sing and act as few can. I am totally certain Oscar ave hired this Hammerstein--whose book/storyline is being conveyed here--would hired this guy. What is his name?
I wish I could find the 1 person who hit the dislike button. What could you POSSIBLY find wrong with that redition?
aa4285 1 week ago
ghw7192
this performance and song will help, it did for me
downbutnotout12 2 weeks ago
been there 30 years ago but this brings it back to yesterday
99navyguy 2 weeks ago
I assume there probably wasn't a dry eye in the house.....ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!
gordondelma 3 weeks ago
I had a relationship come to an end today and went searching for this song. How fortunate I was to find this performance! It just doesn't get any better than this!
ghw7192 2 months ago
Tears. Every single time I watch this.
synchro101 2 months ago
This is the closest to Ezio Pinza's voice that I've heard with this song. High praise indeed, as Pinza is the benchmark for this.
thephantom1946 3 months ago
Thank you thank you for this post. I am in heaven.
longstre 3 months ago 4
This has been flagged as spam show
what richness of voice.. and intelligence of interpretation... magnificent
brianeduardo1234 3 months ago
what richness of voice.. and intelligence of interpretation... magnifcent
brianeduardo1234 3 months ago 5
Follow that if you can!
Allotmenteer2 4 months ago 3
What an incredibly rich voice and a heart stopping performance... his disappointment is palpable to say the least. Brings tears to my eyes. Awesome does not even come close to describing his rendition.
whalenpat44 5 months ago 4
Totally magnificent!
Thank you for posting this from the greatest musical ever.
bilmar1966 5 months ago 7
A true successor to Ezio Pinza. Brian has that deep resonant voice that previosly could only be found when listening to Pinza. I watched the whole production on a PBS station last year and was an instant fan of this great singer.
ARGUS737 5 months ago 2
Who would have guessed when Brian Stokes Mitchell was on 'Trapper John" that he could sing so beautifully?
arpeggio1358 5 months ago 4
WHO IS THAT GUY O_O
liammccabe05 6 months ago 2
When we saw this on the original broadcast, we were blown away by Brian Stokes Mitchell, having never heard him sing before. We have since seen him three times in person and he constantly amazes. What a talent he has to bring and convey genuine emotion with his music. Whatever you have to do to see him perform live, bite the bullet and just do it!
jefejivaro 6 months ago 3
@jefejivaro Isn't he incredible. All i knew him from was the TV show, "Trapper John". He's one amazing talent!
arpeggio1358 5 months ago 3
truly, one of the all-time greatest show-stoppers. brian emotionally nails it and his woice is absolutely authentic to the character. bravo !!! one of the great baritones of our time. can't help thinking of the great "paul robeson".
up2my 6 months ago
truly, one of the all-time greatest show-stoppers. brian emotionally nails it and his woice is absolutely authentic to the character. bravo !!! one of the great baritones of out time.
up2my 6 months ago
This man has the most beautiful voice I've ever heard! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....I could listen to him sing ANYTHING!!
lasholiver2 7 months ago 2
What a voice!! and what a rendition! I had not seen Brian Stokes Mitchell before but now I will not forget him! Absolutely beautiful!
Alanef1962 7 months ago 2
God God to sing like that. If I worshiped Satan I would sell my soul to sing like that. I hate him I love him i hate him God What. A. Voice.
donnydevil 7 months ago
Only thing that tops this is the overture!! !!! !!
glennthimons 7 months ago
Heck! I do it much better. Grin
MrBaritonevoce 7 months ago
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL - Beautifuly and amazing peformance of this wonderful song. I saw Ezio Pinza sing this song as a youth. I can say without any equivocation that Brian's version is the best performance of "This Nearly Was Mine" I've ever seen!
TheMusicguy68 8 months ago 3
@TheMusicguy68 WOW really? Ezio was a super star as a young singer. Brian is so fantastic in every way. I must see him also.
coolmamac 8 months ago
A great singing performance at Carnegie Hall. May even be better than the original movie performance of 'This nearly Was Mine' sung by Rossano Brazzi as Emile.
Bravo!!!!!
PaulFarmingdale 10 months ago 3
@PaulFarmingdale Giorgio Tozzi's voice was dubbed in. Brazzi, a fine actor, didn't sing. The best on this tune was the original, Ezio Pinza.
Loejyrrab 9 months ago
@Loejyrrab Correct, I meant the dubbed version, however, Pinza's version is not as rich, or as fluid as Mitchell's.
PaulFarmingdale 9 months ago
The voice of an angel
pcrere 10 months ago
I bought this recording specifically for THIS rendition of this song. Brian's resonance and emotion is unbelievable.
lcowles 11 months ago 2
Having known Mr. Stokes Mitchell only as the upstairs neighbor who unfurled a giant US flag over his balcony in order to annoy Frasier...I'm astonished and delighted by his voice. And it's great that people here are so kind to each other in their posts, they're fun to read!
macbethp 11 months ago
@macbethp What's worse than that is I knew him only as an older shallow boyfriend of Hillary Banks on the Fresh Prince of BelAir. I was later surprised to learn of his extensive Broadway experience. Frazier was a show that had on people who are respected in the theater world but not well known to the TV audience. They also had on Eva Marie Saint, Donald O'Connor, and other stars of older movies.
ChicagoSouthDan 11 months ago
I can't watch this without being profoundly moved. It's too bad the sound quality is a distraction. I am a new Brian Stokes Mitchell fan!
Muziclovr1 1 year ago 2
Can anyone equal this performance? WOW!
coolmamac 1 year ago
Sorry I mad a mistake. I saw Itseo Pinza in the original show. Hope I spelled it sort of right.
33winterbirds 1 year ago
@33winterbirds Ezio Pinza
raphabenbenjamin 1 year ago
This is the all time best rendition of this song I have ever heard. I saw Mario Lanza in the original show and of course Rosana Brazi in the picture. But nothing can compare with Mr. Stokes performance of this beautiful, heart wrenching song. Mr. Mitchell, you have one of the best voices I have ever heard. I brings chills to my spine and tears to my eyes and I have watched it many times as I bought the DVD from PBS. Bravo to you. You are the best!
33winterbirds 1 year ago 2
Best rendition I've ever heard.
yologolova 1 year ago 2
Stokes, why are you the sexiest man ever even with an awful cheesy accent? Oh my god that voice. <3
sunrisesunset51 1 year ago
Absolutely incredible. I remember the first time I saw this, goosebumps and tears, and every time I have friends over to watch it, their reactions are always the same. I can't imagine anyone being able to truly "nail it" like Brian Stokes Mitchell did here.
miaflaguy 1 year ago 3
Like howbeck, I searched for this rendition many times. I was skeptical when I started watching this special on PBS, but I was honestly blown away by the sublime performances, including Reba. But of all the songs from that show, and of all the performances of that evening, THIS performance by Brian Stokes Mitchell stuck in my soul for months afterwards ....
Haunting, pitiful, and so familiar are the words to us - To lose a love you so strongly crave .... This song is my own heart.
TrajanGregory 1 year ago 29
@TrajanGregory I hope you're satisfied and happy......Just as I started to read your comment, Brian began the lyric, and now I'm nearly a wet mess, keeping down the tears long enough to type, laughing at my too-tender mood........but completely feeling your comment about your own heart. I hope it recovers and gets bigger and tries again.
iamintheburg 1 year ago 2
@iamintheburg - Aww .... This song is such a heartbreaking piece .... Not only the exquisite delivery by Mr. Stokes Mitchell, but the lyrics, the harmony, and the melodic sweep are Rodgers-Hammerstein hallmarks ... Weren't they extraordinary ? ...
Don't tell anybody; I am a rocker who prefers Trent Reznor and David Grohl over showtunes, but, I am helpless before this wonderful work of art ...
And yes - My broken heart is on the mend .... I'm gonna be OK .... Thanks for caring ....
TrajanGregory 1 year ago
Comment removed
TrajanGregory 1 year ago
Just missed out on a great love. . .ah, so many people understand this sentiment!
doclampton 1 year ago 2
gorgious
fludu1 1 year ago
Ive been searching for this song, sung by Brian for ages, thanks so much for uploading it.
howbeck2000 1 year ago 3
There is not an Artist alive both in the past nor in the future who can perform this song like Brian Stokes Mitchell. He is the epitome of show business, of musicals and of a singing voice that he is so fortunate to have been blessed with. I have listened to this many times and it always has the same amazing affect. The audience reaction was unbelievable and justified and I even saw some of the cast behind Brian crying, what a performance! Brian Stokes Mitchell, you are an inspiration!
griffygrogs 1 year ago 7
@griffygrogs
Yes. He has it down in every way.
coolmamac 1 year ago
100 times I have watched this, and 100 times I have reached for tissues. This is heavyweight stuff. Thanks to whoever posted this.
rpbaral 1 year ago 3
Absolutely one of the finest perfomances of this song ever on the stage. You could see the power of his performance in the reaction of the audience...I was truly floored by it
graymagic1 1 year ago 49
Goosebumps. Every time....goosebumps.
TheMysteryPoster 1 year ago 5
I have the recording of this performance and, while I love Paulo's performance in the revival, still believe that Brian should have been cast as Emile. I think it could have netted him his second Tony.
PeterBluth 1 year ago 4
What a great voice!
gagehughes1 1 year ago 3
OMG OMG OMG OMG IT'S FINALLY BACK ON HERE!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!! ::FLAIL FLAIL FLAIL::
Like that random dude in the back wiping his glasses, I'm absolutely sniffling right now. DEAR LORD WAS THAT GORGEOUS. :D
witchygrrl 1 year ago 5
Just beautiful.
Thank You for sharing with Us. Lorraine
Gemini730 1 year ago 3
beautiful...thanks for sharing.
MadDiMoody7 1 year ago 3
Pls remove the duplicate that has all the typos, i.e., the second posting. You removed the corrected version last time. Thanks
MsTruNorth 1 year ago
@MsTruNorth I have removed things I have posted, so I think you have the ability to remove what you yourself have posted. If you are not able to remove your own post, you should probably contact some type of youtube administrator about it. I don't know who you would contact.
ChicagoSouthDan 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
A special award should have been created for this performance. I sobbed at the end of the first viewing of this performance, then I replayed it to see if it would strike me the same way on second listen...sobbed the second go round too. This guy can sing and act as few can. I am totally certain Oscar Hammerstein--whose book/storyline is being conveyed here-- would have hired this guy. What is his name?
MsTruNorth 1 year ago
A special award should have been created for this performance. I sobbed at the end of the first viewing of this performance, then I replayed it to see if it would strike me the same way on second listen...sobbed the second go round too. This guy can sing and act as few can. I am totally certain Oscar ave hired this Hammerstein--whose book/storyline is being conveyed here--would hired this guy. What is his name?
MsTruNorth 1 year ago 4
@MsTruNorth Brian Stokes.
newrochellephoenix 1 year ago