Judi Dench - Send In the Clowns, 1996

Her Olivier Award winning performance from "A Little Night Music", given here on a British talkshow as a promo spot done during the run on London's West End in 1996.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Judi
• Dench
• Theater
• Dame
• Little
• Night
• Music
• Olivier
• Award

[newrochellephoenix]

I love her one line,"I thought that youd want what I want.Sorry,my dear ".Had I been in an audience hearing her live,Id be bawling like a babe.

[goblinonacloud]

I have said it before, finally a singer who sings this song as the dark, bitter, angry and self pitying song it was written as. Bravo to Dame Judi Dench. She got it exactly right. Gives me chills..

[jamesthephotophile]

This is the only song that makes me feel real pain. Gawd. This cuts so thinly and deeply. :'( Judi Dench is beyond amazing.

[NicoleTirona]

@mrmcel Agree with the "very difficult". It seems easy because it's a "spoken song" but the bitterness and the angst one must convey... SO difficult. Siiiiiigh. This is PERFECTION.

[HalfPinoy100]

Dame Judi Dench doesn't have a great singing voice..but oh boy..this performance just tears my heart into a million pieces!!!

[TheKristobald]

@mjmacmtenor Thanks for the information :) Somehow, I thought she would play Charlotte. She must have been really good as Mme Armfeldt and Desiree ! I'll look for clips of the productions.

[mjmacmtenor]

@TheKristobald Sian Phillips played Madame Armfeldt, the mother of Desiree (Judi Dench's character). Actually Sian Phillips also played Desiree (very good too) in an earlier London production.

[TheCressyboy]

It is odd that the definitive version of this song is recorded on a chat show with Britain's favorite gardener. However, I've watched many versions on youtube and this is by far the greatest. The sheer emotion you can see and hear is astonishing. It breathes life in to a much maligned song. Every phrase and expression shows what Sondheim meant when he wrote the music and verse. There truly is no better performance. Now pass the bloody tissues my eyes are soaking wet.

[aj1373]

Barbra Striesand has the voice when she sings it, Elizabeth Taylor the face but Dame Judi Dench makes me cry. Say no more.

[kasha1932]

Dame Judi sings this and real tears flow. I don't believe those tears are faked or acted...NO...I tend to believe that they are real emotional tears. I just finished watching LADIES IN LAVENDER in which she has two scenes where she must shed tears, and again, I really believe those tears...rolling down her face...I believe that one of the many reasons Dame Judi is so well loved is because she actually allows her own emotions to be revealed...a great human being is she! BRAVAAAAA Dame Judi!

[erikakarst]

I never understood the song.. had to sing it many times. Now i understand... and i will never sing it again.. THIS is perfection. Bravo!!!!

[mrmcel]

Maybe the best interpretation of this (very difficult) song to perform