Barbra Streisand Sings ‘Hatikva’ in Tel Aviv Concert
June 22, 2013
Legendary American singer Barbra Streisand was welcomed with enthusiastic cheers Thursday evening by an audience of 16,000 people in her first-ever concert in Israel, held at Tel Aviv-Jaffa’s Bloomfield Stadium.
The two-and-a-half-hour show, accompanied by some 60 musicians, opened with a clip featuring pictures from her childhood to this day, as well as a musical number from the film “Funny Girl.”
The concert took place two days after the 71-year-old singer performed at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem as part of President Shimon Peres’ 90th birthday celebration. She will give a second concert at the Bloomfield Stadium on Saturday evening.
Streisand got on stage dressed in a black gown with golden straps and said, in Hebrew, “Shalom Tel Aviv, and welcome.”
She told the audience that it was a very special evening for her. “I have sung in many countries, but tonight is very special to me.
This is the first time I am doing a concert in Israel. it’s a deep and different feeling. I am connected to the roots of my family and my heritage.”
She added, “This is a very special week historically.” She said it was the last stop of her concert tour and that she was glad to be concluding it in Israel.
A huge screen with the words of the songs was set up in front of the stage, behind the audience. Streisand admitted that she had forgotten the words in a 1967 concert and had not performed for 27 years later.
The concert began with the hit “Woman in Love.” Later on, Streisand got off the stage to change into a different outfit and was replaced by her son, Jason Gould, who sang a few songs. Jason, who began singing at a relatively late age, appears to be a wonderful performer with impressive vocal skills.
When Streisand returned to the stage she sang the song “Papa, Can Your Hear Me,” which she dedicated to her father who died when she was young.
Before singing one of her greatest hits, “The Way We Were,” Streisand told the audience that she can’t perform in playback and has always sung live in every concert. She dedicated the song to “A Chorus Line” composer Marvin Hamlisch, who died about a year ago.
Streisand was accompanied by a wonderful back-up band, which filled the void while she got off stage with moving trumpet and violin sounds.
Before singing “Make Our Garden Grow,” Streisand spoke about a garden in Jerusalem built in memory of her father, and said she had been very excited to return there this week and see how big and strong its trees were.
She later sang with her sister, Roslyn, as a picture of their mother appeared on the screens in the background. “Mom, we are singing at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv,” she said excitedly.
Towards the end of the show, Streisand moved the audience when she performed Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikva,” in accurate Hebrew.
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Barbara has such a beautiful voice! I wish I could’ve been at her amazing concert in Israel.