On Thursday night, December 8, Barbra Streisand was the star performer a fundraiser in honor of Israel's armed forces, the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gala in Los Angeles. Looking especially lovely in an elegant black dress with small slit on side, black fancy ruffled shawl and silver necklace, Barbra closed the show with four songs.
She sang two of her signature songs, "The Way We Were" and People," her current Grammy-nominated Bergman-Legrand ballad "The Windmills of Your Life" -- from "What Matters Most" -- and in an extra special bow to her heritage, the Hebrew song "Avinu Malkeinu."
Barbra opened with "Windmills," and she sounded magnificent, accompanied by David Foster and a small orchestra. Next came "People," followed by "The Way We Were" and finally, "Avinu Malkeinu." The latter was introduced by Barbra as "a musical prayer," and she was accompanied by a choir of ten on either side of her.
According to Geri, a fan who was at the performance, "'Avinu Malkeinu' was powerful; she really went for all the notes with maximum feeling." Geri also said of the song set, "'Windmills' was beautifully acted and paced slowly, ending with a new humming after her final note."
But of the four songs, it was "People" that hit home. "She owned 'People,' it's her song, will be forever and always. So much joy filled the room during that song. It was the highlight of the night. …I love that warm, happy feeling that permeated the room, one main reason I had to try to be there," she said.
The emcee, "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander, kidded about Barbra before she appeared. He joked about having given Barbra ideas of how her song titles could be made more catered for the evening, like "Don't Rain on My Purim" and "You Don't Bring Me Hummus Anymore."
David Foster, who was at the piano for Barbra's performance -- as well as the rest of the show -- revealed that Barbra had a sore throat, although it apparently wasn't evident once she began performing.
Barbra recalled how glad she'd been to sing for Israel's 30th anniversary in 1978, especially her conversation with the former prime minister Golda Meir via satellite. Barbra explained that there had been no political overtones on that night, just overtones of peace.
In conclusion, Geri explained that she was touch by, "…the passion, care, and warmth Barbra brings to each phrase of all the gorgeous songs she performed. Her peaceful message echoed throughout the room and hopefully beyond it, too."
Barbra seemed pleased with the performance, and did not let on about any other projects she might be prepping. From Geri's point of view, however, Barbra could be ready to hit the concert stage again. "I think she should tour for her special 50th anniversary year. Her voice is still lovely and her passion and talent undeniably still there."
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