The concept of a “diva” is a multi-layered one. On one hand, a diva stands out for her presence, talent and aura. On the other hand, a diva can also be known for arrogance and self-absorption. There was a diva onstage at the Air Canada Centre on Tuesday night, and she encompassed all the qualities — for better or worse — that the term entails.
In front of a packed house of about 14,000 fans — some of whom had shelled out as much as $1,000 for a ticket —- Barbra Streisand offered up two-and-a-half hours of a raw and powerful presence, but also plenty of self-indulgence.
The class and elegance befitting the true diva’s concert was clear from the outset. A beautiful stage setup greeted fans as they entered the arena, making the ACC feel like the city’s biggest lounge. A nicely edited video package streaming the life of Streisand led into her arrival, and her mere presence conveyed a commanding aura. Upon being welcomed to a standing ovation, she taught current pop star divas like Taylor Swift a lesson in genuine charm by seeming appreciative, but maintaining a sassiness about her at the same time.
Streisand’s set could be best described as pleasant, albeit unspectacular. She sang several nice-sounding, slow songs that hardly showcased her once-famous range, instead coming off surprisingly understated. In between songs, she ventured into some mildly amusing — though clearly scripted — banter with other musicians who shared her stage. Her longtime, keen-eared fans may remember the same pandering of local references to a “Bathurst Street deli” in her previous Toronto appearance.
When she wasn’t singing or engaging in some witty back-and-forth chatter, she was taking a back seat to her strong ensemble cast. Italian operatic teenage trio Il Volo did much of the heavy lifting in the first half, accompanying Streisand for a rendition of “Smile” (after which she jokingly called one of them a “show-off”) and then taking full control of the stage for one of their own songs. Following the intermission, it was close friend and talented trumpeter Chris Botti, and even her son, Jason Gould, who stepped in sporadically to offer the 70-year-old a quick rest.
Not that the evening was lacking in emotional, personable moments. Streisand and Gould (a dead-ringer for Josh Groban), served up a touching mother-son duet, and the legendary songstress paid tribute to late former collaborator Marvin Hamlisch with a passionate rendition of “The Way We Were.”
In the end, fans got plenty of bang for their considerable buck. Streisand’s supporting crew consisted of some of the world’s most talented musicians, including Il Volo, Botti, her stepsister Roslyn Kind and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Plus, they got to see a legend belt out a wide array of crowd-friendly tunes that also included “Some People,” “Don’t Rain On My Parade” and the show-closing solo effort, “Some Other Time.”
Whether the steak measured up to the sizzle — that’s an entirely different question.
