Wow.

It is not known widely that there's a history to the phrase "send in the clowns" that arise from circus history and it is used here as a powerful metaphor of a failed affair.. When a circus act goes wrong - an acrobat falls or a animal stunt fails - the ringmaster will call to "send in the clowns" as a distraction.

AMAZING! Singing through tears is SO hard!

Happy Birthday!

Dench's performance is fine. But hardly definitive. Glynis Johns holds that honor.

Wow …a masterful performance….brilliant..

The final verse that Dame Judi sings (after Fredrik walks out) is a masterclass in acting. Brilliant. Then the single tear running down Dame Judi’s left cheek at the end of the performance… that’s not just acting, that’s inhabiting the character. Bravo. 👏👏

This, my friends, is Acting at its finest.

When she sings, “We’ll, maybe next year…” you can see in her eyes that she is a survivor who will summon hope-even though she doubts she still has any-because “show folk” (Desirée is a stage actress) know how to rally, eight times a week. She won’t fall apart, because grown women (and pros) don’t do that, but her heart is just beaten up. It’s heartbreaking, but also exhilarating to me, because it’s complex and adult entertainment. I miss Stephen Sondheim the way some people mourn the loss of John Lennon.

I feel love Donna summer

Even her tears are on cue. Amazing actress.

Oh dear heaven.... this is just breathtakingly painful, but so sooo beautiful💔

fantastica

I thought Elaine Stritch did a great job

This song was my very 1st introduction into American Musical Theatre back when I was in elementary school in the 1970's. Meeting Stephen Sondheim back in the 1990's and hearing him speak of this song. I realized then, this song is one of sorrow, and despair. It is a lament, and that changed everything how I saw this song. Dame Judy, and Bernadette Peters are the only 2 I like to hear sing it.

This and also Glenn Close

I got a chance to see and hear her…….deliver this song…….and it absolutely shook my soul. Nobody else comes close to Judi Dench…..

Sondheim was quoted as saying; "I don't want a Singer who can act. I want an Actor who can sing". The delivery of a song by an actor/actress is immeasurably better than anything a Singer can do. It's why Acting is an art.

Dame Dench still cracks open my soul, still brings my tears, still sings this magnificent song as if there were no tomorrow.

She does this so beautifully.

She tears my heart out

Singing while crying is not an easy thing to pull off. And time only gives her more depth. She’s a treasure!

I have had thousands of clowns In lifeJust like the clouds elisions, that baffles so much. And me a man . Yet still unable to command the fleet of ships still bound towards a harbour less harbour. In pros, are such lines without pretence,oh wonderers elves, Unconscious as bee .

AFAIK, quite literally the only Desiree in any major production since the original who was really fundamentally right for the role, entirely because this is exactly the type of voice this song was written for. It's not a scene where someone is having big spectacular emotions that *need* a highly trained vocalist to convey; it's a scene where you're watching a middle-aged woman's heart very quietly, matter-of-factly breaking in slow motion. If you're confident her voice is going to make it through to the end, you have a casting problem.

Wow!!! That’s all I got.

Story of my life. Got all i wanted and thought i was invincible. Lost my mojo.....send in the clowns. You are perfection Lady Dench

Glynis Johns- GOAT

Totally awesome

It is clear, the magnificent talent of Virginia Zeani is superior to Maria Callas.

I saw this production at the National Theatre in London in 1995. I wrote to Judi, to thank her for a stunningly moving performance. She kindly wrote back to me. The letter I still have, written in her own hand. I shall never forget that performance or her kindness.

A jewel of humanity.

Wow wow wow! She is amazing- no one can touch her talent.

This song, I never got it untill I saw this version of Judy. Her version on the Proms is flat compared to this one. No-one has ever sang it right, except for Dame Judy Dench in this specific version. I bow deep and respect thy greatly Mylady.

He'd never considered it that way before. That's because he considered it the way he's written it for Glynns Johns. I married New York and BROADWAY in 1974. Been here, seen that. Amazing to me is that with all the stellar performances I have enjoyed over all those years, the standout one, the one I cannot ignore, is Glynis Johns as Desiree Arnfelt. Ebullience, spunky in a white Hello Dolly hat

Go to the end where the lovely British lady says, almost wistfully, "....I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day." That's pluck for you. And that is what Desiree has. I don't recall ever seeing Dame Judy so down, and out, so sad, so defeated. Hers is the sad version of Send In the Clowns. From down under, Miss Johns is bummed out, but optimistically utters, ""Well, maybe next year." That lady has pluck. She's down, but she's not out. Miss Johns is not out. Can you imagine learning this song overnight? Now imagine, composing this song overnight. This decision is as important as anything the playwright might have written. Also, think, what must it seem to have the most famous song in the world written for you and the most important musical genius in the books coaching you to sing his valentine to you, because he likes you, he is your champion, and his judgement wins out, you prevail. Come on Folks, is there really any contest here, for definitive. Quoth the raven, "I think not."

This song was written for Glynis Johns was also more actress than singer. So it needed another actress to perform it.

She’s otherworldly. God, I’m grateful to be alive while she is. She’s devastating. Devastating. Is she our greatest actor? Arguably, yes. Brava, Dame Judi and thank you ❤

So bittersweet and heartbreaking...lost so much Love, sorry, but I must cry....❤

Pure magic❤

Absolutely marvelous. Isn't rich to hear Dame Judi Dench perform? Isn't rich to hear her sing? Isn't rich to be ... Way to go . Who is her male lead?

That single tear at the end...

I do not need to be recued,but I Still Want what I Believe ,Love Is ❤ Dobie Wan Kanobie thank All❤ 23 September 2023

Judi Dench fantástica. Interpreta e canta com muita espontaneidade esse grande clássico de Sondheim. É para refletir e chorar de emoção!

The very best

Riposa In Pace, Prima Donna 😢❤

Definitive is Glynis.

I never knew what this song was about until I watched this.

Sublime.

Wonderful💖

Judi Dench is fabulous!!! But Judy Collins can not be beat singing this song! But I love Judi Dench singing this in this theatre! I watch Judi Dench in all of her British movies and sitcoms! I think she should be Dame Judi Dench!!!❤