Being Alive - Julian Ovenden

[@CDB8939]

Stephen Sondheim was in the audience and loved it

[@cappy4475]

I like the swagger when he walks on to the stage. Incredible voice, perfect pitch. Has a gorgeous tone. One the best male vocalists today.

[@mcmasclark6]

Unbelievable performance, it's rare to hear a real music theatre performance like this one, really singing it, acting it & not letting the latter overpower the voice or the song! Well done Julian, you're an inspiration to all young aspiring baritones!

[@Dirschbag]

What a great, old-fashioned-sounding, musical theatre voice! Loved the jump at the end too!

[@jennybrandt5188]

I loved the orchestra and the singer. This is the best version of the song that I've heard.

[@windstorm1000]

You know what I like about Mr. Ovenden's version--not only for his fantastic tenor voice--is that his interpretation is so sincere--more so than Mr. Barrowman who seems to be calling attention to his voice rather than making us FEEL this powerful song--like Mr. Ovenden is conveying so well here. He's fantastic!!

[@oscar646]

If this exquisite young man were anymore attractive, anymore talented or anymore charming I do believe I would have to be hospitalized!

[@edward311]

Beautiful rendition of a beautiful song sung by a beautiful man.

[@Stuieee45]

Just had the pleasure of seeing Julian Ovenden do "Death Takes a Holiday" off broadway in NYC, to say his voice is glorious is not quite enough praise. His voice is magnificent gorgeous and unmistakeable; He is truly sensational. GORGEOUS GORGEOUS GORGEOUS VOICE What a treasure

[@rowansnan]

Absolutely brilliant

[@ricoltmetric8156]

I like this interpretation as a triumph of self realization. You can see his voice has the chops for Opera. Wish more people in U.S. knew his voice as well as acting talent.

[@ToughXArmy69]

Julian Ovenden: Outstanding "Being Alive"

[@alexceasar]

This is simply amazing! Beautiful. You could actually see his exasperation with what the others are telling him and then he slowly comes to this realization that he wants that too. And his movements added to the genuineness as people do not stand still when talking. His voice was wonderful and the performance delightful. The jump at the end I think he was just excited by doing the song for Sondheim himself. Great job Julian!!!

[@maxinecatalano3845]

Just breathtaking!!!!!

[@marieharris1230]

Fabulous voice!! Just fabulous!

[@spacebum]

I love his performances. I only ever seem to see him on The Proms though. He deserves to be much bigger. Fantastic performer with an incredible voice.

[@damienburke288]

Beautiful and Gorgeous wow

[@baabaagreensheep]

Love this Musical Theatre man... He's my fav...

[@margehope3716]

Give Julian a dramatic song and he becomes a wonderful actor with as much feelings for the lyrics as the composer himself. "Being Alive" is my favorite song by Julian Ovenden.

[@Aiodhan1]

I was really lucky to be at this concert last Saturday and this rendition of 'Being Alive' was truly superb; he seemed to reach out and connect with the whole Hall; a great to performance.

[@thomaselliott5035]

I love his performance and his breathing is great his voice just grabs you

[@obligoogongle]

A truly superb version of a beautiful song. So many highlights in this prom concert!

[@Morpheuskid78]

This may be one of my fav songs/performances of all time.

[@OregonRailfan83]

Excellent! Excellent!! Excellent!!!

[@flourchylde]

I've listened to all of the versions of this song on KZbin and IMHO this one is far and away the best. Ovenden knocked it out of the park.

[@boomwamwam]

what a beautiful performance !

[@nickstratton2896]

Just fantastic.

[@InnerBouquet]

Thank you - that was a stellar performance!

[@cscottzimnamaste]

This. What a delivery. Julian is way beyond capable. Best rendtion of this song I've heard in my long life. Wow.

[@joelweisberg]

+C. Scott Zimmerman I agree with you completely. I love this song and indeed it could not be done any better, PERIOD!

[@franklesser5655]

Phenomenal!

[@perrin0825]

why have I not heard about him unti now. What a wonderful voice..

[@Zedwoman]

Stunning performance!!!!!

[@MrStenchsluver]

I love his voice!!!! WOW!!!

[@marcofarina4895]

"But alone is alone, not alive." Pure Sondheim ❤️

[@Kathrobertshaw1]

I love this video & think its a great vocal performance.

[@dudong921]

My God, what a wonderful voice !!!! Thanks for sharing

[@janette3196]

Julian ovenden what a. Magical voice I love him Janet

[@pygmygiant]

Oh man, his voice does things to me, he's incredible. I think I cried for about 3 days after seeing him in Marguerite.

[@marajadefire77]

Magnificent performance, lovely man!

[@ShLinGyPoPsIcLes]

I adore this song, and this is one of the first versions I heard of it. I loved the Sondheim prom and this song did blow my mind (although it is a little odd of context) and I still love it :) rather splendiferous rendition, I have to say :)

[@hookalakah]

Nailed it, pal.

[@jonnapat3213]

Just found myself a new star, thanks very much.

[@dogvom]

Nailed it!

[@Kareby1968]

Fabulous! Thank you for posting!

[@georgiebradley6]

He is just unreal ...wow

[@victordunson719]

Phenomenonal !!!!!!!!

[@kevhippo]

...such as this given the comparisons that will be made and I think he did a great job...

[@97477tim]

VERY IMPRESSIVE

[@mclaire12]

Voice is incredible: this young man is going to the top. He has everything !! Mclaire12

[@uknowwho889]

It's really quite interesting, usually theatre critics aren't singers themselves, and (after hearing some loud high singing) automatically label a performer tenor. When, in reality, your voice class is almost nothing to do with range; purely sound quality and production.

[@mclaire12]

Wonderful performance great technique- i have the CD of Marguerite wit h Ovenden and Henshall- it is incredible music and they perform beautifully mclaire12

[@carlechevarria2226]

Tough song to sing with so much going on. But Julian, talent that he is, does the job ... extremely well.

[@francerobert58]

Great!

[@trufbety6403]

Magnífico

[@gaspo35]

oh, i read in several reviews people call him a tenor...

[@wiliwass]

His passion and phrasing is amazing. see BBC Proms 2015, "Maria"........he soars. Bob in Denver.

[@ritapacitti9599]

I agree, best version of the wonderful "Maria ".

[@victorvillar9576]

Being single but not aloneeeeeeeee, beeeeeeeeing aliveee and freeeeee.

[@gfunk449]

@shmoogle14 yeah, that jump at the end reminds me of when Howard Dean screamed "yEaH!!!!"

[@kevhippo]

Very powerful. Of course its a concert performance in front of an audience that have not followed the whole ''Company' musical so an in character performance may have seemed a little weak. This definately has impact and in such a large arena with a massive ochestra the leap just makes a statement. Well done. Its a big ask for a performer to tackle a spotlight song sich

[@gaspo35]

ah, good call there. i didn't really listen to him to analyze till now and i think you're right! Im a theater actor myself and i always like to analyze peoples voices

[@Prostar369]

I was a great fan of the late and much missed Canadian star of musical theatre, Edmund Hockridge, to me nobody could come close to Ted's rich baritone voice. With Ted sadly gone, I'll put all my money on Julian Ovenden, for me he'll carry the Hockridge flag to perfection!

[@willmeyer2150]

I agree with this. Regardless, he sings with an open throat which is really nice to hear in Musical Theater in my opinion.

[@CandyHaleLinton]

He's Fucking Fantastic

[@tracyroweauthor]

This is by far my favorite version of this song. I think it even tops Raul Esparza's version.

[@larrycarlin809]

Great song. Sondheim

[@gaspo35]

yeah, a lot of people have no idea what they're talking about. Im trained in opera and now perform mostly in musical theater so i absolutely know that just b/c u have high notes u aren't a tenor, lol. I know many a baritone friends that have high Bbs but are clearly baritones..

[@markpolonius]

Who'd have thought Andrew Foyle could sing as well as this?

[@petermcglothin9512]

Epitomizes Masculine certitude and confidence.

[@uknowwho889]

You can tell by his sound production that, regardless of range, his voice is bari.

[@omnigeek13]

Poor woman with the mic not on

[@opera888able]

Ovenden and Esparza sing this because they love the piece and sing it with sincerity. NPH sounds as tho he's singing it for the money.But he's still good, just not as good as the other two. The old Dean Jones version is right up there as well.

[@shorty34323]

NPH just sounds like that cuz he's a tenor. He was never the right voice for the part

[@mijcummi]

Parker Hale Bobby is usually a tenor, he's just a better singer than NPH. But to be honest, this is clearly a classically trained voice. Even before I just Googled to confirm it, you can hear his voice turning. You don't learn that just messing around in front of a mirror with your friends, that is straight up classical training. It's hard to compete with a well-constructed voice.

[@alexmz123]

mijcummi well said! You can even see his phrasing at the end when he went for the big Beinnngg Aliiiiive... he didn't show he needed to go for a gasp of air and just hit those notes and long! I think that was the longest note I have heard so far as compared to the other singers. Julian Ovenden is classically trained and of course, with his years of experience, can add drama as well to his technique. So far the best version of the song by a tenor! I want to see other singers as well who are classically trained to sing this song!

[@mtmorrispk]

Wow-wee

[@molliethomas231]

WOW... and just think he is going to be one of the new blue blood in Downton Abbey series 4

[@horerfandod3]

@thegaythespian mabye the smile meant that he now knows what he wants and is happy about it. its called acting.

[@techieprez]

Not much acting, but damn, his voice is just so goddamn pretty.

[@uknowwho889]

High bari mate!

[@thegaythespian]

well, sung, but I have to agree w/ @sko1187, it's showy, not necessarily flat or cheesy, but very musical theatre, in a show that requires raw honesty, which is what both Dean and Raul give this song

[@mstraction]

I thought this was Jonathan Groff...what happened to Jonathan Groff?

[@MrStefdj]

why not? he feels alive:)

[@WadeAblitt]

4:19 just reminds me of the trolololo guy

[@organboi]

Haha. A six year old comment, but absolutely TRUE!!

[@corvus1374]

such a beautiful song. My only objection is that this show is supposed to be about typical New Yorkers, the British actors need to SOUND like New Yorkers.

[@Kasino80]

It takes place in NY sure. But Bobby's situation is universal. So I'll give them a pass on this one.

[@horerfandod3]

@sko1187 or dean jones

[@thegaythespian]

@horerfandod3 could be, but that doesn't seem like a character-motivated smile, to me

[@Loejyrrab]

@Arkelk2010 Well, I have a critique also. He was wonderful thru all of it until the end when he pronounced BEING like this: BE--hing. It was like scratching a chalk board. He's a damn good singer though. I also didn't get the leap at the end. Weird.

[@MrMrmike5]

@shmoogle14 lol

[@MDkid1]

he's cute :)

[@ritapacitti9599]

He's a dreamboat!

[@Jrbiggz37]

I don't know if you are making a joke about my choice of words and being some kind of sarcastic or not. Lol/

[@thegaythespian]

well, sung, but I have to agree w/ @sko1187, it's showy, not necessarily flat or cheesy, but very musical theatre, in a show that requires raw honesty, which is what both Dean and Raul give this song. Notice how he has this sort of hidden self-satisfied smile during the whole crescendo, he's up there enjoying that he's up there rather than truly being in the moment of the song

[@MasterIsh91]

He came to see me in Sweeney Todd with the NYMT the week after this performace :D

[@Sis0Bg]

(Y) If you wached Gleee :)))

[@evieherriot3447]

Maizey Kaiyala xD

[@maizeykaiyala8697]

Evie Herriot YUSSSSSSSSS. THIS ONE. OHMIGASH

[@evieherriot3447]

Maizey Kaiyala IKRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[@maizeykaiyala8697]

And the ones with Sierra 😍😍😍

[@evieherriot3447]

Maizey Kaiyala be still my heart

[@gilangartanto7345]

who came here after watch marriage story

[@phoatogirl]

My favorite part was the four seconds that Bryn Terfel was on stage.

[@anamariemackay6231]

mmj

[@frutoish]

Hi-baritone.

[@TheJohnpandy]

A distasteful and crude comment. If that's all you think about watching this beautiful performance you stink.

[@OhYouReckonDoYa]

he has an incredible voice but he doesn't make me feel it like raul esparza does. barrowman is not in the same class as either of them. and what on earth does he think he's doing jumping and yelling on the last beat? ruins the whole thing.

[@gaspo35]

except he's a tenor ;)

[@organboi]

No, he's not.

[@davidhinton8654]

too much about the singer, too little about the “production” … spectacular performance, lackluster connection

[@temari105]

I wish he put more emotion in it... other that great!!!