EVITA Patti LuPone "Buenos Aires" x 2

There would appear to be just two complete videos of Patti LuPone in "Evita" on Broadway, both shot in 1980; one features Tom Carder, understudy to Mandy Patinkin. Clips of both have been widely seen but just for the record, here are both versions of "Buenos Aires."

[@Gameboyboy17]

Seeing this up close really allows you to see why this staging was so revolutionary at the time. It’s almost abstract, the way the ensemble moves around Eva. Brilliant!

[@dck578]

I was lucky enough to see Patti in Evita about 3 months after it opened, up in the cheap seats. It turns out that was the best location to see the show as one could really see the superb manipulation of the dancers. As I remember it there were three groups: ; the elite, the descamisado (the shirtless ones - the poor who supported the Persons) and the military. They were in three geometric shapes: square, triangle, and circle) and were moved around the stage and through each other without interacting with each other - exactly as happened socially in Argentina at that time. In the first half of this video you can see the triangle and the circle. Lupone was fantastic, and Buenos Aires my favorite number in the entire musical.

[@bobbullen6722]

What I love about her vocals in this role is her voice sits lower than most Evitas. Which makes her reaching those high notes more unexpected and thrilling.

[@bobbullen6722]

Thanks for sharing this. You’re the best, Aurora.

[@Itstonytime77]

I love that too it’s always more exciting to me to hear someone with a lower warmer sound go for the big notes as to someone who already has a high nasal pitch. I like there to be a bit of sitting on the edge of my seat like will they or won’t they hit those notes :)

[@JoannesVodkaStinger]

Bless the person who filmed this and you for sharing it! I've waited my whole life to see a clearer version of this and my imagination did not do it justice. Wonderful!

[@scottmiller7779]

She is much better vocally in this clip. EVITA is a beast of a role and can shred a singers voice. I know Patti struggled vocally throughout her run, but to me she will always be THE definitive EVITA.

[@petercallahan7321]

I don’t think Loyd Weber knows how to write for women, frankly. The role of Evita originated as a studio only role. Julie Covington has the advantage of a studio setting and retakes. It’s kind of an impractical role to sing nightly live, especially if you’re competing with synthesizers and a very busy production. There’s a reason why singers have struggled with several of his female roles.

[@daveszymborski9193]

Lupone and Page both had issues during their respective runs, I understand. This show was one of the first shows to have not just understudies but alternates, because it is so taxing on the voice. And, Lupone is the definitive to me, as well.

[@stevenmarcato4]

She was absolutely the best Evita.

[@frakte]

Patti is sensational here of course, but oh, my word - the choreography and the dancers are just amazing! A continuous flow of movement, seemingly as one body - I can only imagine what it must have been like to be in the audience and to take it all in live!

[@user-hb9hb7gi7j]

My mother and i saw this with Patti 2nd row center on a Christmas Eve . It was the most thrilling night I ever spent in a theater.

[@lamontrussell1524]

Wow! Amazing footage. Thnx so much. Those 2 dancers behind Patti during the final verse were on fire!

[@DanielRuf]

Holy crap! Never seen this footage in such quality!!! Great! Thank you so much!!!!

[@misery123ablea9]

This is amazing! Even having seen them before they are absolutely beautiful! Thank you again Hopefully one day footage will turn up of Derin Altay in the role, then we would have footage of all 4 principal Broadway Evas x

[@wickedwizard5377]

She kept getting better with time. It's crazy to me that the second video was only shot two months later as Patti is much more comfortable with the singing in it (and in Rainbow High you can see how easy the costume changes became, she even had time to twirl!)

[@blackwingy]

I saw this the first time it was performed publicly-at the Dorothy Chandler…at least 20 times, not including rehearsals(I was an usher). It never got old. I have stories. And Patti was an absolute mensch.

[@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt]

OMG! I was a Music Center usher, too! Just missed EVITA, and the vintage burgundy Nehru uniforms. Replaced with tight polyester flairs, bolero vests and big-collared disco shirts! Did get to see Sweeney Todd with Angela Lansbury and Pirates of Penzance, once with Linda Rondstadt!!! Several Oscar telecasts, as well!

[@blackwingy]

Well hello, brother usher! Do you know,during interm. at the LA Phil(pre-Evita) an elderly patron, seeing me in my outfit, said "Look! it's "Annie"--aren't you Annie?!" LOL! I did look the part. Fun times! I wish I'd gotten to wear your bolero vest look..but my one piece *was* polyester at least! @@PeterMcDonald-sl9rt

[@mshalo1822]

This is the only show I regret never seeing in its original incarnation. Thank you for sharing.

[@johnrinaldi8782]

I didn’t realize until just now, I think that’s Tom Carder as Che in the first clip. He was SUCH a dreamboat!

[@Johanna.EG.]

I never thought of Patti LuPone as a dancer before!

[@Johanna.EG.]

@Robert Lee, Countertenor Her brother is a dancer, so it's really not surprising.

[@gregorywiederecht]

It definitely puts her story about auditioning for the national tour of Sweet Charity in a new light! I just assumed she got to the final callback because of her acting and vocals, but at the very least, she could definitely move!

[@kevinwilson3609]

@@Johanna.EG. What does her brother beif a dancer have to do with it?

[@sallyjonesie3886]

Thank you so much! I love the original staging of this show. Out of interest, does anyone know if any more footage of Elaine Paige in this role exists in the world? It seems a shame that there's not much of a record of her performance.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

A great shame that no complete or even partial video of Elaine Paige in "Evita" at the Prince Edward Th. seems to exist. "Evita" opened in 1978 and Elaine played through January 1980. But while videographers commenced actively to preserve Broadway shows in January 1980, there would appear to be very few West End videos from the '80s, and those that exist were shot mostly by Americans.

[@sallyjonesie3886]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Thanks for the info. That's sad to hear, but it's good to have some clarity on this, as I'd always wondered.

[@kevinmclean5308]

An absolute powerhouse 😍😍👏🏻👏🏻

[@kevinwilson3609]

In all these performances she sounds fantastic...effortless singing and far more powerfully than on the recording. Yet she now complains she couldn't sing it and it was the worst experience of her life because of that. Patti seems to re-write history to suit her. Since Sunset she has only said horrible things about Evita...none of which she said up until then.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

@Kevin Wilson Unfortunately true. But for US Equity, Elaine Paige would have been brought over from London to open the show on Broadway. Paige would have been well received and the show would have been just as successful.

[@fergusmurray1828]

Actually, in an interview with Andy Cohen in I think 2017, Patti admits that Evita is great, albeit elaborating to say that it is the best thing ALW ever wrote.

[@kevinwilson3609]

@@fergusmurray1828 It was a very backhanded compliment

[@fergusmurray1828]

@@kevinwilson3609 No shit, Sherlock.

[@kevinwilson3609]

@@fergusmurray1828 My name is not Sherlock

[@FolliesFan-yu8mf]

Wow, and this is even better! It's curious, the colours of the January tape seem to be slightly faded compared to the March one, must have been springtime for Eva that brought colour back. And it's lovely to get a better glimpse at the projections too.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

Hello--The second one was copied directly from the VHS master; the first one was not.

[@FolliesFan-yu8mf]

Wow!

[@camfam611]

Legendary.

[@tonyparadise7801]

The One and Only - EVITA

[@kerrylorah560]

I've played THIS version. Shame they changed it.

[@erezmor4u]

She was a great dancer. The ultimate EVITA for me. Years after that production she said that "that role wasn't written for a human voice...." well, she was right, I think...

[@zakariashartley]

Making excuses for the bad way in which she sang it. Many actors have sung Evita without problem.

[@themusicalspeakeasy2439]

you know, it's interesting - i've only seen the video with Mandy attributed as November 30th, 1979. do you have any clue as to how that video would've come from 1980?

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

The dates I have for these videos: LuPone/Carder January 10, 1980; LuPone/Patinkin March 10, 1980

[@user-hb9hb7gi7j]

I think its funny how wrong the critics were. This show along with Sweeney Todd were revolutionary. The harps about glamorizing facism and thinly delineated characters are not the point. Like West Side Story these shows are about pure theater. The excitement when music dance and stage are all afire to tell a riveting story. When it works there is nothing like it. Whatever its flaws regarding history or politics Evita works as exciting theater.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

The world premiere of this production, in London, won raves. It was the NY critics who weren't enthused.

[@marcuspd7502]

Tom Carder was a little over the top.

[@AKoooooooo]

I mean, is the role of Che supposed to be played subtle?

[@marcuspd7502]

@@AKoooooooo Did I say he should be subtle?

[@AKoooooooo]

@@marcuspd7502 that doesn't answer my question lol

[@scottnicbutler]

Patti is a non-dancer and she certainly aint sexy so this video is clearly faked.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

faked?

[@scottnicbutler]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Sorry, AS, I was being sarcastic because of the fools who criticise Patti

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

@@scottnicbutler Oh, OK, now I get it--thanks for clarifying!

[@scottnicbutler]

@@auroraspiderwoman5886 no worries, I love your content it is the best part of the KZbin for my money

[@billyflynn2]

Never really understood the fascination with Patti. Yes, as a gay man, I love belt but, her lower and higher notes are weak and the diction is SHOCKING. JUST MY PERSONAL OPINION.

[@beaellie9766]

She. Has. No. Fear. Her performance(s) take no prisoners....she goes for the jugular every moment she is onstage.

[@ms.annthrope415]

I love Patti and I'm straight. So what has being gay have to do with belting? I'm no musical expert but her singing is outstanding to me. Strong, powerful, and dramatic.