Back To Before {Ragtime in Concert, 2002} - Maria Friedman

One of my all-time favorite songs ever! Enjoy.

[@skallywalla502]

What a treat to see the now famous director of the first successful Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along ever - 20 years ago. Thank you, Maria Friedman ❤❤❤

[@sfogjm]

Wow! Sung and acted so extremely well. Her performance is right up there with Mazzie's-- both women combining their talent, training, and artistry such that it seems effortless as they pull an audience into story. Thank you for sharing the video.

[@barbarapatocka4232]

One of my favorite female singers of all time. Her voice and acting are superb!!!!

[@AJKoehler]

Why does she seem happy singing this towards the end?

[@happyexpat3744]

Being she has realized that she does not have to be chained to her husband in 1900's New York, bu has choices and finds empowerment through this realization, which makes her happy. To be introspective, independent, etc....when after yars you were little more than a slave, would make most of us happy. I think.

[@Wavinglighter]

Because she doesn’t understand the song.

[@davidfriscic3009]

Because she has all the hard work of interpreting this song in a professional and wise manner

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

​@@Wavinglighter ....shhhh

[@buddyboy80]

Related to Sonia Friedman?

[@jasonlemoine2074]

Yes, her sister

[@jovanolague3161]

I think it was the other way around. Maria was born first and got her career started before Sonia.

[@inlovewithJLT]

Not the hard front!

[@Martinhj80]

One of my biggest moments was to watch Maria Friedman on stage in Ragtime in London doing that part.. It was magical.

[@clifordtinguha5012]

This sounds so Disney. ❤

[@PS-DLMA]

The composers did also write music for ANASTASIA (animated and stage adaptation)

[@michaelwilliamybarra2409]

@@PS-DLMA Some parts of the orchestrations for this show(by William David Brohn, who also did the orchestrations for Wicked, Miss Saigon, Mary Poppins, etc.), especially during "The Gettin Ready Rag", make me think of a Classic Disney Pixar film score(like A Bugs Life, Monsters Inc., etc.) by Randy Newman, which is funny since Randy Newman actually wrote the score to the 1981 film Ragtime which, like this musical, is also an adaptation of the book of the same name by E.L. Doctorow. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJKkg3eDd8mfqLc Also, fun fact, the lyricist of the show's songwriting team, Lynn Ahrens, also wrote AND performed certain songs on Schoolhouse Rock(Inter-planet Janet in particular) and, funny enough, she's also the one who wrote(and originally performed) the Klondike Bar Jingle as well. xD Together with Composer Stephen Flaherty, they have done this, as well as Once on This Island, A Man of No Importance, Rocky the Musical(which is GOOD, seriously! This is their song for Adiran: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpWVZZSGfMl4jKc ), Suessical(for better or for worse. Not a fan, tbh), and so much more!

[@samwright4033]

There is like a weird choppiness in this version that I haven’t heard anywhere else, like each beat is very exact, and it takes away from the emotion. I know it’s not fair to compare to maron Mazzie, but compared to maron mazzie this is pretty...yikes

[@thespian302]

Sam Wright it’s not though.

[@Wavinglighter]

She’s dreadful. Did not do her homework.

[@JohnHaslamMusic]

@@Wavinglighter you should've told Stephen Sondheim that before he cast her in almost all of his London productions.

[@garylife5320]

@@Wavinglighter as someone mentioned above, Ms. Friedman played the role of Mother in the London production of Ragtime. You may not like her voice or her choices but she doesn't have to sing it "just like" Marin Mazzie and she is indeed a marvelous and celebrated actor. If every song were sung the same no matter who was singing it the world of music would be a dreadfully boring place.

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

Have to disagree! It's different, yet Totally Valid

[@forpeoplelikeme5964]

Best diction of any current artist without a doubt..see her at Zedels in May 2017

[@alexgaywood9418]

I adored this 😍

[@BEE-mp9vk]

ok but that wig....

[@mgescuro]

I really want to like this, but the entire song is rushed, which doesn't help her over-enunciation and phrasing and need to hit. every. note. on. the. note.

[@Wavinglighter]

This is bad.

[@footballshanelife7188]

Why? She’s lovely! What don’t u like about it

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

You are FOOLISH ....see your doctor about your hearing. .....and about the fact that if something differs from what You are used to, it isn't Wrong/Dreadful/or any of the ridiculous words use. It's Art. ....and, you are Not the Arbiter of Good.

[@locorco1]

Ugh. I want to like this, but her phrasing is just awful. You can tell that the American pronunciations of the words are unfamiliar for her, and it really took me out of the moment. Thankfully the song speaks for itself.

[@Martinhj80]

Well let us hope that Broadway never will do My fair Lady with an American singer trying to sing cockney then, since those words must feel awfully unfamiliar to her.

[@bigred8432]

That's silly. I'm a Brit but that's not a good conparison

[@suhseal]

i dont think it's so much a matter of the american accent.. though. yes there's a couple blips there. Her phrasing sounds more like a breath control issue.

[@davisgaston]

@@suhseal seriously, it was an American that originated this role and made the piece legendary,Marin Mazzie.. THIS american singer is just BAD.ugh

[@davisgaston]

@@Martinhj80 You realize while things premiere in the West End they are elevated on Broadway..and become a hit. Heard of Wicked? American actors.

[@samosullivan1744]

Easy to see why she won the Olivier for this!

[@buddyboy80]

Because her sister is a producer...

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

​@@buddyboy80 .....shhhhhh