Anna Bergman: You’re All the World to Me

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Anna Bergman

You’re All the World to Me

Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, November 11, 2017

Reviewed by Chris Struck for Cabaret Scenes

Anna Bergman

Anna Bergman’s exceptional voice and character have helped to propel her to an enduring career that has swept across the world and to impressive achievements, such as singing at the White House and for Queen Elizabeth. Joined on stage by pianist Phil Hall and double bassist Bob Renino, this star sparkled, her eyes twinkled, and her smile warmed hearts on a cool November night as she reminisced about a “lifetime of comparison-shopping” the world’s best cities, aided by hitting her “third passport at 17.” Dressed in a shimmering creamy white dress that reflected the soft lights like diamonds, she brought us through a taste of the worldly life she’s led from the crème de la crème of Europe to New York City.

Bergman’s glamorous appeal aside, her execution was flawless. From the first song, she displayed rare range and depth that was only made more impressive by the plethora of languages with which she serenaded her audience. From each exotic locale, she hopped, evoking romantic rendezvous in Paris with “Sous le ciel de Paris” (Hubert Giraud/Jean Drejac), moving memories of Vienna with “Meine Lippen Sie Kussen So Heiss” (Franz Lehàr/Paul Knepler & Fritz Lohner- Beda from Giuditta), and outstanding operas of Italy with “Che’il Bel Sogno di Doretta” (Giacomo Puccini/Giuseppe Adami from La Rondine).

Her allure lies in her ability to be simply enchanting. Her composure and exemplary style are so tasteful that it’s impossible not to be charmed by this one-of-a-kind woman. And, despite all her worldly adventures and torrid love affairs, she found the other half of her heart in Café Luxembourg in New York? Her firm grasp of the sentimental resonates still in the memory of the way she sang “My romance doesn’t need a thing but you” (“My Romance”; Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart from Jumbo). It’s that type of positive reverie that makes a cabaret special.

Chris Struck

Chris Struck's debut novel, Kennig and Gold, is due to be officially published in June 2019. He's written reviews for Cabaret Scenes since August of 2017. For more information about the writer, see StruckChris.com