Professor David Peimer
Barbra Streisand
Summary
Barbra Streisand: Incomparable, indomitable, influential.
Professor David Peimer
David Peimer is a Professor of Literature, Film and Theatre in the UK. He has worked for the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, New York University (Global Division) and was a Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University. Born in South Africa, David has won numerous awards for playwriting and directing in New York, UK, Berlin, EU Parliament (Brussels), Athens, Budapest, Zululand and more. He has most recently directed Dame Janet Suzman in his own play, Joanna’s Story, at London Jewish Book Week. He has published widely with books including: Armed Response: Plays from South Africa, the digital book, Theatre in the Camps. He is on the board of the Pinter Centre (London), and has been involved with the Mandela Foundation, Vaclav Havel Foundation and directed a range of plays at Mr Havel’s Prague theatre.
I think, you know, Ella Fitzgerald has, I think they are unique in their own way. I really do. I think Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Barbra, you know, I think they have their own uniqueness, and I’m very hesitant to compare. You know, it’s a bit like, well, I don’t want to get into, but you know, these are such wonderful voices and I don’t want to sit on the fence here or take an easy way out, but I don’t want to get into a binary, you know, this. I think that they contribute to the enormous treasure chest of art and the ability for singers to vary, to range and to find all different interpretations of the connection between emotion and sound. For her, through what the character’s going through every second.
Absolutely. “In ‘The Way We Were,’ she constantly anticipates the beat.” Yes. “Letting the orchestra catch up.” Yes. “With her voice. Keeps the song from dragging. It’s a lesson in pop singing.” Couldn’t agree with you more, Karen. Thanks for that.
No. “Her breath control is remarkable.” Yes, I agree completely. I mean, from what I understand, I don’t think she had serious vocal training or serious, you know, and certainly with diaphragm, breath control, all the rest of it. And she went for actor training, but that’s very different to what you’re talking about, which is for singing. You know, specifically singing, vocal training for singers.