Uploaded by request. Celia Keenan-Bolger as Johanna singing "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" in the Kennedy Center production of Sweeney Todd. Her rendition is one of the best that I've ever heard.
I love how when the story first introduces Johanna she looks the part of the stereotypical 'princess' type character; simple, heroine, mentally stable, and always makes the right choices, however through the lyrics and the story Johanna is none of those things.. I love how complex she is , borderline crazy , as you would expect from someone who has been held captive and had been sexually abused their whole life. That's why Johanna's voice can't be delicate when there is so much pain behind it. Also in the song green finch and linnet bird, the birds symbolize Johanna, so it's only fitting that her sound replicates that of a caged bird.
same for me, I first thought Johanna was that kind of Princess when she made her appearance, didn't like her that much, but then later I noticed she was Traumatized, almost about to go Insane (like her Mother did) and that she Reflected All what she had been Through, and I really liked her, those things make her so Real, I love that, I love this Musical...and even though I don't have an Idea of how would be my "Perfect Johanna's Voice", I think Celia did Great here, she has an Awesome and Beautiful Voice...
Like father like daughter. I love that in one verison. Where Johanna was the one to pull the trigger killing the dr. Meanwhile her father is slitting throats. Basically, if both have the opportunity, they don't skip it
This is the most perfect performance of that song I've ever seen or heard! It's so beautiful but it still maintains the borderline insanity needed to play Johanna
As I've said multiple times, Johanna was originally played by an opera singer. You can say that you dislike operatic singing, but you can't say that isn't how Johanna is supposed to sound. But also as I've said multiple times, Celia is not an opera singer. She's an MT belter who happens to have a nice and fairly strong upper register.
Her vibrato seems so beautiful and effortless, as does her high notes...HOWWWWWWW She's truly something special not to mention she is one of the most talented musical theater ACTRESSES as well
Wow! This migh be the best version I have ever heard if this song. From when she first started singing, I was hooked. When she first started hitting the high notes, I was like, "Oh crap, she started so good and now she's gonna kill it with too much vibratto," but it was totally fantastic. I love this girl, this was absolutely beautiful!!
In my opinion, you can act insane and still sound good. In fact, the look on her face is creepy at some points in this performance, and she didn't have to butcher the song either. Look at the way she hands the food to the birds...she looks out of it.
All these years, and somehow I hadn't seen this one before. Wonderful, wonderful CK-B knocks another difficult piece right out of the park. Her "I Wish It So" from Juno (also on RU-vid) is similarly magical.
This is the most beautiful song. I am so glad that you uploaded this by request. This has and will help me so much with style for when I compete with this song at a talent contest. Thank You! :)
I know that Celia doesn't consider herself a soprano (and isn't suited to the stereotypical ingenue roles), but her Johanna and Clara in Piazza make me really wish that she played more roles that required her gorgeous upper register.
Stage Sweeney never has an English accent. She isn't overpowering, she's hitting the notes like they're meant to be hit. You can't claim that Burton knows more about Sweeney than the man who composed it, and he cast an opera singer as Johanna.
WOW, This is THE best version I have heard, not screechy, not too warbly, its perfect... I've played Sweeney in this show and I think it has to be done quite operatically because all of the music in the show is quite operatic, Sweeney Todd is often called an Operetta. The girl in the movie does not sing the song how Sondheim intended it to be (was written to be a show, not a movie after all), she's not a singer primarily and it shows, however her voice is pretty and its quite a nice performance.
you are AMAZING! a true pleasure to listen to....this song is a weapon when sung by less-golden voices. thank you for being gentle and caressing to my ears!
Actually, Sondheim said that when being performed in an opera house, it's an opera, and when performed in a theatre, it's a musical. I personally would call it a dramatic operetta.
A few months ago I saw her as Mary in the Encores production of "Juno" which was another soprano role which she sang wonderfully. Her "I Wish It So" was a highlight of the production.
I didn't know she could sing like that.... Not that I didn't think she wasn't capable, but I've seen her in more quirky roles (Saved!, Spelling Bee, etc.), and I never imagined Celia as a legit soprano.
@ChristyEmanualson I personally didn't like the movie version she isn't really supposed to be sweet and quiet she is actually going insane from years of being abused and held captive by Turpin in the same house. But everyone has their own opinion I guess.
She's amazing! I do think that Johanna is supposed to be more 'delicate' sounding but that's not to say that this isn't a fantastic rendition. Every version can't be the same... one has to make it unique and suiting to the actor somehow...
