The video above is a recording and photo montage of Barbara Cook, possessor of what was probably the most glorious voice in the history of American musical theater. She’s singing “Long Before I Knew You” from the stage version of Bells Are Ringing, a song cut from the movie version. She was nearly 80 when this recording was made.
Ms. Cook originated the parts of Marian in The Music Man, Cunegonde in Candide, and Amalia in She Loves Me (and many others). Both the song and Ms. Cook deserve to be better known than they are today.
