Stage and cabaret star Barbara Cook, who died in August at 89, was famous for her voice.
The legend behind the silky soprano from “She Loves Me” and “The Music Man” was remembered by Broadway friends and family on Monday at a touching memorial filled with music, vintage clips and intimate recollections.
Frank Langella’s heart-stirring and hilarious tribute flashed back to when he took Cook, who was, he said, “vain, egocentric, needy, and insecure — like the rest of us,” to a posh party at the Fifth Ave. home of Barbara Walters.
The persuasive hostess convinced the very reluctant Cook to sing. Cook chose “You’ll Never Know” and declined a request for an encore, before whispering to Langella, I’ll never f–king forgive you for this. Happily, she did.
Before performing songs Kelli O’Hara, Renee Fleming, Vanessa Williams and Norm Lewis hailed Cook as a devoted supporter and an influential teacher.
Audra McDonald doubled down on that score. She shared that she used to pass out during performances. Then she tapped into what Cook told her students: “You are enough.” The fainting stopped.
Other speakers at the event at Lincoln Center directed by James Lapine included “She Loves Me” lyricist Sheldon Harnick and Cook’s son Adam LeGrant.
