With her casual authority and self-effacing elegance, Barbra Streisand met her adoring public, after a long absence, for two Las Vegas concerts surrounding New Year's Day '94. The blessed results are on this disc. Playing to an arena crowd including Steven Spielberg and Michael Jackson, Streisand notes all the excitement surrounding her return with "As if We Never Said Goodbye," much to the audience's delight. The old Streisand magic--her ability to magnify the emotional essence of a song and carry one away--is all there in a graceful medley beginning with a clever rewrite of "I'm Still Here," as well as a bluesy "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)." The clockwork production includes a clever duet between Streisand and a Guys and Dolls clip of Marlon Brando. A must for Streisand fanatics, and a hint of her more elaborate "Millenium's End" show at the Grand six years later. --Tom Keogh