"It's so easy to talk about doing something and so much harder to get it done. I'm so thrilled that Michael and I finally put together the show that we had been talking about for years. It's filled with fun and famous duets, and I have just had a ball singing them with Michael. His voice is beautiful and he is a performing pro in every way."

Michael Feinstein and Linda Eder following the premiere performance of Two For The Road.

An Eder-tor's Review…

"Some enchanted evening… you will see a stranger, you will see a stranger across a crowded room… and somehow you'll know, you'll know even then… that somewhere you'll see her again and again…"

And that is how perhaps one of the most entertaining evenings of my life began. It was Friday, August 5, 2005, and I was witness to the premiere engagement weekend of Linda Eder and Michael Feinstein's Two For The Road concert tour at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts.

If I had to describe the show in under ten words, I'd say "out-of-this-world concert-comedy fusion." Linda was wonderful; Michael was wonderful; but put them together and the stage ignited. Their voices, intertwined in glorious harmonies, cast a spell on the audience. Smiles prevailed and gales of laughter swept through the tent. Hushed happy sighs of recognition and delight sprinkled the evening as Linda and Michael performed duet after beloved duet. In a word, it was enchanting.

And so it was apropos that this concert, on a sweltering yet exhilarating night, began with the duo singing Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Some Enchanted Evening" from the musical SOUTH PACIFIC. They received thunderous applause and then paused to welcome the audience. The comedic, light-hearted and fun mood of the evening was immediately set as Michael commented, "For those of you expecting Steve and Eydie, my name's not Steve, I'm Michael," with Linda adding, "and I'm not Eydie, I'm Eder!"

They went on to perform a jazzy duet of "Teach Me Tonight," followed by a medley of Stephen Sondheim's "Old Friend" and Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh's "I Wanna Be Yours," that brought down the house. Next was a show-stopping "torch song medley duet" of Harold Arlen's "Stormy Weather" and "When The Sun Comes Out."

Linda excused herself so that Michael could perform a few solo numbers. Taking a seat at the piano, Michael accompanied himself on an emotionally charged and exquisitely sung version of Rodgers and Hart's "My Romance." The entire audience grooved along with a rockin' performance of Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls Of Fire" that sent the Richter scale into overdrive.

With Michael still on the piano, Linda returned to the stage and took a seat on the piano bench next to him. They performed a duet of Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse's "Two For The Road." It was a dulcet ballad sung with pristine clarity that touched the heart.

Act I wrapped up with a fantastic marathon medley of famous duets, full of energy, humor and fervent harmonies — "Side By Side/Wherever You Go/I Got You Babe/The Beat Goes On/Where Is The Love/You're Just In Love/When I'm Calling You/True Love/This Could Be The Start Of Something Big/Sisters/Something Stupid/Mockingbird/I Wish I Were In Love Again/Side By Side."

The second portion of the show kicked-off with another wonderful duet medley, "Me And My Shadow/If I Had You/Blue Skies," after which Linda and Michael performed a mesmerizing rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now."

Then Michael announced it was time for his favorite part of the show, "a chance to listen to Linda sing." With that the crowd went wild and Linda went on to perform three solo numbers. The first was a medley off the new album, "Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love." The new swing arrangement was dynamic and spirited. The crowd was on their feet for a standing ovation before the song even ended.

Next was Linda's version of the classic Michel Legrand song "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life." Here Linda's voice exuded an effervescent quality — softly carrying the melody through the air and sending tingles down my spine. Linda then sang "Don't Rain On My Parade" with a voice of unmatched magnitude. Again a deafening standing ovation ensued.

Michael retuned to the stage and wished Linda, "Good luck with your career!" which was met with a boisterous and knowing laugh from the audience. Another well-known and loved Michel Legrand song, "How Do You Keep The Music Playing," was next, and just when I was convinced the concert couldn't possibly get any better, it did. A mind-blowing, sensational, so incredibly bliss-ridden duet medley of Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra songs was the pièce de résistance. Linda and Michael were luminesce as they frolicked through these legendary songs — "The Best Is Yet To Come/Zing! Went The String Of My Heart/Come Fly With Me/Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody/That's Life/The Trolley Song/I've Got You Under My Skin/The Boy Next Door/I've Got A Crush On You/San Francisco/New York, New York/Just In Time."

A stirring duet of "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love" topped this precious evening, with "The Glory Of Love" as an encore performance. Fans leapt to their feet, screaming, beaming… and no doubt left dreaming of the Two For The Road Show.

I left the tent that night with a new-found appreciation for the art of the "duet." Such a night of unadulterated entertainment is rare now a' days… and I'm sure everyone who experienced Two For The Road, like me, simply can't wait for Linda and Michael to "duet again."

The premiere engagement weekend of Linda Eder and Michael Feinstein's Two For The Road concert tour was three nights of musical bliss — The Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis, Massachusetts (August 4), The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts (August 5) [both pictured], and The North Fork Theatre at Westbury in Westbury (Long Island), New York (August 6).

...You Simply Can't "Duet" Alone!
Michael Feinstein Talks With THE VOICE

Following the premiere of the Two For The Road concert tour, THE VOICE caught up with Michael Feinstein to learn a little bit more about his career, how he met Linda, and how the concept of Two For The Road became a reality. Here's what Michael had to say…

Learn more about Michael online at his official Web site www.michaelfeinstein.com!

"My career has been dedicated to performing classic songs for a contemporary audience and there has never been a better time to be a singer than now, especially since there is so much interest in classic American popular songs. When I started performing while still in my teens, I never dreamt that music would become my livelihood. It is truly a blessing to be able to do the thing I most love all the time and get paid for it! My recent activities have been preparation for the new season at my nightclub, Feinstein's At The Regency, planning a new holiday show, the usual seasonal concert tour, and publicity for the release of my new CD called HOPELESS ROMANTICS. The CD is a collaboration with the great jazz pianist, George Shearing, and consists entirely of songs written by Harry Warren. He was a three-time Oscar winner and is one of my favorite songwriters, and I am very proud of the disc.

An answer to the question how did I meet Linda... I honestly cannot recall! Maybe she can, but I feel like I have known her forever, but I have a feeling that most people who meet her feel instantly comfortable and connected to her because she is such a warm and unpretentious person. I do vividly recall the first time we sang together, which was for her album titled AND SO MUCH MORE. It was thrilling to sing with her because a voice like Linda's is truly rare. While recording, we did several takes, and every time she sang a chorus it always sounded perfect to my ears, yet Linda was not pleased and wanted to do it again. It's certainly something I can relate to because she is a perfectionist, and first and foremost we have to please ourselves before we please anyone else, at least in the vocal department. Simply put, singing with Linda is exciting, inspiring and fulfilling.

One of my favorite songs of Linda's is 'Is This Any Way To Fall In Love.' The first time I heard it, I played it over and over again. There are so many great ballads and love songs that she sings that it's truly difficult to choose just one. 'What Kind Of Fool Am I' is certainly another high point for me as a listener.

Our current collaboration is one that has been exciting and challenging and I hope pleasing for our audiences. I think I can speak for Linda when I say that we love doing the show together. Several years ago we toured and each had separate segments in which we mainly performed solo. We only sang one duet, 'Someone.' We both came away from that tour wishing that we could have sung more duets. Well this show certainly makes up for the paucity of dual moments in the previous show because the entire performance is integrated and includes many different kinds of duets from love songs, to a medley of Garland/Sinatra standards, as well as a medley saluting famous duet singers of the past. We particularly enjoy that number because it gives us the chance to pretend that we're Steve and Eydie, Sonny and Cher, or Carly and James. Linda is a natural comedienne and is very funny when she affects the persona of other great ladies of song. She is very generous on stage and makes me feel very comfortable, a true professional. All in all, I can't wait until we do our next series of shows!

We have already had a lot of humorous experiences stemming from our shows, but there is one that stands out in my mind. When we were in Cohasset taking our curtain call, I spotted a man to our right holding a big bouquet of flowers. I whispered to Linda, 'He's got flowers for you,' and walked with her as she retrieved the armful of blossoms from him. Just as she scooped them up in her arms he cried out, 'No, they're for him!' Linda hesitated for a moment and with a surprised expression handed them over to me as we then exploded into gales of laughter. The gentleman who gave us the flowers was also laughing, as were members of the audience who caught what was going on. Off stage Linda said, 'That's the first time THAT'S ever happened!' Sorry Linda, I'll share mine if you share yours!"