Following my recent review of the re-issue in digital (and CD) format of Legends Of Broadway: Liza Minnelli Live At The Winter Garden, I thought it only right that I review the other 'diva' release by Broadway Masterworks, Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett - Live at Carnegie Hall / Live at Lincoln Center.

Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett may sound like an unlikely pairing, but they proved very successful in their partnership, which was taped for TV in March 1962. They had both previously proved a huge pull on Broadway, Andrews in The Boy Friend and My Fair Lady, Burnett in Once Upon A Mattress, but neither was a household name in the US, let alone elsewhere. Remember, we were still talking three years before The Sound of Music hit the big screen - however, the Carnegie Hall concert proved to be a huge success and launched both their careers.

Then, 10 years later, CBS decided to re-unite the partnership, this time at the Avery Fisher Hall (then, the Philharmonic Hall) at Lincoln Center, in a live broadcast in December 1971. This recording features highlights from both concerts, and marks their first release in the digital era (there have been previous releases on vinyl).

So, what of the recordings? I listened to both in one session, and whilst the performances are exactly what you would expect from these legends, they aren't legendary. I never felt drawn in by either recording, in contrast to Liza's Winter Gardens release, where you immediately feel part of it. I don't know if it's the material, or the performances - I just felt very much on the outside looking in. The releases are full of clever arrangements, which although no doubt entertaining on the night, now are a little 'twee'. The Medley of the '60s (46 songs in 13 minutes) is great to start with, but soon becomes too much. 'You're So London' works well, but neither really gets a chance to really sing - not that Burnett was, in my mind, in the same league as Andrews.

Masterworks has done a good job with the production, and the music is great (having Irwin Kostal at the helm, what else could it be?), but it didn't change my life. That said, these were two of the milestones of TV entertainment in the last 50 years, and it's great to hear them again, this time digitally.

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Ian Gude