Amanda McBroom (r) and George Ball (l) have been married for 35+ years.

Jacques Brel

For decades, many of us have been smitten by the songs of Jacques Brel, a Belgian writer of achy-breaky bitter-sweet chansons about love, death and debauchery. The French chanson is a perfect storm of emotions and memories condensed into stories that are sung. Each one is a masterpiece. Of course, if you are old enough you will remember the heyday of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris which had quite a run in the 1960-70′s. Pay no attention to the movie that was made, it is best forgotten.

Amanda McBroom

Then there is the incomparable Amanda McBroom a singer who has been called “…the greatest cabaret performer of her generation, an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a voice to match.” Her name first came to the attention of the music public when Bette Midler’s version of Amanda’s song “The Rose” hit number one all over the world in 1979. But it was Amanda’s performance of her own song on the Golden Globes (she won), the Grammys (she didn’t) and The Tonight Show that launched her career as a singer as well as songwriter.

McBroom and Brel September 20-23

So it comes as nothing less than great news for Brel lovers that following two prior sold out BSC engagements, Amanda will be joined by her husband George Ball and Michele Brourman. Together they will bring the astounding music of Jaques Brel – one of the world’s most passionate singer/songwriters – to Spice Dragon’s second floor cabaret. Brel in the Berkshires! will arrive for three performances September 20-23 at Spice Dragon, 297 North Street, Downtown Pittsfield.

Several videos follow this article, where you can hear both Jacques Brel and Amanda McBroom sing them in French, and English.

McBroom’s songs have been recorded by the likes of Bette Midler, Leanne Rimes, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Anne Murray, Harry Belafonte, Betty Buckley, Stephanie Mills, The Manhattan Transfer, Donny Osmond, and the Chipmunks.

Performances at Spice Dragon are on Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets: $35 (general admission); VIP Tickets: $45 available for the Friday, September 21 performance (includes post-reception with Amanda & George), and available by calling 413-236-8888, at the Barrington Stage Box Office (30 Union Street), or online at www.barringtonstageco.org.

There will be a special performance of Brel in the Berkshires! in support of Barrington Stage Company’s award-winning Playwright Mentoring Project (PMP). This Benefit takes place on Saturday, September 22 beginning at 5pm with dinners in private homes and local restaurants, the concert at 8pm, followed by a dessert and champagne reception at 9:30pm. Benefit tickets are $150 for dinner and concert and $100 concert only. For more information on attending this concert and supporting PMP, contact Development Associate Trevor Wise at 413-997-6116 or twise@barringtonstageco.org.