简介：Picturethis:atelevisionscreenfilledwithanimageofamaturewoman'shandholdingthehandofanadolescentgirl.Thenthosehands--andtheirowners,BarbraStreisandand15-year-oldlook-alikeandsingingsensationLaurenFrost--ascendaflightofstairsthatleads(suggestively,atleast)todestinyitself.Athirdofthewayup,Barbrareleaseshersurrogatechild-self...andwatchesasthelatterclimbstherestoftheway,disappearingintoherfutureofpossibilities. Wow.WhoelsebutStreisandcouldstillpulloffsuchanaudaciousmomentofsentimentalpsychodrama,thewaythatonlyatruestarcould?Yetnestledwithintheautobiographicalmeringueofthelegendarysinger'sMillennium's-Endconcert,performedattheMGMGrandHotelinLasVegasonDecember31,1999,thatscene--andmanyothersuchself-referentialmomentsrelivingthesundrychaptersofStreisand'slifeandcareer--isquitemovinginitslaid-barehonesty.AfullerexperiencethanlisteningtothedoubleCDoftheconcert,thisvideorecordofamagicalnight(doesanyonerememberourcollectiveY2KanxietiesthatNewYear'sEve?)providesthemostbangforthebuckwhenitcomestorelivingallthosespecialscenes:surpriseguestappearances(BarryGibb,BryanAdams,NeilDiamond,andStreisand'sson,JasonGould),duetswithJudyGarlandandFrankSinatra(viavideofootage,ofcourse),anappearancebydancemasterSavionGloverasBrotherTime,ahumorousbitwithShirleyMacLaine,andseveralcollaborationswithFrost.IfTimeless:LivefromtheMGMGrandwasindeed,asStreisandclaimed,thefirststepofashortfarewelltourthatendedinearly2000,itwastheperfectwaytoexitthestageforever.--TomKeogh…