This is the absolute best musical. It deserved all 10 of the Tony's it won. And the fact that the soundtrack also won a Grammy goes to show that it holds its own as a standalone album, even if you don't watch the show itself.
Seeing this on broadway was the most moving experience of a musical I've ever had. Thank you, Tiny Desk for letting me re-live that beautiful experience!
Just the opening piano of Answer Me brings me to tears. I was supposed to see this tour in April but then the theaters closed. I hope I get to see it eventually but for now this tiny desk concert is perfect.
Some songs from Hadestown were performed a while back, but I agree that it would be cool to hear some creative theater pieces performed here! I feel like Tiny Desk would be a better medium for less mass-produced musicals.
It was fantastic and I loved every second of it! However, I don't agree with Tony Shalhoub's Tony Award. It's a MUSICAL and he barely sings, or speaks for that matter, so it really should have gone to Ethan Slater. His performance is like nothing I've ever seen before and it was incredibly demanding vocally and physically.
Maria Amezquita I agree Ethan Slater’s performance was more physically and vocally demanding. However, the award is for Best ACTOR in a Musical. I think in terms of a powerful performance that reeled the audience in and elicited sympathy for the character, Tony Shaloub did a much better job. Just look at his reactions to Dina’s singing in the Tony performance! He conveys so much without saying a word. I’m also happy the Tonys decided to go for a more subtle and less flashy performance, even if Ethan Slater’s was fantastic and, yes, Tony worthy. I could say the same for Joshua Henry. This is not to say Ethan Slater’s performance was bad or even less good than Tony Shaloub’s. But it is to say, I understand why Shaloub got the award, particularly since it was his 4th nomination without a win and it was Slater’s first.
As soon as I watched this I purchased the entire album on iTunes. I love the Middle Eastern melodies by this great band & the wonderful voices. I hope to see the touring company.
Loved the movie and saw the musical. Didn’t get a chance to see Tony (he is spectacular actor) as a general but original actor Sassoon Gabay was amazing just like in a movie.
I love in the last song when he hits that belting note and Tony starts smiling at him in the background. Also I’m so in awe of Katrina Lenk. Like holy shit man.
i had the luck to see this in broadway i cant stress how magical and perfect the show was. every single one of the perfomers was incredible, katrina AMAZING
I am happy to have stumbled upon this Tiny Desk Concert. I saw The Band's Visit two months ago and, at the end, I cried uncontrollably for ten minutes. I think it was my gut reaction to Nightmare Trump and how this show gracefully, wittily, and piercingly talks to the hopes of people who still believe in cross-cultural human connection. I kind of developed a girl crush on Katrina Lenk as well (and have learned a lot about Umm Kulthum in the interim). Just a beautiful show.
I don't know what it was about this performance, but just the emotion of Omar Sherif made me cry big baby tears. I love this song and this musical so much!
I just watched the live show tonight at gammage auditorium and I still have tears in my eyes. This musical struck me so deeply in my soul. It said the things about the beauty of life that I feel like I've been trying to find and say for years. "Nothing important happened." is such a poignant and beautiful understatement. So thank you so much to everyone who was involved with this.
So glad to have just discovered this! We saw the play about two weeks before this Tiny Desk performance and were blown away! Everyone was wonderful.....and Tony Shalhoub's understudy did a superb job, I have to add.
This was wonderful. I don't really have the opportunity to see musicals, so I wasn't even aware of The Band's Visit. Thank you for giving them a platform!
I was fascinated by their melodies, harmonies and singing voices. Thanks to NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert! I hope the MC will be translated in multiple languages. From Japanese music lovers in the Far East.
Thumps up NPR, the show is amazing, America is the world where all cultures meet and feel home, culture should rule not military not politics, love humanity
and it's brilliant - i'm a brit in the UK - i love npr and i love tiny desk and this is so good - i'm sad about a lot of stuff at the mo with trump blah blah blah - but this reminds me why i love America - what a great asset npr is and what a brilliant tiny desk concert this is - hoorah !
blugeagua - That is true! A MAJORITY did NOT vote for Trump. Thanks for correcting me. I can't believe I even wrote that! Maybe I was trying not to come across as too oppositional or something!
When I heard the beginning of Omar Sharif, I thought her voice really sounded like someone else's I've heard before. I thought about it for a second and realized it's FreddeGredde who does covers of various songs. Omar Sharif in particular reminded me of his cartoon cover medley. Cool stuff.
Tony Shalhoub's subtle smile at 16:05 is the perfect moment of appreciating someone's gift as Adam Kantor hits that crescendo.
I came down here specifically looking for a comment like this.
I scrolled down just to find a comment like this 👏👏👏
We saw the show, having heard about it here on Tiny Desk. It's probably the best we've ever seen.
This phrase is amazing: "our common connection to music can rise above the noise of intolerance" this is wonderful and it surely does in real life...
This is the absolute best musical. It deserved all 10 of the Tony's it won. And the fact that the soundtrack also won a Grammy goes to show that it holds its own as a standalone album, even if you don't watch the show itself.
One of the most subtly beautiful musicals to ever be written
Katrina's awkward slide in gets me everytime. She deserves a Tony just for that
Ali Idris wpGood thing she got one!
So well deserved! She’s a show (hearts) stopper. Hope to see more of her 😍
Confident goofiness is the best thing xD
2:51
Seeing this on broadway was the most moving experience of a musical I've ever had. Thank you, Tiny Desk for letting me re-live that beautiful experience!
To this I say a resounding Amen!!
Me too :)
Me as well!!
Katrina has a jazz quality to her voice that I can’t get enough of, and Adam Kantor is just perfect.
Never really heard Arabic music ... and now a musical has me sold
Next try the food!
This is one of these shows that are so diverse and beautiful that I can easily watch it ten times in a row and still be amazed.
Just the opening piano of Answer Me brings me to tears. I was supposed to see this tour in April but then the theaters closed. I hope I get to see it eventually but for now this tiny desk concert is perfect.
Can we please have more musical performances here? That would be amazing!
TheHampa5 what do you mean? There's hundreds of them
vicente alvarado Have they done musicals on Tiny Desk before??
vicente alvarado I assume you’re joking but just in case you’re not if then they mean more performances from theatre musicals.
Some songs from Hadestown were performed a while back, but I agree that it would be cool to hear some creative theater pieces performed here! I feel like Tiny Desk would be a better medium for less mass-produced musicals.
I think a Hadestown one is soon to come out cause Eva Noblezada poster on her Insta stories that they just filmed Tiny Desk!
Now y'all can see why it won 10 Tonys! (That's one short of Hamilton, and 3rd-most all time!!)
It was fantastic and I loved every second of it!
However, I don't agree with Tony Shalhoub's Tony Award. It's a MUSICAL and he barely sings, or speaks for that matter, so it really should have gone to Ethan Slater. His performance is like nothing I've ever seen before and it was incredibly demanding vocally and physically.
Maria Amezquita I agree Ethan Slater’s performance was more physically and vocally demanding. However, the award is for Best ACTOR in a Musical. I think in terms of a powerful performance that reeled the audience in and elicited sympathy for the character, Tony Shaloub did a much better job. Just look at his reactions to Dina’s singing in the Tony performance! He conveys so much without saying a word.
I’m also happy the Tonys decided to go for a more subtle and less flashy performance, even if Ethan Slater’s was fantastic and, yes, Tony worthy. I could say the same for Joshua Henry.
This is not to say Ethan Slater’s performance was bad or even less good than Tony Shaloub’s. But it is to say, I understand why Shaloub got the award, particularly since it was his 4th nomination without a win and it was Slater’s first.
Fair enough. Either way, both shows were fantastic and both actors are incredibly talented. Can't wait where Ethan's career goes! :)
As soon as I watched this I purchased the entire album on iTunes. I love the Middle Eastern melodies by this great band & the wonderful voices. I hope to see the touring company.
Loved the movie and saw the musical. Didn’t get a chance to see Tony (he is spectacular actor) as a general but original actor Sassoon Gabay was amazing just like in a movie.
ADAM KANTOR’S VOICE IS SO BEAUTIFUL
Sublime and timely show. My only regret is that I only saw it once. NPR Tiny Desk "came floating in on a jasmine wind". Thank you.
We saw this in November, right after it opened. We had no idea how great it would be.
I love in the last song when he hits that belting note and Tony starts smiling at him in the background. Also I’m so in awe of Katrina Lenk. Like holy shit man.
i had the luck to see this in broadway i cant stress how magical and perfect the show was. every single one of the perfomers was incredible, katrina AMAZING
SO magical. I will never forget it. ♥️
"The Band Visit" - one of my favorite movies. Great perfomance , thanks NPR again!
I am happy to have stumbled upon this Tiny Desk Concert. I saw The Band's Visit two months ago and, at the end, I cried uncontrollably for ten minutes. I think it was my gut reaction to Nightmare Trump and how this show gracefully, wittily, and piercingly talks to the hopes of people who still believe in cross-cultural human connection. I kind of developed a girl crush on Katrina Lenk as well (and have learned a lot about Umm Kulthum in the interim). Just a beautiful show.
I don't know what it was about this performance, but just the emotion of Omar Sherif made me cry big baby tears. I love this song and this musical so much!
They are incredible! Katrina Lenks Omar Sharif just go to the soul.
I just watched the live show tonight at gammage auditorium and I still have tears in my eyes. This musical struck me so deeply in my soul. It said the things about the beauty of life that I feel like I've been trying to find and say for years. "Nothing important happened." is such a poignant and beautiful understatement. So thank you so much to everyone who was involved with this.
So glad to have just discovered this! We saw the play about two weeks before this Tiny Desk performance and were blown away! Everyone was wonderful.....and Tony Shalhoub's understudy did a superb job, I have to add.
Katrina is so transcendent. She can’t help but transport to a place when she’s telling stories.
Wow that last song! I have chills. Wish I could see this on Broadway! 😢
This was wonderful. I don't really have the opportunity to see musicals, so I wasn't even aware of The Band's Visit. Thank you for giving them a platform!
I continue to revisit this live performance time and time again.
Me, too, & I share it with others. It’s so haunting.
I feel particularly sad now listening given the state of affairs
YESSSS. Saw this on Broadway and was so moved. PLEASE more musicals on Tiny Desk!
Revisiting this for a message of hope.
Same.
Arabic music is something beyond art and music.... its just something special and soo underrated
wow, i have chills. I love this musical, hope it gets the recognition it deserves (especially at the Tonys!)
As a former bass clarinet player, i couldn’t get over how there is a bass clarinet right there 😍
I just saw the touring production and it is superb. If it plays near you, RUN! The cast is amazing and the music sublime.
I was fascinated by their melodies, harmonies and singing voices.
Thanks to NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert!
I hope the MC will be translated in multiple languages.
From Japanese music lovers in the Far East.
*Timestamps*
Soraya 0:00
Omar Sharif 3:52
Itgara'a 8:29
Haj-Butrus 9:26
Answer Me 14:06
They all sounded amazing here, at their Tony winning best.
Wonderful tribute to peace, love and understanding.
Short and succinct
What a darbuka solo! Fantastic!
This is such an OUTSTANDING show!!! I hope ya'll get to see it on the road if you missed it on Broadway!
Answer Me is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard
I keep coming back to this. And....Ossama Farouk on percussion is incredible.
Just beautiful humanity on display!! Thank you to ALL!
Glad that this showed up to me in 2020. I needed this a lot
Thumps up NPR, the show is amazing, America is the world where all cultures meet and feel home, culture should rule not military not politics, love humanity
America USED to be the world where all cultures meet and feel at home. Trump and all those who voted for him or didn't vote destroyed that.
I feel like I'm watching a Wes Anderson movie.
Kasuga Yama 😂😂😂 perfect 👌
I think this is my favorite musical as of today
This was one of my favorite movies!!!!!!!
Definitely add on to my to-watch list. The melodies, voices, and the story line are just amazing.
This is pure enchantment, so full and rich. Well deserving of all the awards and accolades.
beautiful music - Answer Me brought me to tears
me, too!
Favorite musical of the season LOVE!!
Answer Me is (imo) one of the best songs from a musical ever.
That was just incredible..!
Was led here because of a Broadway.com’s Tony nomination round table. The music of this show is fascinating!
Truly one of the most special shows ever
this is one of my fave performances....
Very moving and accomplished performances....
So in love with Tony Shaloub!💕🌹He’s so multitalented! Sorry Brooke🤭
WE NEED MORE BROADWAY SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!!
i could WATCH her sing for hours...
I remember the original movie. Would love to see and hear this show!
Vraiment beau ! Très différent du contune qu'on a habituellement sur NPR Music, bravo on en veut plus !
J'aime bien ce mixte de culture, bravo !
This channel never fails to amaze me - such diversity in musical style and energy, but I've loved every one! Thank you!!
i!! love!! adam!! kantor!!!
LOVELY & SOOTHING ... GOD Bless
The musicians are all amazing playas!
and it's brilliant - i'm a brit in the UK - i love npr and i love tiny desk and this is so good - i'm sad about a lot of stuff at the mo with trump blah blah blah - but this reminds me why i love America - what a great asset npr is and what a brilliant tiny desk concert this is - hoorah !
As an American, I apologize profusely for what nearly half of our population chose to do to not only our country but the rest of the world.
Elaine Thank gods MOST of us did not vote for him though. The fucking elections were rigged.
The fucking elections were rigged. MOST of us Americans did NOT vote for that scumbag. We apologize.
blugeagua - That is true! A MAJORITY did NOT vote for Trump. Thanks for correcting me. I can't believe I even wrote that! Maybe I was trying not to come across as too oppositional or something!
The oud 🙌🏻
i really love this musical numbers..
この散らかった空間の中で視線の先に異国を思い描いて歌い上げられるKatrina、本当に素晴らしい。
Its nice to have singing detective monk in the band. Great music!
My new favorite musical =)
The thumbs down button should not exist for NPRs tiny desk channel 😊
That was gorgeous.
Mazel Tov Tiny Desk Concerts! ☺️
El Tony Shalhoub es la Joya del Nilo, sin ser egipcio. Que talento tan bravo el de ese man, ois.
Holy cow I’m crying
Absolutely beautiful!!!
36 questions the podcast musical should perform here! the arranging in tht is to die for!!
Love the whole composition
Holy shit, I didn't knew they made Broadway musical based on the movie! I'm so excited
beautifull!!! i love her!
Excited for the new Wes Anderson film
great great performance
When I heard the beginning of Omar Sharif, I thought her voice really sounded like someone else's I've heard before.
I thought about it for a second and realized it's FreddeGredde who does covers of various songs. Omar Sharif in particular reminded me of his cartoon cover medley.
Cool stuff.
The universe's only hot clarinet player.
I take offense to that statement
he’s not as hot without the glasses and the hat i checked
He is very! It's the attitude (& the fabulous command of that clarinet). I thank David Yazbeck for that very sexy klezmer music.
squidward tentacles is right there
WHAT ABOUT SQUIDWARD???
I KNEW THAT WAS MONKKKK I KNEW ITTT
HOLY SHIT IT IS MONK I WAS MAKING A JOKE BUT IT IS
Wow! So much talent!
Absolutely lovely.
Omg the singer is the dad of Mrs. Maisel on Amazon prime
Wendy Zhuo And the woman who sings “Omar Sharif” shows up as Mrs Maisel’s mom’s psychic at the end of the season!
oh wow!!
Pusher Love Man 😱
this was beautiful
That was beautiful.
I want to see this show!
Omar Sharif ❤❤❤
Woww... its just amazing!
Thank you NPR for expanding my horizons.
This is great!, And I loved the movie too! :)
6:40 if you have CC on it says "[Music] Doughnuts yes" XD