Actually, “Bernadette Peters Loves Rodgers & Hammerstein” is the title of Peters’ eagerly awaited new recording, which will be released on March 12 on the Angel Records label. Produced by Peters’ close friend and director, Richard Jay-Alexander, the 13-track disc boasts arrangements by Jonathan Tunick. Tunick is also the disc’s co-producer and conductor, and he recently commented, “I have always wanted to do a project with Bernadette, and am delighted to have worked with her on this extraordinary recording. Her vocal and acting abilities are the perfect complement to the brilliant work of these two legendary songwriters.” Jay-Alexander, who directed Peters’ now-historic solo Carnegie Hall debut, adds, “Bernadette Peters and Rodgers and Hammerstein together make perfect sense. She is a singer’s singer and an actor’s actor. The way she analyzes a song -- its melody, its lyrics, is an experience one would find difficult to describe. I swear that when she sings, I can actually hear her heart flutter, fly, race or break. I describe it as ‘honest’ and ‘bliss.’” And, what does the Tony-winning actress have to say about the genius of R&H? “We’ve taken these songs for granted all our lives,” Peters explains, “but if you examine them closely, there’s much to discover.”

I’m expecting a copy of the CD tonight (I’ll review it for my next column), but I thought Peters’ legion of fans would want to know exactly what R&H tunes the two-time Tony winner has recorded. So, here they are: “It’s a Grand Night for Singing,” “If I Loved You,” “The Gentleman Is a Dope,” “It Might As Well Be Spring,” “Out of My Dreams,” “So Far,” “Something Wonderful,” “I Haven’t Got a Worry in the World,” “Mister Snow,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There Is Nothin’ Like a Dame,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Something Good.” I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to hear the recording. . . In other BP news, the former Annie Get Your Gun star will perform a song from her new recording on ABC-TV’s “Live with Regis & Kelly” on March 12, and she will croon two of the disc’s tunes at the Feb. 4 Juilliard event saluting Richard Rodgers. Peters also graces the pages of the February issue of Good Housekeeping in the “My Favorite Things” column.

FLORENCE LACEY
It’s always a pleasure to speak with Flo Lacey, one of my other very favorite gals who happens to be one of the sweetest divas around. I chatted with the former Evita star while she was in rehearsals in Arlington, VA, for the workshop production of The Gospel According to Fishman, which recently opened at the Signature Theatre. In this original musical by Michael Lazar and Richard Oberacker, Lacey plays the mother of a Jewish boy who, in 1963, is intent on writing gospel music. Lacey has two duets in the new musical, which features direction by Eric Schaeffer, who was at the helm of The Rhythm Club, last season’s Broadway-bound musical in which Lacey also starred. Lacey spoke about the disappointment the company felt when Club canceled its Broadway engagement, but she hopes the show will make it to The Great White Way at some point, adding, “The musical had a phenomenal score.” After Fishman, Lacey will perform opposite Mark Jacoby in a concert version of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music in Portland. Let’s hope this dynamic performer with one of the most exciting belts gets back to Broadway soon! Continued...