Released as a special televised event and later included on a deluxe edition of Boyle’s album Hope Reimagined, the duet was a moment of musical theater magic. The song, originally written for the 1973 musical A Little Night Music, has been interpreted by dozens of great voices over the years — but never quite like this.
From the moment the first soft piano notes began, the atmosphere was set: restrained, elegant, and emotionally charged. Streisand entered first, her voice as rich and golden as ever, delivering the opening lines with the kind of world-weary grace only decades of artistry can bring. Then came Boyle, her signature vulnerability instantly palpable. She sang not with technical flair, but with a deep ache — as though she was the woman in the song, looking back on a life of almosts and not-quites.
But the real magic happened when their voices joined.
In harmony, Boyle and Streisand didn’t compete — they conversed. One voice weathered and wise, the other tender and yearning. Together, they turned “Send In The Clowns” into a meditation on time, regret, and the quiet beauty of broken dreams.
Critics were quick to call it one of the most powerful versions of the song ever performed.
“Boyle brings raw sincerity; Streisand brings masterful control. Together, they offer something profoundly human,” wrote The Guardian.
Online, fans were equally moved.
“This isn’t just a duet. It’s a conversation between two souls who understand heartbreak,” one YouTube commenter shared.
Behind the scenes, both singers spoke warmly of one another.
“Barbra has always been a beacon of excellence to me,” Boyle said. “Sharing this song with her — it’s more than a duet. It’s a gift.”
Streisand responded with equal grace: “Susan sings from a place of truth. You can’t teach that.”
Whether it was a one-time collaboration or the beginning of something more, “Send In The Clowns” has never felt quite so intimate, or so grand.
Two women. Two worlds. One unforgettable performance.
