During her ingenue years on Broadway, Barbara Cook played Marian the Librarian in "The Music Man," Cunegonde in "Candide," and sang about ice cream in "She Loves Me." No one has ever sung so fetchingly on Broadway (listen to "'Til There Was You" if you don't believe us).

But Ms. Cook has had a second career, perhaps even more enduring, as one of the most glorious interpreters of the American popular songboook. Over the years, the voice has only grown richer, the approach to the material ever wiser.

Next week, Ms. Cook will have a new album out called "No One is Alone" that includes a couple of all-time killer ballads -- the title song by Sondheim and "Some Other Time" by Bernstein. Spring will sound a little sweeter.