Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio

Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio Review

This DVD Documentary on the FAB FIVE'S greatest album of all time....RIO....is a must have for all DURANIES!!! I'll admit, my first one had the "skipping" issues and flaws (bought it at Virgin Megastore), but once I purchased it through Amazon, I had no further problems! It is such a wonderful "look back" at a great album (my personal favorite out of all their albums). The guys look great and give some wonderful insight to the songs and the music. My only "down side" to the disc was that they did not discuss every song on the album(apparently for time purposes). Two of my favorites that were not discussed were "Lonely in your Nightmare" and "Last Chance on the Stairway". I guess since they were not "hits', they were passed by. To bad....those are great songs! But, the disc is wonderful and it is loaded with alot of information and history that every Duranie can their teeth into! So buy it and enjoy.........I love mine!!!! Bye...Donna "RHO" Rasco/Yucaipa, CA

Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio Overview

This latest addition to the acclaimed Classic Albums series takes us to the early eighties and the release of Duran Duran's second album "Rio". Released against a backdrop of riots, record unemployment and the Falklands War this optimistic and celebratory album would generate a string of hit singles and groundbreaking videos and catapult Duran Duran to global stardom. This DVD tells the story behind the writing, recording and subsequent success of the album through newly filmed interviews, musical demonstrations and both new and archive performances.

TRACK LISTING: Features excerpts from: Rio, My Own Way, Hungry Like The Wolf, New Religion, Save A Prayer, The Chauffeur & more...

Bonus Features: Brand new session performances filmed in Boston especially for this DVD of: 1) Save A Prayer 2) The Chauffeur 3) New Religion 4) Hungry Like The Wolf 5) Rio. Additional interviews and demonstrations not included in the broadcast version.

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Cyrano de Bergerac

Cyrano de Bergerac Review

I saw this on Broadway just moments after the stagehands strike ended in December 2007. Kevin Kline takes a very understated approach to Cyrano, a character usually played with bravado and bluster. Such an approach might seem at odds with the character as written, but it really worked for me (it might be that I'm a Kevin Kline fan). His Cyrano was almost embarrassed by his acclaim, as if the people around him had built him up into a legend that he didn't want to be. Jennifer Garner and Daniel Sunjata, unfortunately, are just so-so. Roxane is such a cipher that it's hard to see what about her Cyrano is so attracted to, and without a strong personality in the role, she just kind of disappears.

I'm looking forward to seeing what was captured on video.

Now all they have to do is release "The Seagull" from Shakespeare in the Park 2001: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Natalie Portman, John Goodman, Marcia Gay Harden, Stephen Spinella, Larry Pine, Debra Monk, directed by Mike Nichols. Best thing I've ever seen on a stage.

Cyrano de Bergerac Overview

Now on DVD, this romantic Broadway hit starring Oscar winner Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda), Jennifer Garner (Juno) and Daniel Sunjata (TV's Rescue Me), wowed both critics and audiences. This classic tale of romance and tragedy tells the touching story of the big-nosed poet and philosopher Cyrano who feeds the handsome but empty-headed Christian the honey'd words to win the love of the beautiful Roxanne.

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Pee-wee's Playhouse #2 - Seasons 3-5

Pee-wee's Playhouse #2 - Seasons 3-5 Review

Excellent show. Not for everyone or for every moment. But when something a little odd is what you want, this show fits it. Pee Wee is strange and interesting at the same time. The charactors are pretty unique and the "story" each show is quick paced and constantly changing so kids never really lose attention. It also helps if there's some part of the show you don't like since you can wait 2 minutes and it will move to something else.
Definitely woth having in the collection. Price was cheap for a great quality set that is a must have in the library.

Pee-wee's Playhouse #2 - Seasons 3-5 Overview

Now you can see Miss Yvonne, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi the Genie, Reba the Mail Lady, Captain Carl, Tito, the King of Cartoons and the rest of the gang for the first time ever on DVD! Join the fun and scream the secret word to every great episode! It's side-splitting hilarity in never-before-seen clarity! Hey, that rhymes! Get 'em while they're hot if you wanna be cool! Winner of an amazing 22 Emmy« Awards! During its six-year run, this show has enchanted millions of children and adults alike! Starring Paul Reubens, Larry Fishburne, S. Epatha Merkerson, Lynne Stewart. VOL. 2 EPISODES: Pajama Party, I Remember Curtis, Reba Eats and Pterri Runs, Conky's Breakdown, To Tell the Tooth, Mystery, Dr. Pee-wee and the Del Rubios, Front Page Pee-wee, Fire in the Playhouse, Tango Time, Love That Story, Playhouse Day, Sick, Did Someone Say Sick?, Accidental Playhouse, Miss Yvonne's Visit, Fun, Fun, Fun, Rebarella, Camping Out, Heat Wave, Something to Do, Chairry Tee Drive, Playhouse for Sale, Let's Play Office Includes 6 Never-Before-Seen Lost Episodes!

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Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection)

Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection) Review

First let me say that I like this movie. I'm British by birth so I am duty bound to deduct one star for the most unsuccessful attempt at a British accent ever to be immortalized on film. It shows how much the standard of acting has improved when you hear the flawless British accents of actors like Rene Zellweiger or Johnny Depp. Dick Van Dyke simply can't do a British accent and should never have been cast in the part. There was a British actor/singer at the time called Tommy Steele, who already had an impressive stage and screen resume and who would have been perfect in the role. However, he was overlooked for the bigger name (in the US) of Van Dyke. Ironically, Julie Andrews was passed over a year earlier for the movie of 'My Fair Lady' for the non-singing, but better-known, Audrey Hepburn (whose cockney accent was almost as bad as Van Dyke's). Andrews showed what a mistake that was by winning an Oscar for this film. However, that quibble aside, this is a joyous, entrancing movie.

The funny thing I referred to in the title of this review is that in most movie adaptations of books, like say the Harry Potter series, angry reviewers spend much time and energy complaining that the movies don't follow the books. Hardly anyone (I did find one such review) says that about 'Mary Poppins', even though the movie bears little resemblance to the book and, in particular, the character of Mary Poppins is completely changed.

Personally, I've never felt that movie adaptations need to follow the books on which they were based. Movies are a totally different medium and the only criterion should be whether the movie works as a movie. In that respect, 'Mary Poppins' works admirably.

Mary Poppins (Disney Gold Classic Collection) Overview

There is only one word that comes close to accurately describing the enchanting Mary Poppins, and that term was coined by the movie itself: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! Even at 2 hours and 20 minutes, Disney's pioneering mixture of live action and animation (based on the books by P.L. Travers) still holds kids spellbound. Julie Andrews won an Oscar as the world's most magically idealized nanny ("practically perfect in every way," and complete with lighter-than-air umbrella), and Dick Van Dyke is her clownishly charming beau, Bert the chimney sweep. The songs are also terrific, ranging from bright and cheery ("A Spoonful of Sugar") to dark and cheery (the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee") to touchingly melancholy ("Feed the Birds"). Many consider Mary Poppins to be the crowning achievement of Walt Disney's career--and it was the only one of his features to be nominated for a best picture Academy Award until Beauty and the Beast in 1991. --Jim Emerson

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Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the Century

Art of Singing: Golden Voices of the Century Review

This is an unbelievable collection of performance footage from some of the greatest singers of all time. I am very grateful to NVC Arts/Warner Music Vision for producing and distributing this DVD. Whether you are an opera singer or an opera lover (or both!), you will love this DVD. This DVD has rare footage that you are not likely to see anywhere else. I particularly recommend this DVD to opera students, as there is so much to be learned from watching and listening to these elite singers, not to mention the insightful commentary from Magda Olivero, Thomas Hampson, and others.

There are 28 artists featured here, and the DVD runs for almost 2 hours. Virtually everything in this DVD was enjoyable, so comments on each and every section would make this review very lengthy indeed. Thus, I'll stick to my favorite sections.

I loved the footage of Enrico Caruso from the early 20th century. It is entirely fitting to begin this DVD with opera's first true superstar. I really enjoyed the commentary of Magda Olivero in the features of Beniamino Gigli and Tito Schipa. She is incredibly charming and insightful. Of course, the peformance footage of these two phenomenal tenors is fantastic, with Gigli singing "Ombra mai fu" from Xerxes, and Schipa singing "M'appari" from Martha. There is the ONLY footage of legendary Luisa Tetrazzini. She is at a retirement party (age 61), and singing along to a recording of Caruso singing "M'appari". It is poignant.

There is rare footage of Rosa Ponselle. You get to see her MGM screen tests, singing "Chanson Boheme" and the "Habanera" from Carmen. She pulls off very committed performances, even though she was all alone in front of the camera. She was 21 at the time, beautiful, and in great voice. You get Kirsten Flagstad singing "Hojotoho!" from "Die Walkure" in a live performance from 1938 introduced by Bob Hope, and accompanied by the Met orchestra.

Being a big "La Boheme" fan, I was flabbergasted to see a live peformance of the final scene from Act I, sung by the dream team of Renata Tebaldi and Jussi Bjorling. It was a live broadcast in 1956, and they were both fabulous.

The DVD ends with some legendary Maria Callas performances. You get a clip of the duet "Parigi, o cara" from the famous 1958 Lisbon "La Traviata", sung with Alfredo Kraus. Then, you get the duet and "Vissi d'arte" from the equally famous 1964 Covent Garden performance of "Tosca" with Tito Gobbi. There is intermittent commentary from Nicola Rescigno. Callas was an amazing performer.

In addition to the above, there is some wonderful footage of Martinelli, de Luca, Tauber, Tibbett, Stevens, de Los Angeles, Sutherland, Price, Olivero, Corelli, Vickers, and more. This is a true cornucopia of operatic legends.

Highly recommended.

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Elvis Presley Musicals: 4 Film Favorites (Kissin' Cousins / Live a Little Love a Little / Girl Happy / Tickle Me)

Elvis Presley Musicals: 4 Film Favorites (Kissin' Cousins / Live a Little Love a Little / Girl Happy / Tickle Me) Review

A fun collection with excellent audio-video. This is a blast for those baby-boomers who saw these Presleys in the movies in the 1960s, then watched facsimilies on TV (bad reception, tinny sound) in the 1970s; then passable dubs on VHS in the 1980s. You know the storylines and the songtitles.

Best: LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE. Must be surmised that the powers-that-be finally decided to make a contemporary vehicle for the star: although production values approximate a Made-For-TV in 1968, we have an adult movie with adult themes, and just three songs in the course of the story. The only fantasy part is a production number of a dream scenario. Although Elvis could have cut loose a bit more, he looks fantastic, hair in a '50s pompador, trimmed way down. No "Do The Clam" here! His acting at times is surprisingly strong - he must have appreciated the change, the maturation of his screen character. His comic timing and body English surely evaded those lazy critics at the time. I doubt Brando or Cary Grant fans would find any issue with what Elvis accomplished here.
An interesting aspect is in the location shots, I surmise, in and around Beverly Hills. Gives one a chance to imagine what an Elvis TV series might have looked like! We see Elvis driving down a real street, running on a real beach. It's different!

Worst: GIRL HAPPY. As a Beach Movie, it's one of the best, but for a star seriously near age 30, and for his co-star, an excellent actress, Shelley Fabares, also past the age to play a 20 year old, it's pretty embarrassing. A plus, however, are some production numbers with real '50s Rock and Roll - when the camera decides to focus on Elvis for more than two seconds, it's pandemonium. But Gary Crosby faking bass and the other band guys mugging it up are too much.

Funniest: TICKLE ME features Elvis in great form, doing physical comedy as well as anyone, then or now. A curious mix of slapstick and adult situations but the thing hangs together. Although it's been said he had to be dragged onto the set, something kicked in, and we have a pretty solid comedy.
(For those who analyze in depth, that risque line Lonnie says to Mrs. Radford in the jeep is cut).

Grooviest: KISSIN' COUSINS, another non-favorite amongst the literary elites, has a great soundtrack and a funky, off-kilter feel about it; a decent script, though things go a little haywire in the last 10 minute or so; strong performances by Jack Albertson, as Elvis' Military superior, also Cynthia Pepper Typist sent from the Pentagon to keep records - turns out she becomes the only one to keep a semblance of order, as the mission to secure a military site on a Mountain inhabited by reluctant mountaineers constantly veers off course; only about *one* too many songs.
Though it's apparent Elvis is not as engaged as he could be - but it's not surprising, as this was the first official "quickie" in his career - involved Elvis playing his own cousin and wearing a blonde wig. Producer Sam Katzman, known as "The King of the 'Quickies'", did his thing: this film was reportedly completed in 18 days.
For those who study the music, "Smokey Mountain Boy" is on the soundtrcak - was not on a VHS edition; and, disappointingly enough, a great meium soul rocker, "Catchin' On Fast", shows up in the *record album* version! (The movie version is heard in the "Extras", featuring original movie trailors).

Elvis Presley Musicals: 4 Film Favorites (Kissin' Cousins / Live a Little Love a Little / Girl Happy / Tickle Me) Overview

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Run time: 382 minutes

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THE TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI JAZZ ORCHESTRA: Strive For Jive

THE TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI JAZZ ORCHESTRA: Strive For Jive Review

THE TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI JAZZ ORCHESTRA: Strive For Jive Overview

This live, full-length DVD concert performance of the 16-piece Big Band, which includes Frank Wess and Lew Tabackin, provides an additional dimension by infusing the concert with interviews from Akiyoshi and Tabackin. The definitive record of the world's foremost modern Jazz orchestra, this DVD is contemporary Big Band music at its best!

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Camelot (Broadway Version)

Camelot (Broadway Version) Review

This version is better then the movie I waited 215 years for "this" version "HBO" to come out,

This is just like being in the theater, so "go out to dinner and the go to the theater for the evening.

You will not forget the first time you watch this, and will watch it over and over again.

Before this came out there were websites requesting a VHS copy including Professors teaching theater, on the web. A good VHS copy ran as high as 0.00 and it was worth it

Camelot (Broadway Version) Overview

Experience Camelot’s "one brief, shining moment" as Lerner and Loewe envisioned it—live on a Broadway stage. Working at the top of his talent, Richard Harris heads an all-star cast in one of Broadway’s wittiest, most literate musicals, filled with memorable tunes. Recorded at New York’s historic Winter Garden Theatre in 1982, this production captures all the immediacy and intimacy of a live performance viewed from the best seat in the house.

Idealistic King Arthur longs to create a perfectly principled kingdom, but sees his dream undone by a tragic love triangle involving Queen Guenevere (Meg Bussert) and his best friend Lancelot (Richard Muenz). In this thoroughly engaging Tony®-nominated production, the medieval monarch’s vision—a place where "violence is not strength, and compassion is not weakness"—speaks to our time and for all time.

Recommended for family viewing by the National Education Association

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE original Broadway PLAYBILL® (DVD-ROM) and bios of Lerner & Loewe and Richard Harris.

Camelot (Broadway Version) Specifications

A live-on-stage performance filmed for HBO in 1982, Camelot returns Richard Harris to the role he immortalized on film in 1967. Harris replaced the original King Arthur, Richard Burton, in this revival production as it was on its way to New York's Winter Garden Theatre, which turned out to be Harris' only role on the Broadway stage. Fifteen years later, he's an older and wiser Arthur, a little more world-weary but still with a twinkle in his eye. He's paired with Meg Bussert, whose Guinevere is not as beautiful as Vanessa Redgrave in the film, but a better singer and appropriately younger. Bussert, who was Tony-nominated for her role in Brigadoon the year before, sounds eerily like original Broadway star Julie Andrews at times. Richard Muenz (The Most Happy Fella revival) plays Lancelot, Barrie Ingham plays Pellinore, and Richard Backus is Mordred. Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's score is still a great classic, and here two songs cut from the movie are restored, "Before I Gaze at You Again" and "The Seven Deadly Virtues," but inexplicably cut is "Then You May Take Me to the Fair." Not surprisingly the production has a more stagebound feel compared to the sumptuous feature film, but it's good to have a more faithful version of the show available on DVD. --David Horiuchi

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Georges Bizet - Les Pecheurs de Perles / Massis, Grassi, Nakajima, De Donato, Viotti, Pizzi (Teatro la Fenice, Venice)

Georges Bizet - Les Pecheurs de Perles / Massis, Grassi, Nakajima, De Donato, Viotti, Pizzi (Teatro la Fenice, Venice) Review

This creative production is very well sung, danced, conducted, staged, and filmed. Annick Massis has a world class voice and the baritone Luca Grassi also has a major beautiful voice. Yasu Nakajima is better than some of the other reviewers state, but just not a true world class tenor. Truthfully he doesn't act and often is looking at the conductor not relating to his fellow singing actors at all. He is however much better than just adequate. I've seen and heard a lot worse. The unit set works very well and the choreography most of the time is quite creative and highly effective; especially during the great Tenor and Baritone duet. I also found the camera work interesting and not distracting. It may be a long time before we get another DVD of this delightful score so let's be thankful for what we have. It works and has many fine moments. The conductor Marcello Viotti is excellent. In conclusion: very well sung and creatively produced and filmed.

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Blue's Clues - Blue's Big Musical Movie

Blue's Clues - Blue's Big Musical Movie Review

I first rented this from Netflix and we ended up keeping it for more than a month. My girls (10m,2 1/2 and 4) couldn't get enough of it. I got it for my 4 year old on her birthday (Dec 25, 2009) and even after seeing it a gazillion times she wanted to watch it as soon as she saw the cover art. It is very entertaining and has a lot of re-playabilitly, even for parents. It is definitely great for those rainy days when they are bored. They really like the segment with G clef. It teaches a few music basics but don't expect your little ones to walk away with any understanding of music from this video, it is just good clean entertainment. Everything you expect from a Blue's Clues production.

Blue's Clues - Blue's Big Musical Movie Overview

Movie DVD

Blue's Clues - Blue's Big Musical Movie Specifications

Blue bounds into her first feature-length film ready to sing. She gets sidetracked along the way, of course, but that's part of the brilliant Blue's Clues formula. Each half-hour TV show presents engaging, easy-to-grasp mini-mysteries that are within toddlers' reach. This time Blue; her huge-eyed, slightly loopy human companion, Steve; and their cadre of talking-object friends are scurrying around, preparing for a backyard music show that day. Everybody picks a number to perform; Blue's is a duet with Tickety Tock, but the clock contracts laryngitis. Who will be Blue's new partner? A game of Blue's Clues reveals the hardly reluctant replacement. The standard discovery of three clues followed by the usual wind-down song would add up to a colossal disappointment in a feature film, so substantial rounding-out is provided. Steve stumbles onto a keyboard inhabited by a note called G-Clef (the unmistakable voice of Ray Charles), who gives a tour of how to make a song. First you pick the notes, then you work on rhythm, then comes tempo, and, last but not least, "you've got to give it soul." This movie's themes include perseverance (Tickety Tock can't sing but finds a way to contribute anyway) and self-empowerment. Blue's Big Musical Movie is a feast for little eyes and ears; the sets are so colorful they hurt grown-up eyes, and the songs--especially the one that gets the Charles treatment--are all sing-along-with-me winners. --Tammy La Gorce

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Dane Cook: ISolated INcident

Dane Cook: ISolated INcident Review

Controversial, yes. Funny, most definitely. Not for the faint of heart though because Dane tackles many taboo subjects; which is why I loved this so much. I've said it before and I'll say it again, one must see the funny side of a situation, or something, to get the full perspective. Without it (the comedic side) we don't see the whole picture. I love this show. He is fearless and histerical as always.

Dane Cook: ISolated INcident Overview

After his last two highly rated specials and multi-platinum selling albums, Dane reinvented his act and took it to the stage in front of 400 people at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. This intimate show was performed in a nightclub atmosphere where Dane shared the audience's energy in a real-time performance, without a safety net. Here, he showcases a darker and more personal set with cutting edge material that pushes the envelope.

DVD Features:
- 30 Premeditated Acts
- ISolated INterview

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VeggieTales - Lyle the Kindly Viking

VeggieTales - Lyle the Kindly Viking Review

Lyle the Viking is a timeless story that all 3 years olds and under need to hear. The vikings think that everything belongs to them. Sharing is a ridiculous notion that only fools follow. Lyle understands that in order to recieve a real gift, you have to give. And eventually you will get something back in return when you most need it.

The best thing of this video is that it teaches a timeless tale without getting overly religious. Some people are turned off when religion is brought into the equation but no one need fear this story. The message is a truth we all need to hear. Especially children in the "mine" stage. Plus it's filled with singing. My son loves singing (and so do I). Definitely a must own for any parent.

VeggieTales - Lyle the Kindly Viking Overview

Studio: Genius Products Inc Release Date: 09/14/2004

VeggieTales - Lyle the Kindly Viking Specifications

Well, it had to happen--Archibald Asparagus is hosting his own VeggieTales show. The 15th video from this groundbreaking Christian-lite company gives us plenty of what makes the series so much fun: leader Bob the Tomato, daffy Larry the Cucumber, catchy songs, and scattershot humor. Tired of the wacky ways of the normal VeggieTales shows, Archibald wants to inject an element of class. First up: an all-vegetable staging of Hamlet. Unfortunately, the only script that can be found is a slightly different version called "Omelet." The Bard's famous lines take a beating with the usual Monty Python-esque humor of the Veggie crew. Next, after an Archibald-influenced "Silly Songs with Larry" segment, the featured event of the evening proves to be the lost Gilbert & Sullivan musical Lyle the Kindly Viking. This brawny band of Vikings love their job (and have an affinity for big-screen TVs) but cannot understand why the meek Lyle (Junior Asparagus, natch) wants to share his meager belongings with their victims. Certainly, the sharing ways of Lyle will win the day. After such experiments as the Larry-Boy shows, which dropped the series' familiar opening and even Bob himself, this familiarly structured VeggieTales video is a joy to watch and illustrates how far the creators have come while sticking to their roots. For ages 4 and up. --Doug Thomas

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Verdi - Otello / Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft, Levine, Moshinsky, Metropolitan Opera

Verdi - Otello / Domingo, Fleming, Morris, Croft, Levine, Moshinsky, Metropolitan Opera Review

I really want to give this DVD 5 stars because of the jaw-dropping performance from Placido Domingo. It is easily the most powerful acting performance by a tenor I have ever seen in an opera. I also heartily disagree with reviewers criticizing his voice. If you want to hear a crappy Domingo performance, watch the Karjan Trovatore! He is sublime here. Equally so is Renee Fleming, so perfectly cast. The sets, orchestra, and chorus are stellar. There are only two things wrong here. One, is James Morris as Jago. He's a great bass, but he leaves off the top notes in "Inaffia l'ugola," which is hugely disappointing. By no means is he terrible, but his acting was minimal at best and he lacked the upper register of better Jago's like Leo Nucci. The other disappointment is that when Otello stabs himself, there is no blood. I know it's asking a LOT from an opera house to either show some blood or hide the wound, but here they do neither. It's a very distracting way to end the opera, if you ask me. But this DVD will be watched many times!

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My Dream Is Yours

My Dream Is Yours Review

Oddly depressing Doris Day film story has more in common with proto-noir type movies like POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE or A STAR IS BORN than later Day musicals. This one definitely concentrates on "Day of the Locust" spectacle of talent flocking to Hollywood for their big break, only to meet shabby treatment and disappointment. The movie leaves a sour taste in one's mouth. I'd say a good 3/5 of this film is all about how hard Jack Carson sweats to get Doris a chance as a singer, but nobody wants to take a flyer on an untried talent. And you feel for him, but it doesn't change the fact that he's sort of a florid "death of a salesman" sort of loser.

Scene after scene, beautifully directed by Michael (FOUR DAUGHTERS) Curtiz, plays up the angle of the beautiful scenery (has Los Angeles ever looked so dreamy>) versus the shattered dreams of movieland wannabes. I;ve never been a huge fan of S Z Sakalln, the Austrian actor known as "Cuddles," but he's especially repulsive here as a radio sponsor with absolute, godlike powers over the little people who toil on his show, "The Hour of Enchantment." He has only one soft spot, a tiny dog he calls "Sally." He's creepy here, like Charles Coburn in THE PARADINE CASE. Every time Jack Carson has to approach him to ask him to listen to Miss Day one more time, you cringe, for Cuddles doesn't show a single sign of humanity, his self-aborption and selfishness reach Bunuelian levels.

And what is with the all girl orchestra, dressed in flimsy pastel togas, run by that martinet conductor? How lesbian were they trying to get? The conductor is stern enough to make Eve Arden, the radio producer who oversees their work, seem like a femme next to her.

As many have noted, the surreal part of the film is an animated sequence, set at Easter time, in which Doris' little son Freddie, who doesn't otherwise play much of a part in the action of the film overall, is left alone in a fancy bedroom crowded with stuffed rabbits and Easter eggs. He's sleepy and the film changes to a Dali evocation of his nightmares; the walls pull back, the toys grow huge, and suddenly Bugs Bunny (and Tweety) appear singing this crazy "Wake Up" type number that terrifies the little boy. It's so anxiety provoking that even watching it I broke out into a sweat. It just gets worse and worse as two stuffed rabbits turn into Doris Day and Jack Carson, who sing faster and faster while dressed in Uncle Wiggily rabbit costumes. I haven't seen anything as frightening in years, not since the SCREAM movies came out. And yet the grim, anxiety-filled mise-en-scene of MY DREAM IS YOURS is a fertile hatching ground for the birth of monsters.

Bring to DVD, please!

My Dream Is Yours Overview

An agent discovers a talented singer who's also a single mom and tries to make her a radio star, not expecting to fall in love with her.

My Dream Is Yours Specifications

This backstage showbiz saga was quickly put into production at Warners when Doris Day proved to be the breakout star of the moment in her first film, Romance on the High Seas. And although Doris has a basket of tuneful numbers and the movie itself boasts a crazy Bugs Bunny sequence, it has the look of something rushed into service. Doris spots the main chance when talent agent Jack Carson needs to replace his egotistical client, crooner Lee Bowman. Some conventionally enjoyable climbing-the-ladder scenes follow (which bear a resemblance to Doris Day's real-life struggles to catch on as a band singer, such as trouping while raising small child). Equally conventional, but less convincing, is a romantic contrivance to delay the inevitable Day-Carson pairing. The movie is awash in Technicolor, and director Michael Curtiz crams some wonderful vintage landmarks of Los Angeles into the picture: the Brown Derby restaurant, Schwab's Drugstore. The color also shows off Eve Arden's red hair, although her sardonic style requires no color enhancement. Martin Scorsese has acknowledged My Dream Is Yours as a key influence on his musical, New York, New York, and the unhappy romance and candy-colored photography give a hint why. And the Bugs Bunny thing is a live-action/cartoon blend (à la the Gene Kelly-Jerry the Mouse dance in Anchors Aweigh), directed by Friz Freleng, that puts Day and Carson in rabbit suits. That's the most inspired sequence, so be advised. --Robert Horton

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Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty Review

I was spellbound by this when I got it. Great archvial footage, interviews with the band, and just a great look at their transformation from Anthem of the Sun to American Beauty (hence the title). Includes live footage, studio footage, and them talking about track layers, and how a lot of the songs came together (including Robert Hunter talking about his inspiration with a lot of classic songs). I especially loved when Robert Hunter talked about going to London for the first time and the songs that came from his first few hours there (hint: Ripple is one of them!) Pick this up, light up and kick back. Heartwarming.

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty Overview

The Grateful Dead are a unique phenomenon. One of the most successful live touring bands in the world, their longevity is founded on their desire to play music their way, coupled with an extraordinarily close relationship to their huge following. From Anthem to Beauty tells the story of the band and their journey from the experimental "Anthem of the Sun" (recorded in 1967/1968) to the accessible, countryish "American Beauty." It is told in the band's own words and includes a rare interview with lyricist Robert Hunter. The film also features a wealth of rare vintage film footage of the Grateful Dead in their prime, including television appearances, home videos, and classic recordings like "Ripple," "Box of Rain," "Truckin'," and "Mountains of the Moon," and it all adds up to a riveting portrait of one of the rock world's most controversial bands. 75 minutes.

Classic Albums - The Grateful Dead: Anthem to Beauty Specifications

This installment of the Classic Albums series follows the making of two Grateful Dead albums, the fiercely experimental Anthem of the Sun and the understated masterwork American Beauty, which spawned melodic gems like "Sugar Magnolia" and "Ripple." Between the archival scenes and contemporary interviews with band members, the DVD shows a band making seismic inroads in pop music--and five young guys coming to terms with artistry, mortality, and, yes, the pursuit of happiness. There is priceless footage of Neal Cassady driving Ken Kesey's bus and of the Dead, surrounded by martini-sipping hipsters, on Playboy After Dark. The best scenes involve band members talking about specific songs (you will never hear Phil Lesh's "Box of Rain" again without thinking of it as a gift to his dying father) or deconstructing a tune by playing each track separately. Intimate and surprisingly cohesive, Anthem to Beauty is a rare glimpse into how the Dead's magic was made. --Anne Hurley

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Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition (Flying Down to Rio / The Gay Divorcee / Roberta / Top Hat / Follow the Fleet / Swing Time / Shall We Dance / Carefree / The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle / The Barkleys of Broadway)

Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition (Flying Down to Rio / The Gay Divorcee / Roberta / Top Hat / Follow the Fleet / Swing Time / Shall We Dance / Carefree / The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle / The Barkleys of Broadway) Review

Looking for some escapism from normal life??? THIS WILL DO IT! Allow yourself to be carried away by the uniqueness of Fred and Ginger in this complete set of their joint work. These disks provide the movie and pretty good extra features. Some of course are more entertaining than others. A couple of the movies have commentaries on the movies done by screen historians, adding much to the understanding of all involved with the picture. In these cases, the movie is completely replayed as an extra, with the commentary dubbed over the movie sound. Very interesting! The cartoons are fun, especially the one accompanying "The Gay Divorcee," which imitates Fred and Ginger! This is a great, economical way to have the complete set of these historic films. Please, oh please!, share them with the younger generation!

Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition (Flying Down to Rio / The Gay Divorcee / Roberta / Top Hat / Follow the Fleet / Swing Time / Shall We Dance / Carefree / The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle / The Barkleys of Broadway) Overview

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/24/2006

Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition (Flying Down to Rio / The Gay Divorcee / Roberta / Top Hat / Follow the Fleet / Swing Time / Shall We Dance / Carefree / The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle / The Barkleys of Broadway) Specifications

2006 marks the arrival of five Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films (Flying Down to Rio, The Gay Divorcee, Roberta, Carefree, and The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle) on DVD after the first five were released in 2005. The big package is this Astaire & Rogers Ultimate Collector's Edition, which contains all 10 films plus a CD, a bonus DVD with the documentary Astaire and Rogers: Partners in Rhythm, press-book replicas, and some other material. If you want the big package with the extra stuff but already bought the five films in 2005, you can get the Astaire & Rogers Partial Ultimate Collector's Edition, which includes everything except the actual discs of those first five films. Or, if you only want the five new films, pick up Astaire & Rogers Collection, Vol. 2 as a bookend to Astaire & Rogers Collection, Vol. 1.

The Astaire-Rogers films mix light romantic comedy (usually centered around mistaken identities and ending, inevitably, in blissful wedding promises) with elegant dinner wear and surreal sets intended to transport '30s audiences away from the Depression to such locales as Rio, Paris, and Venice. The two stars are also aided by a recurring stable of RKO players such as Edward Everett Horton (master of the double-take), Eric Blore, and Helen Broderick. And then there's that sensational dancing set to great songs by the likes of Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, and Jerome Kern, numbers that are not merely entertaining but also innovative for their time in that they reveal character and advance the plot. Add it all up, and you have a recipe for an irrepressible joie de vivre that practically defines the movie musical.

Flying Down to Rio (1933) headlined Dolores Del Rio and Gene Raymond, but it was the fourth- and fifth-billed stars who would rewrite cinematic history. Astaire and Rogers had limited screen time, but were still able to establish many of the trademarks of their later films. The heart of the film is "The Carioca," a company dance extravaganza in which they take the floor together for the first time; their eyes meet and their foreheads touch. Their dance lasts only a few minutes, but it was the highlight of the film and audiences wanted more. The Gay Divorcee (1934) is their best early picture, a loose adaptation of Astaire's stage show, 'The Gay Divorce.' The only song retained for the movie is Cole Porter's smash hit "Night and Day," which is the setting for a sublime pas de deux between Fred and Ginger. The closer is the sprawling 17-minute ensemble number "The Continental." Roberta (1935) was a step backward, with too much time spent on 1930s Parisian fashion and the romance between top-billed Irene Dunne (who gets the best Jerome Kern ballads, "Yesterdays" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") and Randolph Scott. But as the second-banana couple Astaire and Rogers still get a tap battle, a romantic duet, and plenty of comic banter.

With a score by Irving Berlin, Top Hat (1935) is most famous for two numbers, Astaire's definitive tuxedo setting "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails" and the feathery duet "Cheek to Cheek." But other joys include Astaire's "Fancy Free" declaration, "Isn't It a Lovely Day," and the grand finale "The Piccolino." Follow the Fleet (1936) changes the pace a bit, with Astaire playing a sailor, and it suffers from making him and Rogers the second-banana couple to the dull Randolph Scott and Harriet Hilliard. But it still has plenty of laughs and some classic Irving Berlin numbers, including "Let Yourself Go," which Rogers sings before she and Astaire compete in a dance contest; a Rogers solo tap number; "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket," their best comic dance. The pièce de résistance is "Let's Face the Music and Dance," a show within a show in which the pair dons their customary evening formals. Effortlessly flowing from pantomime to song to dance, this sublime piece of storytelling is one of the series' defining moments. Maybe their most enjoyable picture, Swing Time (1936) features the set-piece "Pick Yourself Up," in which Rogers "teaches" Astaire to dance before they break into a spectacular number; the farewell ode "Never Gonna Dance," and the Oscar-winning "Just the Way You Look Tonight," from the team of Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields.

Shall We Dance (1937) has a complex plot that has Astaire and Rogers actually getting married before the final credits roll, and turns George and Ira Gershwin's brilliant "They Can't Take That Away from Me" into a heartbreaking ode. Other great songs include "Slap That Bass," "They All Laughed," and "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," unforgettably performed on roller skates. The eighth and ninth entries in the series tried some different approaches, with the underrated Carefree (1938) more of a comedy vehicle for Ginger (yet still including some fine dances and Irving Berlin songs as well as their first onscreen kiss) and The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) portraying the pair as historical dancing stars and using a score of turn-of-the-century standards. The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) is the oddity, reuniting the stars 10 years after their last RKO picture when Judy Garland had to be replaced due to health problems. It's trademark MGM: splashy colors, Fred in a gimmicky solo number (playing sorcerer's apprentice to a line of unoccupied shoes), Oscar Levant providing his usual dynamic pianism and acerbic personality, and a score that is at its best when it borrows songs from a previous generation (including the big ballroom number set to "They Can't Take That Away from Me"). The film falls short of their best work, but serves as a fond remembrance of the most glorious partnership in film history. --David Horiuchi

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Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg [DVD Video]

Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nrnberg [DVD Video] Review

Some of the sadness and anger that had attended Wagner's composition of Tristan had not yet dissipated in the 1860s. Wagner had suffered greatly from isolation due to his forced wanderings throughout Europe, and from constant financial worries because of the difficulties involved in staging his complex operas. Tristan proved especially difficult to stage given its many innovations and its radical departure from the music of the era. Wagner was also ill at the time. Yet Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg is a radiant and endlessly life affirming opera, proving once again that the relationship between life and art is especially ambiguous in the case of genius. It premiered in Munich at the Nationaltheater on 21 June 1868. Appropriately enough it was Mid-Summer's day.

Often described as Wagner's only comedy, it is his sunniest opera, the one most redolent of daylight. It is certainly different than that quintessential nacht-oper, Tristan. Wagner wrote that he had composed Meistersinger as a means of dissipating some of his suffering, seeing it as a source of consolation and healing for the pain and sorrows of the past. One of the key words in Meistersinger is 'illusion'. Wagner had decided that all of human activity was underpinned by illusion. And that art was especially 'a noble illusion.' Thus, we have in Meistersinger, with its song contest and its contestants, a whole world of illusion. And Hans Sachs tells Walther that 'man's truest illusions are revealed to him in dreams'. Since reading Schopenhauer, Wagner had become convinced that creativity originated in the dream-world. Meistersinger is an opera about dreams. This production lovingly recreates that magic world with superb performances aided by Bayreuth's unique and beautiful sound.

This June 1999 television film is one of the finest and most elegant Meistersinger's I've yet seen, and its fabulous sound is only one of the reasons. The performances are splendid with each of the singers deeply immersed in their roles, the singing unforced and powerful as the voices are projected outward from Bayreuth's incomparable stage. Robert Holl as Hans Sachs has a deep, warm and softly contoured bass voice. Peter Seiffert as Walther is a large, barrel chested man that looks every inch the heldentenor and has a superb voice to match. Emily Magee is a fine Eva, though not particularly youthful in the role. Andreas Schmidt is a dignified Beckmesser, a problematic role historically. The cast is universally good, with no weak links.

One of the two real stars of this production is Wolfgang Wagner, the composer's grandson, who staged and directed this production in 1996 as well as creating the set design. This is one of the best productions of his controversial reign as director. It features a traditional stage design, though stripped of all superfluities. The opera is similarly staged: a traditional production that removes all the dross. Daniel Barenboim is the other star: his conducting is superb, with an attention to orchestral detail that facilitates the Bayreuther Festspiele's stunning orchestral clarity in the opera's complex inner melodic lines. Nevertheless, he is always cognizant of the big picture. The orchestra's splendid technique and dynamics are always in the service of the unfolding onstage drama. He builds dramatic tension by speeding the musical pulse when necessary, pulling-in the reins when the onstage drama dictates a sense of orchestral repose. The Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele play with a beautiful directness under his baton, never giving in to the impulse to engage in dramatic overkill. They play with understated passion. It is a glorious musical experience. The two DVDs run for 274 minutes. The video was taken from a television broadcast and is clear with no artifacts. The sound is exemplary in PCM stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. There are no extras other than a booklet.

Daniel Barenboim has become a solid conductor of Wagner and this is a very fine performance. It's become my favorite DVD of the opera and makes for a good investment if you like Meistersinger. Strongly recommended.

Mike Birman

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Biography - Roy Rogers (A&E DVD Archives)

Biography - Roy Rogers (A&E DVD Archives) Review

My little boy is a Roy Rogers freak, and now that I've watched a few of his movies and after we brought this video home from the library, I can see why. Roy Rogers was a great person, and he is reminiscent of a time of innocence that is so far removed from entertainment in our culture today. I highly recommend this video, you'll find out just about anything you've ever wanted to know about Roy Rogers...my only gripe is that I wish they would update this biography. This was done 2-3 years before Roy died, and before his museum was moved to Branson. There are obviously still plenty of Roy Rogers fans out there, and we'd all like to know how this megastar bid his final "Happy Trails", and where one might visit his grave. Many would probably also like to see an updated bit about the new Branson museum. Roy was is and forever will be THE KING OF THE COWBOYS

Biography - Roy Rogers (A&E DVD Archives) Overview

In a time of innocence, his straightforward, all-American cowboy manner made him a beloved international icon. At the height of his fame, Leonard Frank Slye (a.k.a. Roy Rogers) was one of Hollywood's biggest stars. In 1948 alone, his movies sold nearly 100 million tickets. In the 1950s, more than two million children every month bought comic books, breathlessly following the adventures of Roy and his famous golden palomino, Trigger. Now, for the first time, BIOGRAPHY® presents the complete story of the boy from Cincinnati, Ohio, who became the "King of the Cowboys." Home movies, film outtakes, and rare television clips provide a glimpse into Rogers's lightning rise to stardom. From his humble beginnings as a radio singer and guitar player to his place in history as a matinee idol, this is an intimate portrait of ROY ROGERS, quintessential American hero. DVD Features: Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

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Donizetti: Don Pasquale [Blu-ray]

Donizetti: Don Pasquale [Blu-ray] Review

Donizetti: Don Pasquale [Blu-ray] Overview

'...Riccardo Muti conducts Don Pasquale in Ravenna - a great celebration for everyone.' This press quote from the Italian music magazine Il giornale della musica hit the mark exactly. Watching
this realistic, young and vital production, directed by the young
Andrea da Rosa and listening to a high potential and unspent young cast, you feel how powerful, charming and timeless this score by Gaetano Donizetti is. This production was recorded during the Ravenna Festival in the gorgeous and patriarchal Teatro Dante Alighieri. Maestro Riccardo Muti shows one more time, what it means to perform an Italian opera with a young and professional Italian cast an outstanding and breathtaking performance.

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High Society

High Society Review

Oh let me see now...( To coin the introductory phrase from the featured song, "Little One").
To describe this splashy, colorful, and stylish remake of "The Philadelphia Story" (sentimentally speaking this 1956 remake was also the favorite film of my late, maternal grandmother), one could use any number of superlatives, including, "Sensational", the title of a song that is part of the fabulous Cole Porter score crooned by stars Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Grace Kelly(the last of whom would soon become the Princess of Monaco, and as one can see in this film, had the ring to prove it).
The action moves from the original Philadelphia location(ironically Kelly's birthplace) to Newport, where a planned society wedding of one Tracy Samantha Lord(Kelly), to the stuffy George Kittredge, (John Lund), an executive who works for Tracy's father, Seth Lord(Sidney Blackmer) is the focus of the story.
Coinciding with the slated nuptials is the annual Newport Jazz Festival, where Louis Armstrong and his band are the guests of Tracy's ex-husband, fellow Jazz musician, C.K. Dexter-Haven (Crosby), whose estate is just a hedge and a lawn away from that of his former in-laws.
A black cloud over Tracy's happiness is the estrangement of her parents(Margalo Gilmore plays her mother) due to Mr. Lord's stepping out on his wife with a dancer.
The comic reliefs in the story are Louis Calhern as Uncle Willie, and young Lydia Reed, aptly cast as Tracy's tomboyish kid sister, Caroline,who laments losing Dexter as a brother-in-law.
One "Spy" Magazine threatens to expose the Lord Family's scandal, and to offset that, Tracy reluctantly allows journalists Mike Connor(Sinatra) and his photographer Liz Imbrie( Celeste Holm) to cover her wedding. Tracy pulls a charade when they arrive after they are more or less entertained by Caroline.
There is one poignant moment prior to that when Dexter presents Tracy, who sits at the edge of the pool, before the bathhouse, fashionably painted salmon pink and turquoise, with a model of the True Love, the boat on which they honeymooned, and Tracy begins to reminisce. Dexter makes Tracy confront the personal issues leading to their marriage's failure. George arrives soon afterwards, expressing displeasure at Dexter's continued presence in Tracy's life.
Tracy develops a relationship with Mike and Liz as the story progresses. She takes Mike on a tour of Newport, pointing out occupied estates as well as boarded-up ones to be sold for taxes. They end up at her Uncle Willie's residence where she fixes him a drink as he serenades her.
As Louis Armstrong continues to give commentary and musical segeways like a Greek chrous member, Tracy's bachelorette party gets underway at Willie's house (The last such event before the home becomes a boys' school), where hijinks ensue and there are moments of mismatched partnerships before eveything falls into place, with our dear Satchmo having the final word.
Although of its time this film is timeless, and will continue to rank high in the annals of film for many years to come.

High Society Overview

This witty, musical version of The Philadelphia Story stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and the jazz master himself, Louis Armstrong, playing the hottest trumpet in the land. Year: 1956 Director: Charles Waters Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong

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The Queens of Comedy

The Queens of Comedy Review

I've boughten this twice b/c I lost the first one. I love this show. I"ve made guys watch it and they admit it's better than Kings of Comedy. Every time I'm at a party and quote stuff from it I have the whole room laughing. It's hilarious. From hoola hoops to skinny B!%*#s.

The Queens of Comedy Overview

FOUR BLACK WOMEN, PROFANE AND BRASSY, BRING STAND-UP TO MEMPHIS'S ORPHEUM THEATRE.

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Platinum Comedy Series: Starting Lineup, Part II - Cedric the Entertainer

Platinum Comedy Series: Starting Lineup, Part II - Cedric the Entertainer Review

I decided to check this out because I had seen the first "Starting Line Up",plus I love the Platinum Comedy Series.Cedric's performance on here is funnier than ever.I love his jokes about Snoop Dogg.I hate Snoop,so I was glad to hear someone make fun of him.The other comedians on here are funny also.The first comedian on here,Leon Rogers,makes fun of the music I like,but he is hilarious!I love his impression of DMX.The second comic,Nema Williams,is not funny at all.I am white,so I like white comics,but I hated the way he was telling all black jokes to get laughs.The third comedian on here,Rodney Perry,was funny,but he cussed WAY too much.The last comedian on here is Prescott.He was funny,but again, he cussed WAY too much.This is better than Volume 1,but not as good as "D.L. Hughley Live" or Dave Chappelle's "Killin Them Softly".

Platinum Comedy Series: Starting Lineup, Part II - Cedric the Entertainer Overview

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER is a complete entertainer. He's won four NAACP Image Awards, co-starred with fellow Platinum Comedy King on the THE STEVE HARVEY SHOW, and won major accolades for his routine in the most successful comedy film of all time THE ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY. Also, Cedric delivered a memorable performance in the Motion Picture BARBERSHOP. (75 M) That's not all, he is also the creator and star of the successful throwback variety show CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER PRESENTS. CEDRIC now delivers the second edition to his wildly successful DVD comedy series "STARTING LINEUP".... CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER'S "STARTING LINEUP PART II." CEDRIC showcases more of his natural comedic flair in front of his engaged audience at the Biloxi Grand Casino in Biloxi Mississippi. And once again, he showcases some of the hottest new talent on the comedy circuit as they show off their skills along side one of the ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY. Buckle up y'all. It's about to get wild in here!

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The Wonder Of Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square

The Wonder Of Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Review

This DVD is an almost complete recording of of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Chistmas Concert from Dec 2003. I went on the first night and was so taken by the performances that I returned for the next evenings performance and the Sunday morning shortened version for their Music and The SPoken Word Broadcast.

All I can say is that this is a MUST HAVE DVD for the Christmas Season. Bryn Terfel and Frederica Von Stade were the guest soloists with the choir, and Bryn Terfel was simply stunning. A highlight of the concert (although it is difficult to choose) is when Mr. Terfel sang SUO GAN. It was breathtakingly beautiful. In fact the person who was with me at the concert cried upon hearing it. The Choir also does a traditional African folk song which must be seen to be believed. It was just one of those amazing experiences.

An added treat is the brief interviews with Bryn Terfel, Frederica Von Stade, and Craig Jessop and Mack Wilberg. It is refreshing to hear world class artists speak not only about music, but of their personal feelings regarding Christmas itself, and about performing this wonderful program. It left me even more impressed with the performers than before (if that is possible)

I was fortunate to purchase this item at its pre release discounted price, but it is easily worth the cost which is now being asked.

Buy this disk you wont be disappointed.

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Mozart - Great Mass in C Minor/ Ave Verum Corpus/ Exsultate Jubilate

Mozart - Great Mass in C Minor/ Ave Verum Corpus/ Exsultate Jubilate Review

The Great C-minor Mass has always been my favorite among Mozart's larger sacred works. Its genesis as a thanksgiving to God for Constanza's hand in marriage makes it brim with tremendous joy. It is the most viscerally joyful and exhilarating among all his sacred works. The thundering "Credo in unum deum" called out by full chorus stuns the listener with its emphatic declaration of faith. The repeated Hosannas in the Sanctus resound with such exuberance that Mozart's joy is palpable to even the most jaded in the audience. Together with the sublime motet, "Ave Verum Corpus," and the exultant "Exsultate Jubilate," it makes a lovely triptych of Mozart's most moving sacred pieces.

Leonard Bernstein's performance is typical of his late period. Tempi are very broad, as if he were savouring every single note, lovingly caressing each as if for the last time. Viewers will invariably look at this in relation to his impending death. My preference is towards period performances with their generally lighter and swifter styles but this is very beautiful nonetheless. Arleen Auger is delightful in the Exsultate Jubilate. Together with Frederica von Stade, Frank Lopardo, Cornelius Hauptmann and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, they deliver a splendid old-style performance of the Great Mass. This is a live recording, made in the Baroque Basilica in Waldsassen, Bavaria, in the Catholic south of Germany. It is obviously meant as a sacred occasion, with the audience, more like a congregation, reverentially silent. There is no applause, not even at the end. The Mass concludes in silence, broken only by the distant tolling of church bells. It is as much a spiritual as an artistic experience.

This is a fine DVD transfer of a film made in 1990. It is presented in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Picture is clean, clear and sharp with strong accurate colours and deep blacks. Sound is in 2.0 PCM Stereo and DTS 5.1 and is sumptuously full. The original latin texts are available as optional subtitles, as are translations into 5 other languages including English. There is an interesting 7-minute introduction by Bernstein in German with optional English subtitles. He doesn't dwell so much on the music as on the socio-political state of Europe at the time, noting how after centuries of war, Europe was at last at peace and free (this was just after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the dismantling of communism across Eastern Europe). A moving reflection and a sad one considering the state we are now in today. My copy came without a booklet or any liner notes. I'm not sure if this was a mistake on the part of the manufacturer but the lack of even basic liner notes is disgraceful for a full priced classical music DVD.

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The Wiggles: Wiggly Safari

The Wiggles: Wiggly Safari Review

This is the first and only Wiggles video we own (our son is just 16 months), and we are just crazy about it. Our son was immediately captivated by it and as he has gotten older, he has started mimicking hand motions, clapping, dance moves, etc. My husband and I CONSTANTLY catch ourselves singing the songs around the house (Little Dingo being our favorite)....the songs are very clever and fun. We love animals so this is the perfect fit for our family.

To me the Wiggles are just the perfect children's performers....loveable, expressive, slightly geeky, but never talking down to kids. They are great performers and songwriters and I love all of their unique quirks. Steve Irwin (and the entire Irwin family) add so much to this wonderful video and remind me what an enormous talent and spirit was lost with the death of Steve Irwin. He was so enthusiastic, creative and genuine. What a tragic loss.

I will be getting more Wiggles videos but I suspect this will remain my favorite.

The Wiggles: Wiggly Safari Overview

Every safari needs a guide. Especially if it's a wiggly safari. After all, there are lots of animals in Australia. So, who better to lead The Wiggles on an animal adventure than the Crocodile Hunter himself?! That's right, Steve Irwin, together with his wife Terri and daughter Bindi, have teamed up with The Wiggles for a wiggly, giggly good time at Australia Zoo. Come along on a song-and-dance-filled adventure with the dingos, emus, kookaburras and more. But don't forget, on this safari, crocs rule! Crikey, get ready t wiggle! SONGS The Crocodile Hunter Australia Zoo Do The Owl Wobbly Camel Cocky Want A Cracker Old Man Emu Swim With Me Feeding Time Dingo Tango Snakes (You can look but you better not touch) Kookaburra Choir We're The Corcodile Band Koala La La You Might Like A Pet Dorothy Queen Of The Roses Butterflies Flit

DVD Features:
Featurette
Interviews
Other
Photo gallery

The Wiggles: Wiggly Safari Specifications

G'day from the Australia Zoo, where the Wiggles get wild with Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin. It's a Wiggly Safari: 55 jaw-snappin', kookaburra-hootin', dolphin-splashin' minutes of grand adventure. A big ham himself, Irwin meshes naturally with the tuneful quartet as they sing, dance, and share factual tidbits about cockatoos, crocodiles, emus, and more. Colors pop off the screen as Dorothy, Captain Feathersword, and little dancers cavort through the zoo. Packed with 16 snappy tunes, this particular Wiggles collection revs up the tempo from earlier titles like Wiggle Time and Toot! Toot! Could this lush outdoor setting, where songs like "Dingo Tango" and "Cocky Want a Cracker" sizzle in the sunshine, be responsible for inspiring this ultra-imaginative play list? Or perhaps Irwin's invigorating presence stimulated the fresh, lively feel of this exceptional show. Regardless, Wiggles fans from ages 1 to 8 will surely delight in this musical tour of the Australia Zoo. --Liane Thomas

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Rock, Rock, Rock!

Rock, Rock, Rock! Review

I don't care about the movie itself but I consider it as a real
cult movie showing an era when Rock & Roll was just starting and kids
were kind of innocent. The "raw" musical interpretations are so
well done by the various artists that, while watching the movie,
you're completely transported to those wonderful good old early
authentic Rock & Roll days. Elvis had just come out with his first
big hit when this was filmed and the "inventor" of the expression
"Rock & Roll" Mr. Alan Freed is an important part of this cult movie,
probably the best one to describe those unforgettable days we lived
through at the age Tuesday Weld made her film debut.

Rock, Rock, Rock! Overview

"Rock, Rock, Rock!" Made in 1956, this small-scale look at the then new phenomenon of Rock & Roll takes a page from the books of many of the big scale musicals made by Hollywood studios. Like them, the musical performances more than make up for the thin plot and occasional weak dialogue. The biggest bonus is that the last half of the film is all music, when Alan Freed brings his show to the hero's prom. Before the advent of music videos promoting record sales, this film is essentially a 76-minute commercial for the top Rock 'n' Roll and R & B artists of the time. Starring Alan Freed (at the peak of his power and influence as the man who actually coined the term "Rock 'n' Roll") it also marks the screen debut of Tuesday Weld - albeit that her singing was actually the angelic voice of Connie Francis. On Screen performances include those from Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, The Johnny Burnette Trio, LaVern Baker and The Freed Band.

Bonus Material: The Alan Freed Story The dean of rock music historians, Michael Ochs, describes the 'innocence' of the early Alan Freed concerts when 50% of the audience was black and 50% white. He chronicles the rise and fall of Freed as the voice of Rock 'n' Roll and the payola scandal the ended the DJ's career. Veteran musician Red Holloway speaks of America's narrow-mindedness when radio stations across the country decided to destroy records of this Rock and R&B music they considered to be damaging to the morals of American teenagers. Cornelius Grant, Motown's Music Director for Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells and The Temptations, credits Alan Freed with giving legitimacy to R&B by taking it to the mass music market and dubbing it Rock & Roll. Singer Bobby Vinton describes from his own experience how records were turned into hits in these early days of the Rock Era. In 1986 Alan freed was among the original Inductees to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and, in 1991, he received the ultimate accolade of a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

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Louis Armstrong - Live in Australia

Louis Armstrong - Live in Australia Review

Louis Armstrong: Live In Australia 1964 is a marvelous DVD of an entire concert filmed for Australian television. Although rock and roll and "The British Invasion" were well underway in our country, Louis Armstrong was able to score huge successes with his band as we can easily see here for ourselves. Just as other reviewers note, Armstrong was always the consummate professional and he let all the members of the troupe have their time in the spotlight with solos and great singing. This is a must have video for Louis Armstrong fans; and fans of classic jazz will not be disappointed.

One reviewer indicates that this was all done in 1963 and not 1964. It's good that they pointed that out to us. Nevertheless, it makes little difference, as the quality of this concert is flawless. Louis Armstrong sings and plays with his usual charisma and passion; and Jewel Brown sings beautifully with great sensitivity on numbers like "Did You Hear About Jerry" with its Lain "cha cha" beat and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," another stunning pop vocal song. Jewel Brown sings with true feeling and it shows as she gracefully entertains the audience as the musicians play. Wonderful!

Another very special feature of this concert is the songs that dominated the charts back in the day. We get "Mack The Knife;" "Perdido" and Armstrong sings a great rendition of "Blueberry Hill" much to the crowd's delight. Trummy Young sings a little bit and he also plays trombone and percussion--he was certainly versatile.

The concert end with a rousing interpretation of "When The Saints Go Marching In;" the entertainers do this with all their might and Jewel Brown sings and claps her hands high up in the air as she gracefully walks around the musicians on stage. The overall effect is both strong and very upbeat; and this makes a solid ending for this concert. The concert may only be 56 minutes along; but it's quite a show.

The DVD doesn't have special features unless you consider a few trailers for other DVDs a feature. The quality of the print is really rather good although there is a moment here and there when there is very brief "scratching" on the print. I assume that they cleaned it up as best they could and that this is what we have to accept; but overall it's still a pretty clean print.

Louis Armstrong and his band really made huge contributions to the arts; and we are all better off for their sharing their talents with us. I highly recommend this for jazz fans and especially for fans of classic jazz.

Louis Armstrong - Live in Australia Overview

One of the few complete concert performances of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, this live recording features the legendary jazz trumpeter and singer on an Australian tour in 1964, when he had already become an international superstar and a living symbol of 20th-century American culture. As a founding father of jazz he revolutionized the world of music and became one of the most influential artists and entertainers ever. The impressive structure of his melodic ideas and the radiant sonorities and flawless technique of his trumpet playing all marked him out as jazz's first soloist of genius. Louis Armstrong set new standards for swing feeling, improvisation, scat singing and command of his instrument, but also for stage presence and entertainment, providing a model for performers in virtually every field of jazz and on every conceivable instrument. With his All Stars sextet, which he formed in the wake of the Second World War, he acted as an ambassador for jazz, restlessly travelling the world. The present documentary was shot at a time when he succeeded in creating a song that was a minor miracle: Hello Dolly even displaced the Beatles from the number-one position in the charts in 1964, a fact of which Armstrong was unaware as he was touring at the time. Armstrong's associates - among them drummer Danny Barcelona and singer Jewel Brown - were always more than mere extras. Armstrong seldom gave himself a moment's respite, but he had a gift for allowing each of his musicians to display his or her talents to their full advantage in pieces that enabled him to catch his breath and to make his programme more varied. This rare treasure - including such hits as Blueberry Hill, Mack the Knife and songs from the film "High Society" - captures the great man in all his glory as both a jazz pioneer and a peerless entertainer.

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Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Barker, Hobson, Luhrmann (Australian Opera)

Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Barker, Hobson, Luhrmann (Australian Opera) Review

I happen to love opera, but also know there are many people who say they would never watch or listen to one. Well, here is an opera production so carefully crafted, well sung & acted by a group of young, extremely talented people that it rivals -- in intensity and anticipation -- the very best daily soap operas on TV. Director Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") has moved this "La Boheme" from 1890's Paris to 1950's Paris without losing an ounce of intensity; and he has given us a cast of singers from the Australian Opera whose vocal talents and physical appeal make watching and listening to this heartfelt story riveting, even for the most confirmed of non-opera skeptic. There are many other more traditional and excellent "Bohemes" available on CD or DVD sung by renouned singers, but none of them -- to my thinking, anyway -- can touch the total appeal of this all-around excellent production. I have never failed to show it to an audience who didn't want to see it again. Take a chance on it: you won't be disappointed!

Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Barker, Hobson, Luhrmann (Australian Opera) Overview

Puccini's heart-rending love story tells of high-spirited young bohemians who are strapped for cash but draw strength from each other, and the poet Rodolfo's deep love for the young seamstress, Mimì.

"This is surely one of the most engagingly inventive, thoughtfully witty and vital productions ever to enliven the Australian operatic stage." Sun Herald
"Tenor David Hobson and Soprano Cheryl Barker bring the lead roles thrillingly to life, playing on audience's heartstrings with their sweet duets and convincing acting." Telegraph Mirror

Featuring: Cheryl Barker Mimì; David Hobson Rodolfo; Roger Lemke Marcello; Christine Douglas Musetta; Gary Rowley Collin; David Lemke Schaunard. Conductor Julian Smith, Director Baz Luhrman ,Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. Recorded live at the Sydney Opera House, February 25, 1993.

Giacomo Puccini - La Bohème / Barker, Hobson, Luhrmann (Australian Opera) Specifications

It might be possible to know this La Bohème and not love it, but I have never met anyone who felt that way. "Oh yes," said a friend, "that's the good one where everybody is the right age." The youth and freshness of the singers are, in fact, major assets in this production. Youthful high spirits and vulnerability are delicately portrayed, with sharp contrasts between the Parisian bohemians' abject poverty and their carefree lifestyle. On DVD, La Bohème is the work where the competition is strongest. Solid arguments can be made for the staging of the Metropolitan Opera production or the vocal quality of the San Francisco production, but the Australian Opera offers the closest identification of performers with the characters they represent. The effect is usually touching, sometimes downright electrifying.

For this production, the story is moved up to Paris in the 1950s. A veneer of existentialism, a sense of the absurd, can be detected in the young men's lifestyle, but the implicit message is that, even with electricity (e.g., a massive neon sign celebrating "L'Amour"), bohemian life in the 1950s was essentially unchanged from the 1830s. There are good performances throughout, particularly by David Hobson (Rodolfo) and Cheryl Barker (Mimi), and the direction of Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom, Moulin Rouge) is outstanding. --Joe McLellan

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Handel: Admeto [Blu-ray]

Handel: Admeto [Blu-ray] Review

The main talking point about this production of Handel's Admeto, re di Tessaglia for the Festspiel Orchester Göttingen in 2009 is clearly Doris Dörrie's extraordinary Samurai setting of the opera. Notionally in the same period as the original 1727 production but translated to the samurai culture of Japan of this period (albeit in a highly stylised fashion), there are questions however about whether Dörrie's fascination for Japanese settings, while appropriate for the likes of Turandot and Madame Butterfly, can really be effectively applied to the Greek mythological subject of Handel's Baroque opera, Admeto.

Happily, the answer is, yes - it works and it works exceptionally well. If nothing else, the stripped back minimal staging and measured formalised gestures of the Japanese setting suit the conventions of opera seria, with their being no unnecessary elaboration or clutter to distract from the virtuoso solo singing. But with the bold lighting, coloured backgrounds, silk screens and shadow play, not to mention the extraordinary use of Takashi Endo's Japanese butoh dancers (most of them almost entirely naked), the director manages to make the emotional content of the subject tangible as well as heightened.

That subject is a mythological one that is well covered in opera, particularly in opera seria - the story of Admetus, the king of Thessaly, whose life is spared from a fatal illness by the sacrifice of his wife Alcestes. Gluck's opera Alceste covers the same story in a rather cut-down form without the Antigone subplot (Robert Wilson's minimalist production of Gluck's Alceste from the Châtelet Theatre in Paris, available on DVD, compares favourably with the production of Admeto here), but the storyline is much more involved in Handel's version. To their credit of the director and producer, the staging here is magnificent, bringing out depths in the relationships and conflicts between the characters, particularly in the case of Alceste's transformation into a samurai warrior accompanied by the long black-haired ghostly form of Endo's butoh dancer representing her Jealousy. The sight of Ercole (Hercules) as a sumo wrestler in a foam fat-suit may however take more getting used to. The production is not without humour and may not be to a traditionalist's taste, but it never detracts from the drama or the characterisation.

Tim Mead is fine as Admeto, but more so than the two male altos, it's the female roles - Marie Arnot as Alceste and particularly Kirsten Blaise as Antigone - that have the chance here to show a greater emotional and vocal range, and the chance to put some strong acting behind their parts as well. Using period instruments (happily resisting any urge to include traditional Japanese instrumentation), the Festspiel Orchester of Göttingen under the direction of Nicholas McGegan is also noteworthy.

The specifications of the Blu-ray are impressive - a 1080/60i, 16:9 encode, and a sparkling, vibrant DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that far surpasses the limited distribution of the PCM 2.0 mix. There is not a great deal of detail in the staging to benefit from the High Definition transfer, but the reproduction of the vivid and striking colour schemes is nothing short of stunning. Subtitles are in a slightly small font (in Italian, English, German and French), and occasionally move to the top of the screen when necessary so as not to obscure the performers. The BD comes with a thin booklet giving a synopsis and information on the production, but a 21-minute featurette presents this better in the form of interviews with all the performers and the production team.

Handel: Admeto [Blu-ray] Overview

For Handel's Admeto, Oscar nominated film director Doris Dorrie returns to her beloved subject of Japan. In vividly colored and brilliantly realized set pieces, one of Handel's most popular operas receives a stunning transformation into the stylishly ritualized world of samurai culture.

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Street Justice 5 DVD set

Street Justice 5 DVD set Review

The cop drama and martial arts are great fun but the relationship and history of the two main characters is what this show is really all about. As different as day and night these two still love eachother like father and son at the end of the day. Finding eachother in very original circumstance and in the most unusal of places, these two form a bond that time and differnces can't break. Like nothing that came before or has come since, this show is worth the time.

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Guitar Lessons: Learning Guitar Step 1 - How to play guitar instructional video

Guitar Lessons: Learning Guitar Step 1 - How to play guitar instructional video Review

This DVD has been great. He shows you major minor and 7th chords. When you get them down he shows you how to put them together and create songs or play along to your favorite songs. The chapter marks make it easy to watch then practice and come back and pick up where you left off. The scales and bonus feature including the password to the free online book are also very cool. GREAT JOB!

Guitar Lessons: Learning Guitar Step 1 - How to play guitar instructional video Feature

• Titles - Auld Lang Syne, Deck the Halls, The First Noel, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bell Rock, Jingle Bells, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night

Guitar Lessons: Learning Guitar Step 1 - How to play guitar instructional video Overview

Learning To Play The Guitar Is Now Easier Than Ever Before!
Perfect For Beginners, No Previous Experience Necessary!

Have you ever wanted to play your favorite songs on the guitar? Now you can learn the basic chords,notes and patterns you will need to play your favorite songs today. This easy-to-follow guitar course has a chapter mark at each lesson, so you can learn and practice at your own pace!

Do you find yourself to busy during the day to commit to scheduled private guitar lessons for you or your family?

Are private guitar lessons getting too expensive these days?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, Learning Guitar Step 1 DVD method is for you. With Learning Guitar Step 1 you can learn around your own schedule while saving hundreds of dollars!

Learn to Play Today:

*Tuning
*Open Chords
*Barre Chords
*Finger Exercises
*Scales

Instructor Patrick McCormick teaches you the basics of learning the guitar in an easy-to-follow manner, using step-by-step techniques that break down each exercise into clear and concise segments. Patrick takes you through each lesson, telling and showing you exactly how each lesson is done. Using the easy-to-navigate DVD menu, your control of the guitar fretboard will rapidly become second nature!

Features:

*Numerous Chapter Marks
*Mulitple Camera Angles
*On-Screen Graphics
*Interactive Lesson Library

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Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof Review

What a great musical. It has everything as far as I am concerned. I watch it at least once a year. This particular verson is great. The acting is great. The singing is great. And, the story is a classic. Tevye the Dairyman is played brialliantly by Topal. You can't go wrong with this purchase.

Watching this film finally led me to wonder who had written such a great story and developed the character of Tevye. I wondered if it was the play producers and song writers or some writer. I had never heard of Sholom Aleichem. He is the creator of Tevye the Dairyman. I read the book. The character in the musical is an excellant portrayal of the character described in Sholom Aleichem's book. I am now reading another book by the same author "The Adventures of Mottel." Tevye is a writer's creation - and quite a creation this Tevye is. We can't forget the writers of all these great classics.

The songs written by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick are classics also. After watching it you will be humming "If I Were a Rich Man" for at least a week. This is a keeper. It can be watched and enjoyed over and over. It is worth every penny and I'm a penny watcher.

My wife and her sister watched it with me for their first time. Both of them were unfortunately unfamiliar with the history. It was interesting to field their questions as the play unfolded. So many of us know so little history. Once again this is a production that has everything: pathos, charm, great music, history, tragedy, philosophy, religion, hope, sadness, wit and humor. This is one that you can buy now and watch forever ... it will never get old.

Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach, Lawrence YMCA
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - facts.
"America on Strike" American Labor - History
"A Baker's Dozen" Short Stories

Fiddler on the Roof Overview

"An outstanding accomplishment in every category" (Boxoffice), this lavishly produced and critically acclaimed screen adaptation of the international stage sensation tells the life-affirming story of Tevye (Topol), a poor milkman whose love, pride and faith help him face the oppression of turn-of-the century czarist Russia. Nominated* for eight Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Picture and Best Director, and featuring such classic songs as "If I Were A Rich Man," "Matchmaker" and "Sunrise, Sunset," Fiddler on the Roof is a universal story of hope, love and acceptancea "stunning, joyful and jubilant" (New York Daily News) musical masterpiece.

Fiddler on the Roof Specifications

This rousing musical, based on the stories of Shalom Aleichem, takes place in pre-revolutionary Russia and centers on the life of Tevye (Topol), a milkman who is trying to keep his family's traditions in place while marrying off his three older daughters. Yet, times are changing and the daughters want to make their own matches, breaking free of many of the constricting customs required of them by Judaism. In the background of these events, Russia is on the brink of revolution and Jews are feeling increasingly unwelcome in their villages. Tevye--who expresses his desire for sameness in the opening number, "Tradition"--is trying to keep everyone, and everything, together. The movie is strongly allegorical--Tevye represents the common man--but it does it dexterously, and the resulting film is a stunning work of art. The music is excellent (it won Oscars for the scoring and the sound), with plenty of familiar songs such as "Sunrise, Sunset" and "If I Were a Rich Man," which you'll be humming long after the movie is over. Isaac Stern's violin--he provides the music for the fiddler on the roof--is hauntingly beautiful. And despite the serious subject matter, the film is quite comedic in parts; it also well deserves the Oscar it won for cinematography. --Jenny Brown

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Procol Harum: In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir

Procol Harum: In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir Review

I have many DVDs of rock bands performing with orchestras and/or choirs. None of them come anywhere close to the quality of the sound found here. There are clear reasons for this described in the wonderful booklet that accompanies the DVD. Most orchestras are recorded by a grid of overhead microphones that do not serve to separate the various instruments. Choirs are usually recorded in similar fashion. But NOT here. Each member of the symphony was close miked with their own individual microphone and fed into the board on their own channel, so that when the band's bassist asked the sound man for more oboe in his ear piece, the sound man asked back, "Which oboeist?" Each member of the choir had their own high quality hand mike, affording a similar advantage. The sound is simply fantastic from the orchestra and choir.

Also fantastic is the sound from the band although the mix puts the Commander's vocals and piano, the drummer and the guitarist quite high in the mix compared to the organ and bass, but Gary Brooker plays and sings so brilliantly that you want him high in the mix.

If you need a single example of how this all comes together just give a listen to A Salty Dog. This is probably my favorite Procol song. Brooker was, I believe, 62 years old when this was recorded and one could excuse him on that basis if his voice wasn't what it used to be, but it remains absolutely fantastic.

The part of this song after the line "Our tears were tears of joy" is possibly my favorite moment in any song by any band ever. The arrangement of the orchestra/choir during this section will raise the hairs on your neck and cover your skin with goose pimples. And the Commanders singing is hugely powerful. This one tune is worth the price of the entire DVD, but there are many, many more major highlights, with Grand Hotel coming in a close second.

This DVD is one for the ages. It is a must hear for Procol fans and it would be a great way for those not familiar with their great music to be introduced.

Procol Harum: In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir Overview

Procol Harum are one of the all-time great British rock groups. Having hit the heights with their first release "A Whiter Shade Of Pale", a UK No.1 in 1967, they have sustained a recording and performing career that stretches over 40 years. This DVD was filmed over two spectacular concerts held in the grounds of Ledreborg Castle in Denmark in August 2006. The band was accompanied throughout by the Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir and these epic songs really benefit from the full symphonic arrangements they receive. Also included are six previously unreleased live tracks from a 1974 Danish TV special as a bonus feature.

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