Costumes Movie Reviews

Purchased this DVD at the suggestion of my son's violin instructor. This DVD contains numerous interviews of several reknowned violinists (including Itzhak Perlman who gives a wonderfully entertaining, insightful and heart-felt commentary) on the "violin masters" of the 20th century.

I especially enjoyed a performance brought together by the filmmaker which was comprised of a seamless sequence of audio and video montages, sections of which were performed by differing masters allowing the viewer to directly compare and contrast the unique sounds and playing style of each master. Bravo!

I purchased this DVD to inspire my 12-year old son to in his violin practice and performance as well as to provide some wonderful musical role models. This DVD definitely fit the bill. In fact, now I am ready to take up the violin too!

As a violinist, I have watched this video many times, probably over 10. Every time, I have learned something new from it. My only complaint would be that there are not enough clips for some of the performers like Heifetz, and too many videos of Menuhin. The sound quality of these recordings are all very good.

I watched this DVD over a thousand times probably. This is a extraordinary video. It talks about giant violinists of the 20th centuray, which includes Mischa Elman, Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, Nathan Milstein, Ivry Gitlis, David Oistrakh,and many other marvelous violinists. The videos even shows the rare recordings of Eugene Ysaye. In addition, the video also expresses many beautiful violin masterpieces played by worldclass violinists. I play the violin myself and before watching this DVD, I did not know many great violinist nor violin literature. Now, I learned the ways and styles of many violinists and violin compositions.

Kylie has made an excellent DVD! She has different kind of clothes (maybe 7 or somethin') Well, she hasn't only se*y clothes (Spinning Around, Physical etc.) but she can also wear really beautiful clothes like in the first four tracks. She has good clothes in every tracks and especially the music video "Spinning Around" which made her famous again, is very very hot and spicy!

I like this DVD, the tracks are very good performed. There's good dancers and also backstage footages! Very good material indeed! Kylie sings also the classic songs like "Put Yourself in My Place", "Hand on Your Heart", "Better the Devil You Know" etc.
The new songs and old classic sound good together. Maybe the only bad thing is that there's no "Loco-Motion" and the classic track "I Should Be So Lucky" is very short and peaceful. I recommend the DVD "Live in Manchester". It has those songs very good performed! Especially "Loco-Motion".

The Track list:

Love Boat

Kookachoo
Hand on Your Heart
Put Yourself in My Place
On a Night Like This
Medley:
[Step Back In Time
Never Too Late
I Wouldn't Want to Change a Thing
Turn it into Love
Celebration]
Can't Get You Out of My Head
Your Disco Needs You
I Should Be So Lucky
Better the Devil You Know
So Now Goodbye
Physical
Butterfly
Confide In Me
Kids
Shocked
Light Years
What Do I Have to Do?
Spinning Around

+promo video "Spinning Around"

Kylie is at her best here! Her singing is great, she looks great, and it is pure fun. The crowd is crazy and you can tell they pump her up. The band, backup singers, and dancers give it there all. If you like Kylie or great pop music BUY THIS DVD
I LOVE YOU KYLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kylie: Live in Sydney - the "On a Night Like this" Concert. This DVD has been out for some time, and i have only just purchased it. Shame on me! Why did i just get around to Purchasing it?? Because i was at the actual concert when it was recorded, sitting towards the back (im at the back because in the 10 mins i was on the phone to get tickets, all 7 concerts in Sydney sold out!!) and i wanted to relive such a wonderful night. This concert and Kylie Fever are her best, speaking from 1st hand experance in the audiance.

How to sum up Kylie: Live in Sydney?? If you have the DVD or when you purchase it. Pay attention to the the song "Shocked" -watch out for a young girl about 8 yrs old in a pink top.. her Facial expression says it all!!! with mouth and Eyes wide open, she looks like shes about to jump out of her skin with pure joy and excitement!

This DVD is a must! here is what some leading Aussie news papers have to say-

"To the delight of the screaming crowd she sings her latest hits, including her number one single Spinning Around. Its an intoxicating mix of pop, cabaret, camp, glitz and glamour and adoring crowd - Throngs and throngs of Gay men, Couples and teenagers Lap up every single foot-tapping minute of it. Kylie is in her element, revelling in her status as the Queen of Pop - a Woman at the Apex of her Career" - Daily Mail

"...Tonights show scales heights of theatrical aceness...GENERATION K..has glimpsed heaven. And, that is just slightly wonderful." NME

"...If her sell-out concerts and stunning performances are any measure, Kylie's Pop Crown looks safe for many years to come". Sunday Mirror.

"..As well as a formidable singing voice, she has a personality all her own, and its shines best amid Hi-NRG beats, Sliver tassels and six inch stiletto heels...its Riotous fun...a fantastic encore..has the audience screaming themselves silly" The independant.

and i would like to say-
"Buy this DVD and become apart of Generation K, and Enjoy the Experiance which is Kylie, The Aussie Diva. " - Me :-)

I actually purchased the Laser Disc of this the same year of the performance, and will now order the DVD, it is a stunning production, if you think Dame Sutherland doesn't sound just fine, perhaps you should invest in a better audio system, if that fails try a hearing aid, the idea of insulting one artest just because you prefer another, speaks volumes about YOU and no one else.

This really is a joy to all who watch this. I had a New Year party last year and had it on my TV. Everyone loved it. And most of the people there aren't even Opera fans. It's just a fun Flederous, and superlatively sung and acted.
The bonus is the retirement of the one and only La Stupenda. Who, at 63 still raises the temperature of the House when she entered it. Along with Pavarotti and Horne (both of whom adore her), they sing up a storm. No, Sutherland had sung better. But this is her retirement. She was all choked up. Pavarotti and Horne sung stupendously in their tribune to one of the most celebrated and beloved of all opera singers.
Bravisima, La Stupenda, we adore you. And agree with the countless opera fans who consider you,
Prima Donna Assoluta, for all time.

She is and will always be, the one and only...Prima donna assoluta.
This is the party of the year. I dare say the biggest and funnest fanfare I've ever seen. I'll be sure to watch this every New Year's eve.
I can't help but be sad at all these terrible remarks from bashers that are uncalled for. Please, I beg you, stop. No one deserve a one star review unless the reviewer wants blood. That is just unfair. I understand the anger, but please take it out by writing positive reviews of your favorite diva rather than taking it out and writing negative reviews of your favorite singer's rival.
Is it one basher, two, three,four bashers, or more? That, I don't know, but they are doing Dame Joan a lot of harm. I wonder if these people know that they're actually causing pain for a lot of Sutherland's fans as well as for the Dame herself, that is just unfair.
Sutherland, Callas and Sills are three of the most respected singers of our time. We should be happy that so many recordings preserved for our enjoyment and for future generations of enjoyments. Let's compromise, hear me out please.
I can see both side. But the Callas and Sills fans bashed Sutherland's roles for over a month before any really bad reviews of one star started to go the Callas domains. I see this by reading the reviews and the dates.
I ask for a compromise at least. I don't think that Callas, Sutherland or Sills ever deserve one star reviews. That's for really terrible singers. If you really want to criticize or demean another singer. Three stars should be enough. To continue this is to hurt others. And that's just not right.

Nothing more needs to be said that has not been said (especially by the descriptive reviews here). Miss Sutherland sings all her signature arias and scenes perfectly. She is a true bel canto princess and will always be known for her voice and flexible technique. Get this DVD to cherish one of this century's most beloved sopranos.

Don't believe the person(s) who say not to get this fabulous recording because it has poor sound and video. He is not telling the truth. I have the DVD, and the sound and picture good. As good as my Callas documentory at least. Remember it's remastered.
This is the most spectacular display of singing I've ever heard. I hate saying it, it sounds like a cliche. But I have no way of stating what is the absolute truth. This recital is nothing sort of phenomenal. Everything you've heard about Dame Joan being the greatest coloratura on the planet I will echo. And I can't even find words to describe just how stupendous this Dvd is. All I can say is, get it, listen to it, and you'll fall in love with it.

Ignore the "basher" who says the sound and film is not good. It is a DVD, the sound and video is fine. I happen to own this dvd, so I know, and I consider it one of my treasures. The singing by the very young Dame Joan is incomparable. The voice itself is so fresh and girlish. Yet so large and flexible. What she does with the coloratura fireworks is nothing short of spectacular.

The highlights are too many to name. But for sure the mad scene from Hamlet is one of them. She tosses off coloratura scales and runs like they were nothing, staccatos like a machine gun, and her high notes are awesome! They are huge... yet full of ring and they are as clear as can be. Oh, yeah, they're also dead on and effortless. As for her celebrated trill, it's in full bloom here. She can do it flawlessly with ease and as high as high B!

Absolutely the highlight of the entire set is another mad scene, the one from "Lucia di Lammermoor". Dame Joan sings this better than both of her legendary recordings for Decca Records. You have to see this one to believe it. I personally had my jaws dropped on the floor for the entire scene. Actually my jaws were dropped from the first aria of this monumental DVD to the last. This really is Dame Joan Sutherland in her prime. The very best.

I give this the highest recommendation I can make.

I have other DVDs of the opera that I like better. But this one is wonderful. I enjoyed Gheorghiu's Violetta but the father's voice is just not my favorite. However I will watch it over and over. It is a wonderful opera.

This is an outstanding Traviata, the best I have seen.

When I first heard the CD version of this opera I thought, that it was good , but certainly not worth all the fuss. Then I saw the DVD and WOW!!! This performance is simply spectacular. When reviewing this work one must begin with Gheorghiu. She brings Violetta to life in a way that few performers have done before. First of all her singing is divine. She is in total control of her instrument and never falters. Second she can act an art that is often missing or downplayed in opera today She is seductive in the opening act, tortured and remorseful in the second, and looking very sickly in the final stanza.. Lastly, as many others have said she is very attractive, which is always a plus especially in this role. Too often audiences are saddled with Violettas that are wonderful singers but frankly are not credible as being the object of Alfredo's desire. This is not the case here. Gheorghiu's natural beauty is accentuated by the wonderful costuming. However for those who think that Gheorghiu is all about glamour, look at the final act where her beauty is sacrificed for a very sickly look. The one knock I have against her performance is not attempting to hit the high E at the end of the Folie! aria in act one. I do not quite understand why she chose to do this. Her voice was in stellar form and she is more then capable of hitting the note. None the less I understand the risk involved and have seen this note skipped on more then one occasion in this opera. However I must say that it would have been a fine exclamation point on her beautiful rendition of this aria.

As for the rest of the cast, I must agree with one of the other reviewers in saying that a more lyric tenor then Lopardo would have been better. Alagna would be an obvious choice for me given his voice and his ability to compliment Gheorghiu's voice and vice versa. Doming would have been wonderful, however he is too old at this point for the role opposite Gheorghiu. Having said this, Lopardo does a credible job and does not detract from the performance though he is not spectacular. Nucci is fantastic as alfredo's father. His voice is in great form, and his performance is very refined. A wonderful choice for the role.

As for the rest of the production, Solti's conducting was rock solid as usual despite his advanced age. He was deeply involved in the production, and the orchestra showed it. The set was traditional, and the costumes were some of the best I have ever seen.

I must comment briefly here on those reviewers that rank this performance as a one or two star effort. These people are those that dislike Gheorghiu for whatever reason. They will never like anything she does because of a personal dislike for her, rather then the quality of her performance.

All in all this is a must buy.

The sets, the costumes and the dancing were indeed amazing. The singing was also quite good, but the singers (with the exception of Liu) did not seem very engaged in the story. The staging added to this impression. I believe the stage director was attempting to emulate Chinese theater by making the movement stylized, but I don't think that was a good idea with this opera. Turandot and Calaf are difficult to like under any conditions and in this production they didn't even seem human. This DVD is well worth seeing for the sets, the costumes, the dancing, and Liu's wonderful death scene, but if you only intend to own one version I recommend instead the version with Eva Marton as Turandot and Placido Domingo as Calaf. They almost make it seem that the main characters deserved their happy ending.

This is probably the most unique and most spectacular opera production of Puccini's "Turandot", plus being staged at the Forbidden City in Beijing, this also could be the most authentic "Turandot" ever produced. Zhang Yimou's stage direction has mingled large amount of Chinese traditional culture elements - Chinese martial art, Chinese dance, Peking Opera, Chinese calligraphy, dazzling Chinese ancient costumes (all hand-embroidered on silks and satins), Chinese drums, Jiaozi (Chinese sedan chair), even the young Chinese Buddhist monks played by dozens of young kids - to enrich its realism, although on the other hand, they somewhat sidetracked the essence of the story and weakened the characters. A bit of over-display by juxtaposing the Chinese tradition, one might feel, however, for Chinese culture novice, this is a very good demonstration. And again, Zhang didn't forget the moon, which seems to be his favor in any of his works.

The main cast, unfortunately, is hard to stand out in such a grand production and on such a huge stage, well maybe with Barbara Frittoli's Liu as an exception. She sings beautifully and wholeheartedly, and she acts. Sergej Larin has a brilliant voice, but his "Nessun dorma" lacks the intensity if compared to Pavarotti's. Turandot is portrayed by Italian soprano Ciovanna Casolla, who sings the character quite well, but hard to fit in the image of a Chinese princess. The three ministers, each of them holding a prop that's kind of confusing: a woman's handkerchief, a calabash (used as wine bottle in old China), and a Chinese abacus, are good to listen but not really nice to watch.

Although relatively highly priced, this DVD has loads of bonus material, including a nice quality PCM audio track of the entire production. After all, this is all about Puccini's music, and Zubin Mehta and the Orchestra & Chorus of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino have made it all the more worthwhile.

Though this may not be the best recording of Turandot ever released, it is arguably the best DVD of a live performance to date. The crew lensed the performance with careful attention to dramatic detail -- we are taken from the grand sweep of authentic Chinese spectacle to almost claustrophobic close-ups of soloists, then back again, all timed with excrutiating precision to the soundtrack. The widescreen presentation captures much of the grandeur of the original performance as I remember it (one of the few bonuses of my previous career was an ability to travel to events such as this) and the sound quality is superb. Sergej Larin's Calaf is competently respectable and Barbara Frittoli stands among the great Pings on record. The PCM Audio track is superb, though the enthusiast should be aware that it lacks some of the clarity of the audio CD on some of the larger numbers. Although conductor Mehta's sometimes heavy hand is apparent in the pomp of the production, it is in the backstage photos (over 100) and the "Making of" vignette that we see his disarming charm work to bring together not only the cast and crew, but the many Chinese officials attached to the project. This DVD is a genuine pleasure for any fan of live opera, and for the enthusiast, it beautifully records a unique moment in opera history when Italian composer Puccini's famed Turandot "came home" to China. David R. Bannon, Ph.D.; author "Race Against Evil."

Chris Rock is by far the funniest guy of today. This dvd should be bought by anyone who likes comedy. I would put everything I own on you finding this dvd hilarious. The whole disc is so brutally honest, it is refreshing to see someone with the intelligence and wit to deliver the material. I beg you all even if you haven't yet seen Chris Rock, buy this dvd. I guarantee that you will be hooked after witnessing just five minutes from the genious that is Chris Rock.

Chris Rock is halarious. I love his joke about how blind people should get midgets instead of dogs. Quote : "Uh, Dr. I'm blind. What You Got? 'Why don't you take this dog and have the dog drag your blind a@# around town'. That's all you got is a da(m dog. Man, if I could see, I'd whoop yo' a@@. Come on. Give me a midget or somethin'. That's right. Blind people should get midgets. It's already hard enough being blind. Now you gotta learn how to talk dog. You can't see so you can't read the dog's lips. 'Woof. Woof'. 'What, my shoelaces untied?' 'Woof! Woof!' What? Is it cold outside? What muthaf$$$$, what?' If you a midget, it's already hard enought 2 get a job. Just be a seeing eye man. All you gotta say is 'Yo, brotha. You gotta make a left.'" That was the best joke on this dvd. This is a must own 4 any Chris Rock fan!!

I checked this video out when I first got into stand up,and it is still my favorite.I can't count how many times I've watched this it is so good.Chris Rock is not only the funniest comedian ever,he is also the smartest.His routines include A LOT of social commentary.Most of the stuff he says is true.The beginning of this video is racist and boring,but it picks up and becomes the funniest stand up routine ever.I have to warn you,this video contains ALOT of swearing.Almost every other word is a swear word.Towards the end,it gets VERY [physical] and crude.So if you have young children,DO NOT let them come CLOSE to this video.Otherwise,sit back and enjoy the best stand-up routine ever recorded.

All that can be said is that Richard Pryor is pure comedic genius! It is certainly obvious who Eddie Murphy was influenced by. The sound could have been re-worked for this DVD, but it's still a classic to own.

This is my absolute favorite of the Richard Pryor series !! The man is simply a comic genius !! Too many funny skits to list......just buy it !! You won't be sorry!!

This is it! Pyror in his prime! I have put on this tape every night for three weeks straight now and still laugh all the way through.Its all here;the heart attack,the squirrel monkeys,stayin in shape,the stuttering chinese waiter and on and on. Not a weak moment on it. What sets this concert apart from the rest(Carlin,Murphy,Rock,to name a few)is because it has SUBSTANCE.Very smart comedy. ("Macho man!I'll take that knife and shove it up your...)

This is quite a disappointment:

1) filmed in 1989, Domingo had well past his prime, hugely different from his own Manon Lescaur , or his Hofmannn with The Royal Opera. It's not just his voice, but also the way he sang: there isn't any freshness to say the least. He nonetheless deserves 4 stars, if not 5;

2) Domingo voice at this age doesn't, nor does any other voice here, mix well with Aprile's ( I'm not comparing her with Schwarzkopf or even with Nuccia Focile);

3) stage settings are unnecessarily dull. For the first part the chorus singers were just human properties standing there virtually without any action/movement even when they sang. A sharp contrast to Careras' Carmen with Baltsa;

4) photography is poor, not much better than B/W. Very often singer(s) were about 1/10 of the size of the screen, or else close-ups of the singer to cover only half his chest, without his hands and then shot at an awkward angle etc. Lighting is so poor that often the texture and colour of some of the facial expressions, costumes and properties are indistinguishable.

5) More is desrirable of the balance between the orchestra with the vocal. I miss Vienna Philharmonic, say those under the baton of Furtwangler e.g. Don Giovanni.

6) Dolora sang beautifully but the Egyptian king was not too gratifying...

Even though Aida is one of my favourite operas, I don't feel like going back to it, at least not for quite sometime.

"Aida" is a magnificent opera that requires complete suspension of belief to be truly enjoyed. That said, this 1989 production has all of the elements that historically make the Metropolitan Opera one of the world's best. The sets and costumes are opulent, the staging is impressive and the dancers and chorus are essential in bringing what is essentially a series of musical tableaux to life. And the singing is pure Met. The Met is all about "La Voce" and Domingo, Millo, and Zajick are all voice. Aprile Millo is incredibly believable as Aida, bringing firey passion, sublime musicality and vocal inspiration to this difficult spinto role. Dolora Zajick is a formidable Amneris, who uses her strong mezzo voice and musical sensitivity to bring the essence of Pharoah's impassioned daughter into the hearts of the audience. Placido Domingo is simply himself. He sings with articulation, power and intensity, and that's just fine. There are a few "oops" that keep this DVD from being perfect such as awkward angles, subtitles covering up a performer now and then, and the overall static nature of the production. But it is still wonderful viewing, and a wonderful artifact of the Levine era Met. Decades from now it will serve as a tangible reminder of some of the great voices of the late 20thC. This DVD is a treasure.

As others have said, the production and performances are top-notch. Aprile Millo is fantastic. What surprised me most though was how the crowd goes increasingly wild as the performance goes on. Truly electrifying.