An excellent Christmas gift, reasonably priced, for all music lovers
I discovered this wonderful concert in March 2007, during the Spring Break, as I returned to my usual hotel in downtown Long Beach after an excellent (and cheap) Indian buffet on Second St., where I always return whenever I go to the LAX area. As I turned on the local PBS channel, I saw Suzan Erens singing and didn't move any more. The concert opens by the "Seventy Six Trombones" while Andre Rieu and some members of his orchestra jump out of a limousine and enter Radio City in New York. This is followed by a well known waltz: "The Artists' Life", that includes some views of New York. "Blaze Away", which lasts only thirty seconds (a small fraction of Rieu's speech preceding it!) is number 3, interpreted by the orchestra with a discrete choir behind. Number 4 is a mainly instrumental, touching tribute to Frank Sinatra's "My Way". This was originally a French song written by prematurely disappeared Claude François (1939-1978) and Jacques Revaux and created in 1968, as my French students should know. It is said that Paul Anka heard Claude François singing it while visiting the south of France in the 1960s. He then flew to Paris to negotiate the rights to the song and rewrote it for Frank Sinatra. Those who understand French, know that Sinatra's version has absolutely nothing to do with the original song, which is far sadder, evoking an estranged couple. You may listen to an outstanding interpretation of the original version by Michel Sardou: "Comme d'habitude" in a double CD kit titled "Les Grands Moments" and bearing the reference "Trema 710725 CB 772" dated 1996. Unfortunately discontinued, this great CD may be ordered used from Amazon.fr marketplace for about 16 euros. Rieu's interpretation offers black and white touching images of immigrants arriving by boat to New York while the orchestra plays, and there is also a picture of a young boy who could be Sinatra himself. Rieu's choir discretely sings the song in the background and the performance receives a well deserved standing ovation, which will happen quite often, by the way: unlike the audience of Dublin's concert, who seemed to be screwed to the seats, the public in New York gave many standing ovations throughout the concert. "Dance of the Fairies" is interpreted by a child called Akim who plays violin and that Rieu had already presented in his "Flying Dutchman" concert. He has grown and made some progress since then. A famous Italian classic follows: "Torna a Surriento", interpreted by "The Platin Tenors" "Funiculi Funicula", a fast Italian song, follows the languorous "Surriento", by the same trio. "Godfather Waltz", an Italian waltz, is number 8. Beautiful images of Italian fields, cypresses and old stone villages fill the screen during the performance. An excellent idea that should have been repeated far more often! "Yakety Sax" is a fast tune in which a beautiful young blonde playing saxophone is the star. This is followed by "Amen", introducing The Harlem Gospel Choir, who enters the stage under a standing ovation from the public. Song number 11 is "I Will Follow Him", also by The Harlem Gospel Choir, joined by Rieu's choir and sopranos. They all remain on stage to interpret the "Nun's Chorus". After these three outstanding numbers, which deserve alone the purchase of this DVD, the first part closes with a masterpiece: "Amigos para siempre". Created originally for the closing ceremony of the Barcelona's Olympic game in 1992 in the outstanding interpretation of Sarah Brightman and José Carreras (you may read my review of Sarah Brightman's DVD "Diva", which includes this number, in Amazon.com dated September 20, 2008). Nevertheless, Rieu's interpretation is also outstanding. As it was the case in 1992, two singers (Suzan Erens and one of the three Platin tenors, whose name is not disclosed on the jacket) start this song but they are soon joined by two other, then two more (Carla and the third Platin tenor) in a crescendo that will culminate with the entrance on stage of Rieu's choir and The Harlem Gospel Choir followed by a well deserved standing ovation. All male members of the orchestra abandon their instruments to perform "Singing in the rain", leaving the orchestra to female musicians with the contribution of the sopranos hitting the drums for the opening of the second part. Number 15 is an instrumental: "The Washington Post", with some views of New York filling the screen during the performance. This is followed by "Oh Happy Day" in an outstanding performance by The Harlem Gospel Choir. This number alone deserves the purchase of this excellent DVD. "The Music of the night", which closed Sarah Brightman's "Diva" DVD is regretfully interpreted by the orchestra alone. True, Andre Rieu shows his talent of violinist but I would have preferred to hear one of his great sopranos instead of a discrete choir saying "ah, ah, ah". "The Blue Danube", number 18, is a classical in Rieu's repertoire, just as his also "classical" joke of stopping the orchestra while some couples in the public are dancing. It was funny the first time, but after so many times... This is followed by Suzane Erens' outstanding interpretation of "Don't cry for me Argentina" Rieu's three sopranos (Carla Mafioletti, Suzane Erens and a newcomer replacing Carmen Monarca, whose name is not disclosed on the DVD jacket) join the Platin Tenors and The Harlem Gospel Choir in an outstanding interpretation of Haendel's "Hallelujah" from his famous "Messiah". What a masterpiece! The "Radetzky March", number 21, is another classical in Rieu's repertoire "A Bright Young Man" succeeds this famous waltz as number 22. This is an instrumental medley that includes the "Blue Danube" "The Merry Widow" and other well known waltzes while balloons fall from the ceiling. The Platin Tenors and Rieu's sopranos come back for "Libiamo", holding a flute with bubbles (the "Widow"?) as they did in "The Homecoming" concert. "Amazing Grace", a well known instrumental piece with flute (the instrument this time!) and bagpipe, is number 24 This is followed by the famous "Oh When the Saints" with The Harlem Gospel Choir Andre Rieu starts playing "America the Beautiful" alone with his violin, followed by the orchestra while the public stands and sings. The concert ends with a 27th number: "The Stars and Stripes Forever" As usual with Andre Rieu, this DVD includes bonus tracks and interesting additional information. If you need a reasonably priced Christmas gift besides the traditional box of chocolates on sale that I always offer, you may want to try this outstanding DVD, together with any of the three not less outstanding concerts given by a heavenly group called "Celtic Woman". Before you make up your mind, you may want to read my reviews for their "New Journey" (their second concert, a real masterpiece rated five stars by over 300 reviewers!) dated February 4, 2007, or the one for their "Christmas Celebration" (their last DVD), which I posted November 11, 2008. Read more