Lang Lang Live in Vienna (2010) Review

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(More customer reviews)Video quality is of course fine, but for my taste too many cuts. Another director that got his training at MTV. Each take on average 3 seconds, with shorter takes in the beginning and longer takes towards the end. He learnt a bit or got tired himself. Overhead shots were not good enough but needed to spin, too. Your taste may differ.
I listened to the surround track of the concert (5.1 DTS-HD) and it is not that great, either. Little use of the side channels and the piano sounds not as full as it does on other recordings I have.
Normally, I don't watch the bonus program (here excerpts of the same pieces played in the Berghain club, but recorded in 3-D for a future release, sound is 5.0 DTS-HD), but someone had mentioned the different acoustics, so I checked it out. Low and behold, that sound is much better.
I don't think it's the acoustic of the room, but the microphones and the placement. In the concert, there are 4 microphones, 2 at the narrow end of the piano (which I believe don't do much for the sound) and 2 in front, very close to the piano, about piano high. In the club, there are 3 different microphones in front of the piano, about 3 feet apart from each other and about 15 feet away from the piano. Different audio technicians/directors too.
So this disc turns out to be an example of how different the sound can be based on who does it and how it is done (good or not so good). The Berghain guys did a better job and the bonus material sounds better than the concert.
"Jundi Li in Baden-Baden" sounds in concert just as good as Lang Lang in the club, DTS 5.1
The Verbier Festival Piano Extravaganza is much better recorded as far as surround sound is concerned.
So Lang Lang 5 stars, audio 3 stars

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Filmed live in Vienna's legendary Musikverein concert hall, this release represents Lang Lang's second live recorded recital to date after the best-selling "Live at Carnegie Hall" in 2004, which marked his international breakthrough as a recording artist. The program for his Sony debut features Lang Lang's first-ever recording of Beethoven sonatas: The famous "Appassionata", a milestone in the piano literature, is paired with the composer's youthful C major Sonata op. 2, no. 3. Virtuosity of a different order is displayed in Albéniz's impressionistic memories of his native Spain in Book 1 of "Iberia." The program closes with one of Prokofiev's explosive War Sonatas, the revolutionary Seventh Sonata. Finally, to celebrate the Chopin Bicentennial we hear three encores of this Polish genius's most popular works: the "Aeolian Harp" Etude, the "Heroic" Polonaise in A flat major, and the sparkling Grande Valse Brillante No. 2. Features the complete recital filmed in high-definition, an extended photo gallery plus special 3D performances

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The Soloist (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie is primarily about the relationship between the weary journalist and the homeless artist, and Downey and Foxx give great performances. It sensitively deals with issues of charity and friendship in ways that challenge conventional ideals, and I liked the fact that in the end, Downey's character seems content to stop playing the role of "rescuer" and instead lets events play out to their natural conclusion. In fact, Foxx's character, for all the mental distress he faces, seems more grounded at times than Downey's character, and you might wonder whether the soloist refers to the cello virtuoso or the journalist who seems to learn what it means to be a friend rather than going solo through life. In that respect, it's a show that operates effectively on more than a superficial level.
Now if they could just have spent a little more time coaching Foxx on his fake cello-playing skills...alas.

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Academy Award® nominee Robert Downey Jr. and Academy Award® winner Jamie Foxx star in an extraordinary and inspiring true story of how a chance meeting can change a life. The Soloist tells the poignant and ultimately soaring tale of a Los Angeles newspaper reporter who discovers a brilliant and distracted street musician, with unsinkable passion, and the unique friendship and bond that transforms both their lives. The remarkable performances make for an unforgettable experience in what is hailed as “a courageous and uncompromising film” (Gene Shalit, TODAY).

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Fantasia 2000 (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)This movie is a worthy successor to the original Fantasia movie. The artwork in all the pieces was superb (although, you could tell the art from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" is old). This movie, as with the original, gave me a greater appreciation of classical music, while entertaining me with impressive visual imagery.
The pieces are as follows:
Beethoven, Symphony #5. A classical piece of music (who can't identify it upon hearing it?) portrayed as a good vs. evil contest.
Respighi, Pines of Rome. Flying whales!! A great piece of music which builds to a fantastic finish. Has some cute moments with a baby whale.

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue. Easily the best (and longest) piece in the movie. Done in the drawing style of Al Hirschfeld, a magical tale is told of four people in Depression-era New York. A heartwarming, moving piece.

Shostakovich, Piano Concerto # 2 Allegro Opus 102. A charming piece of music, used to tell the story of the Steadfast Tin Solder. Some of the scenes in this piece may be scary for little kids.

Saint-Saens, Carnival of the Animals, Finale. A (very) short, but very funny piece which answers the age old question: "What happens when you give a flamingo a yo-yo?" I was laughing out loud at this one.

Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice. This is the same piece as from the original 1940 movie. Still worth watching after all these years.

Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance. Donald and Daisy Duck star in this reinactment of the story of Noah's Ark. Fun to watch and enjoyable.

Stravinsky, Firebird Suite. A wonderful story about life, death and rebirth. The piece builds to a wonderful ending, both in the story and in the music. Some of the younger children may be scared by some of the scenes in this piece as well.


Overall, this movie is a wonderful addition to any home video library.

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Andre Rieu - New Year's in Vienna (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)We have 16:9 screen format with DD5.1 and Stereo sound options. He speaks in English (with English and French subtitles) and feature runs for 103 minutes. This concert took place in Austria for New Year's Celebration. 19 tracks of joyful music really give you the New Year's Party atmosphere and take you to the mood. By the way, about 10 tracks were also played in Royal Albert Hall DVD, but please keep in mind that it is a different concert DVD which also includes some British (Jazz, Big Band) tunes in it and some pieces played by guest musicians (ie. Stars and Stripes). This thematic New Year DVD is from Austria Concert and its play list tends to give us "New Year's Party Fun" like Viennese people had. Also, those same tracks in Royal Albert Hall DVD are the ones most loved by all of us and therefore it is not a disappointment to listen them again in a different concert; especially if they are the climax tunes for the party's play list. Moreover, as I will be mentioning below, this DVD is a really good starter for the ones who are buying their first Andre Rieu concert DVD.
For those of you who are familiar with Andre Rieu's DVDs/CDs; it is needless to say how his music is beautiful and joyful. You never and ever keep yourself in your chair. If you like waltzes or classical pieces or a beginner listener in that area; he is the one who can give you the magic of classical music. And according to me, everyone should invite classical music to his home and introduce it to his/her kids from early ages. And to begin with, Andre Rieu is the great choice...

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What could be more magical than Andre Rieu and his world famous Johann Strauss Orchestra performing before a live audience in Vienna on New Year's Eve! Join Andre and his musicians and guests as they celebrate the year's most special evening with this collection of all time favorites captured live in concert. Track Listings: Gold and Silver, Waltz, Without A Care, Come, Zigany, Emperor Waltz, Juliska of Budapest, Vienna Blood Waltz, Funiculi, Funicula, Gypsy Princess Medley, Adieu, Mein Kleiner Gardeoffizier, Blue Danube Waltz, Radetzky March, Strauss & Co. Medley, Rigoletto Potpurri, Chianti Song, Carnival of Venice,Circus Renz, Second Waltz, Stars and Stripes Forever, Brazil Symphony.

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