Sarah Brightman - La Luna (Live in Concert)

Starring:Neil Drinkwater, Josh Groban, Todd Talbot, Gillian McDonagh, Trevor Barry, Vanessa Brierley, Georgina Harrison, Gunther Laudahn, Sarah Brightman, Matthew Scrivener (II), Brett Morgan, Tommi Sliiden
Director: Bruce Gowers
Studio: Angel Records
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Superstar crossover vocalist Sarah Brightman greets the new millennium with a bold sense of her unique musical niche in this live concert, La Luna. Drawing heavily from her same-titled CD, the material touches on images of the moon that reinforce its ambiguity as a force known to draw together "the lunatic, the lover, and the poet" (Brightman's revealing woodsy outfits and tinsel crown do seem to suggest a sort of Titania-like figure out of a New Age Midsummer Night's Dream). And it's a stylistic as well as thematic voyage, coursing from contemporary synth pop through gorgeously sinuous melodies of classical composers (one song, "Figlio Perduto," even adapts the slow movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony) as well as selections from her earlier albums: "There for Me" (a duet with Josh Groban), Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," "Time to Say Goodbye" (performed without Andrea Bocelli), and ex-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" and "Music of the Night." Limiting stage action to arm gestures, some dancers, and a couple of flying maneuvers (most notably amid a shower of sparks in "A Question of Honour"), executive producer Frank Peterson (who produced the CD) and stage director Bruce Gowers swath Brightman's shiny small voice in luxuriant fabrics of sound. Detractors will lament the resulting sameness of tone--no matter what the style involved--but Brightman's focus on spinning an ethereal spell is never eclipsed. -- Thomas May
Description
Track listing:

Amazon.com

Superstar crossover vocalist Sarah Brightman greets the new millennium with a bold sense of her unique musical niche in this live concert, La Luna. Drawing heavily from her same-titled CD, the material touches on images of the moon that reinforce its ambiguity as a force known to draw together "the lunatic, the lover, and the poet" (Brightman's revealing woodsy outfits and tinsel crown do seem to suggest a sort of Titania-like figure out of a New Age Midsummer Night's Dream). And it's a stylistic as well as thematic voyage, coursing from contemporary synth pop through gorgeously sinuous melodies of classical composers (one song, "Figlio Perduto," even adapts the slow movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony) as well as selections from her earlier albums: "There for Me" (a duet with Josh Groban), Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," "Time to Say Goodbye" (performed without Andrea Bocelli), and ex-husband Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu" and "Music of the Night." Limiting stage action to arm gestures, some dancers, and a couple of flying maneuvers (most notably amid a shower of sparks in "A Question of Honour"), executive producer Frank Peterson (who produced the CD) and stage director Bruce Gowers swath Brightman's shiny small voice in luxuriant fabrics of sound. Detractors will lament the resulting sameness of tone--no matter what the style involved--but Brightman's focus on spinning an ethereal spell is never eclipsed. -- Thomas May

Description

Track listing:

Customer Reviews:

voice and imagery.......2007-05-29

At its gentlest and most natural, Sarah Brightman's voice is the lullaby of sunlight through a canopy of leaves. Her low tones are as meditative as wind through a dark stone passage, and her highest trills are a rousing swim through a cold river. And she knows that such a voice is best presented through imagery. There are almost no clichés we've come to expect at concerts. Interaction with the audience is kept to a minimum; and she doesn't introduce the musicians or anyone else performing with her aside from duet partner Josh Groban. Instead, she assumes images of mystical female icons: Aphrodite in "Who Wants to Live Forever," a music-box doll in "Figlio Perduto," the Virgin Mary in "Nessun Dorma" and "Deliver Me," and a vamp in "Music of the Night." Only twice does she seem human: during "Moon River," sung close to the audience; and in her duet with Josh (the affectionate embrace she gives the baby-faced baritone at the end of the song is endearing).
The song selection is very satisfying. I was impressed with how Sarah turned Queen's "Who Wants to Live Forever" into something epic. Her rendition of "Nessun Dorma" has breathed new life into the aria as a stirring piece for a soprano. I also enjoyed the reversal of roles she effected in "Music of the Night": it is now the diva seducing the maestro, and not the other way around.
My only negative comment is that in certain songs, the lyrics are neither on a par nor in harmony with Sarah's voice or the show's mysticism. "Deliver Me," which she sings like a heaven-bound Mary above a rotating globe, has such casual lines such as `I know you're the one to pull me through.' She comes on stage after the third interlude looking like a dryad, only to sing of `cartwheels on the floor' and `drinks' in "A Whiter Shade of Pale." Such a voice, and such a production, deserves more poetic lyrics.
But it is easy to ignore this. Just listen to this voice, and watch this spirited performer lose herself in her meditations.

Best Female voice in the Business.......2007-05-07

A superb collection of songs in a great venue with excellent sound and separation

Have the album? Watch the concert.......2006-11-19

Sarah pulls out all the stops to give us a first rate concert. You immediately feel that you are in another place that is timeless. There seems to be a favorite or classic for everyone.

The only drawback is that the experience seems to be over too soon.

great vocal great DVD.......2006-08-03

Nothing to say but terrific !!!!!!!!!!!! one little bit drawback is the cover is not as same quality.

Entertaining, beautiful voice, but.........2006-07-17

I've been a fan of Sarah Brightman since I went through my "Phantom of the Opera phase" as a 19-year-old. (I had listened nonstop to the Original London Cast Recording and had read the book by Gaston Leroux b/f attending a performance of "The Phantom" in Toronto).

Sarah is a talented artist; I'm in no way contesting that. However, her arm gestures are so strange and don't seem to go with what she's singing. While I enjoyed the background choreography, I found her arm gestures and stage movement distracting and nonsensical. Also, her costumes were not to my taste, though I suppose that her outfits reflect the "moon" theme of the program.

But this DVD is worth the price in many other ways. The second movement (allegretto) of Beethoven's 7th Symphony is so gorgeous, and I love the vocal arrangement of it (Figlio Perduto). The text is sort of a Spanish version of Schubert's "Erlkonig."

I also enjoyed Sarah's rendition of "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (check out the music video in the special features), "Moon River," and "Scarborough Fair." And hey, Josh Groban (the quintessential sensitive, young artist) makes a guest appearance at this concert...need I say more?

Sarah Brightman: La Luna - Live in Concert [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

voice and imagery
Best Female voice in the Business
Have the album? Watch the concert
great vocal great DVD
Entertaining, beautiful voice, but..

Sarah Brightman: La Luna - Live in Concert [Region 2]
Starring: Sarah Brightman , Neil Drinkwater , Todd Talbot , Josh Groban , and Matthew Scrivener (II)
Director: Bruce Gowers
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music
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