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Andre Rieu: Live in Vienna
List price: $19.99
Sale price: $14.99
You save: $5 (25%)
Actor(s): Andre Rieu
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Director(s):
EAN: 0795041769695
Format(s): ClassicalColorDVD-VideoLiveNTSC
Label: Denon Records
Language(s): German Original Language
List Price: $19.99
Manufacturer: Denon Records
MPN: 17696
Number Of Items: 1
Package Dimensions:
Height: 0.6"
Width: 5.3"
Length: 0.6"
Weight: 0.2 lbs.
Product Group: DVD
Publisher: Denon Records
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2008-09-30
Running Time: 135minutes
Studio: Denon Records
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
UPC: 795041769695
Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
Live In Vienna: A concert with Andre Rieu on the square in front of the imperial Hofburg Palace in the heart of Vienna. This DVD includes superb compositions from the most famous Viennese composers: Johann Strauss, Franz Lehar, Emmerich Kalman, W.A. Mozart, Robert Stolz and many others, set against the background of the most beautiful, stylish scenery imaginable. This DVD includes tracks not shown on the television special.
Customer Reviews Average rating - 5.0
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-02
Content: Tastes are, of course, subjective, but, in my opinion, "Live in Vienna" is far and away
the best concert ever performed by Andre' Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra.
(My second favorite would be "At the Schoennbrunn" - Andre' is always at hie best
performing in the Land of Strauss).
I first saw this concert advertiesed by my local PBS channel during one of their fund
drives and assumed that it was one I had already seen (after all, he has certainly
performed in Vienna enough times.) Much to my pleasant surprise the very first selection.
Vienna Citizens" was a waltz I had not heard in 20 years and I had never heard performed
by Andre' Rieu. I remembered it as one of my all time favorite "Strauss waltzes" Imagine
my chagrin when I subsequently discovered that it had been composed by Carl Michael
Ziehrer, a younger contemporary of Johann Straus II. Oh well, it's a beautiful wattz anyway.
Early on a number of young ladies in evening gowns and young men in "Hapsburg" uniforms
performed a visually beautiful "Fledermaus Quadrille" in the sumptious ballrooms of the Imperial
Apartments. Thirty years ago my late wife and I went to Vienna and saw what may have been the
precursors to this group. It certainmly brought back pleasant memories.This was followed by more
waltz music including the "Gold and Silver Waltz by Lehar (another one on my favorites.)
A change of pace was introduced at this point with a Mozart medley during which the
orchestra mirthfully played a few bars of that well known Mozart melody "Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star" while a large portrait of Mozart "winked" at the audience. Most impressive during
the Mozart segment was the piano solo by a lovely young pianist whose keyboard stylings
were surehanded as well as delicate. I imagined that she played it pretty much the way that
Mozarrt wanted it played
After Mozart we returned to Strauss and his most famous operetta "Die Fledermaus." My
favorite Andre Rieu vocalist, Carla Maffioletti, always bursting with personality, gave us
her lovingly flirtatious rendition of "The Laughing Song" (you guessed it - one of my
favorites). There are fewer more pleasuralbe events in the musical world than watching
and listening to Carla Maffioletti in action.
As I said at the olutset tastes are subjective and my reasons for giving this DVD five stars
is very subjective. How could I give anything less to a DVD that is nothing less than a non-
stop rendition of all my favorite melodies. In addition to those mentioned I'll just list "The Merry
"Widow," "Treasure" waltz, "Morning Papers" waltz and the hauntingly beautiful "Vienna,
City of My Dreams."
The usual cast of Andre Rieu characters are present here including vocalists Karl Moik, The
Platin Tenors, Carmen Monarcha, the lovely Suzanne Ehrens, Roger the trumpet player,
the fellow who does tricks with his trombone, the pretty blonde cellist who always looks
like she's having the time of her life, and, of course, the great Andre' Rieu himself.
Summary: The Absolute Best of Andre' Rieu
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-01
Content: My wife and I have enjoyed viewing this DVD production very much. We watched it again last night. The music is excellent. The staging is excellent, set in the site of the Vienna palace. The "debutante couples" waltzing on stage and in the Emperor's Ballroom, additional dancers from the Vienna Ballet and Folk Dance Group, scenes from Vienna and Austria, great performances by singers Carla Mafioletti, Carmen Monarcha, Susan Erens, and the Australian Marusia (I didn't get her last name) add to the orchestal excellence of the Johann Strauss Orchestra. I think this DVD is the best one yet that Andre Rieu has produced.
Summary: Andre Rieu: Live in Vienna
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-10-29
Content: Again,this was a second gift from myself to my Mother,and she loved it!It is far more complete than the version shown recently on PBS T.V.stations,the video/audio are of very good top quality,over all,if you enjoy Andre Rieu concerts,and his music,you will love this!Buy it and enjoy it!My Mother is a number#1 fan of Andre Rieu!
Summary: Andre Rieu:Live In Vienna DVD
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-10-23
Content: I recieved this newly released DVD (30 Sept 2008) as a pleasant surprise gift from a very good friend of mine(EC)who also caught the virus of classical music being spread worldwide by Andre Rieu.
Overall,compared with previous Andre's Concert DVD's,there is a marked increase of the usual elegance and finesse in the innovated presentation of Andre Rieu being accompanied by the Johann Strauss orchestra and choir. It is more apparent when we consider the concert is being held in Vienna, the home of the Strauss family and the birthplace of the waltz.
The stage is set up in Michaeler Square on the doorsteps(literally) of the Imperial Hofburg Palace in Vienna city center. A big 'Bravo' to the Stage Designer Marianne & Johny Lochner for their innovation about setting up two dance floors,one on each side of the orchestra bay. An extension of the dance floors is inside the original magnificent dance floor of the Imperial Hofburg Palace with its numerous classical chandeliers. This latter is shown on widescreens provided for the spectators.As expected, the inside ballroom of the palace displays all the sumptuous splendour and grandeur as it did in the 19th Century when Johann Strauss was teaching the world and Queen Victoria to waltz!
The performers on the dance floors are the outstanding Ballet group of The Vienna State Opera, Thomas Elmeyer group of Debutante Couples and the Folk Opera group of Vienna. In the various appropriate traditional costumes they open the show/concert with a pre-Strauss era ,Church approved 'strict' Quadrille formation dancing which easily transport the spectators to the time and place.
Andre's brief historical account of how the Waltz caused 'all hell to break loose' and 'stormed the world' has his usually witty sense of humour.
The repertoire, once again , has been very carefully and appropriately chosen to reflect the time and place with the usual high standard.The first waltz is the 'Gold and Silver Waltz' which gives us an almost complete reconstruction of the original time and place when it was composed and played thereafter.
Throughout the concert/show the same standard is meticulously maintained.
The soloists adapt beautifully to that era. The manner in which Carmen,Carla and Suzan thank the audience has innovated in a more elegant way that belongs to that time.The Australian newcomer Mirusia has joined the group very smoothly . The new hairstyle of the soloists and members of the orchestra perhaps appear to be more suited for the 2007 midsummer one(the date of the concert) rather than one of that time.
I must accept that I fail to understand the short Moulin Rouge type of show at the end of The Platin's Tenors and The Soloists fantastic and serious interpretation from 'The Merry Widow'. Somehow I feel that these latter might not have felt at ease as they were still on stage.
Suzan Erens is ,once again, fabulous in her interpretation of 'Sound of Music ' which is a tribute to Austria where the movie was made in the midst of its breathtaking sceneries in the valleys of the Alps.
Carmen Monarcha's interpretation of 'Meine Lippen sie Kussen so heiss' displays an outstandingly perfect inovated stage show. She excels and surpasses herself with a high degree of impressive perfection.She very well deserves the standing ovation she gets from the orchestra,Andre and the audience.
The interpretation of 'The Waltz of All Waltzes' took new higher dimensions with the waltzing ( Floating and swaying) of the dancers on the dance floors on the sides of the orchestra bay. The costumes of Elmeyer's dancing group 'Debutante Couples' are perfectly appropriate and they manage the cheeky hesitation beats of Andre Rieu very well.They are outstanding again in 'Morgen bluner'.It is a pity that M.Krammer( the main cameraman) did not give us more wideangle views, from 60 degrees above the horizontal specially that the DVD is excellent in the 16:9 format.I feel we had too many closeups views and not enough of the orchestra together with the two dance floors.
With Andre's touch of humour he gets Thomas Elmeyer to issue an anti aging and increasing longetivity prescription to all concerned!
The usual cheerful,lively and joyful feeling among the members of the orchestra and choir and, of course, Andre's become contagious and overcome the spectators who joins in a swaying frenzy throughout and,more so,towards the end of the show.
The guest artist Dagmer Koller lives up very well to her name of 'La Grande Dame de Vienne' in her interpretation of 'Vienna,City of My Dreams'. She joins in the grande finale 'Adieu,mein kliner Gardeoffizier'.
There is a banner in the audience that summarises this very successful Concert/Show appropriately .It shows a picture of Andre and it reads "DON'T STOP". At least we have it for 135 minutes on DVD(containing extra tracks not shown on public television).
So enjoy it again and again....
Summary: ' OUT OF THIS WORLD'
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-10-22
Content: I grew up listening to classical music. My parents are pretty hard core classical music listeners. All of my family enjoyed this awesome DVD. the scenery is beautiful and songs and pieces they play are very familar pieces. It actually makes you feel like you are attending the concert. There's brazilian singer in this performance - she's amazingly good!
Summary: I don't really like his dvds but this one is exceptionally awesome!
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