Customer Reviews

Andre Rieu: Radio City Hall Live in New York

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Taped in July 2006 at the Radio City Music Hall, this exuberant concert starts with a grand entrance set to "76 Trombones." The glittering show is occasionally interspersed with wonderful scenes of New York in Summer, with its amazing diversity and energy, and the "Godfather Theme" includes some sunny footage from Italy. The superb musicianship of Rieu (who now plays a 1732 Stradivarius), along with his unique and terrific Johann Strauss Orchestra and Chorus, always keep a light heart and a touch of humor while they perform pop and classical favorites. Guest artists are the Harlem Gospel Choir and 5 year old child prodigy Akim Camara.

The old time razzle dazzle aura of the Radio City Music Hall is a perfect setting for Rieu, who has perfected the fine art of schmaltz down to the last note, and never fails to delight us with his entertaining offerings. The concert includes the following numbers:
"76 Trombones"
With Akim Camara: "Dance of the Fairies"
With the Harlem Gospel Choir: "Amen," "I Will Follow Him," "Nun's Choir," "Oh Happy Day," "When the Saints Go Marching In"
"The Life of the Artist"
"Blaze Away"
"My Way"
"Godfather Theme"
"Singing in the Rain"
"The Washington Post"
"Music of the Night"
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"
"Hallelujah Chorus"
"Radetzki March"
"A Bright Young Man"
"America the Beautiful"

I don't know how Clayton G. Anderson's panties got in such a twist! (The one star review!) I have to whole heartedly DISagree with his review! If you are an Andre Rieu fan, this DVD is another excellent showing by Mr. Rieu. What Clayton must not understand is how Andre loves not only beautiful music but also bringing it to the masses! To me the real show is seeing how much he enjoys bringing entertainment to his audiences!

I am an upbeat kind of person. I enjoy watching people have a good time. When you watch this DVD enjoy how much, not only the audience or Andre, but his orchestra enjoys the evening.

This is another beautiful show. I have all of them and enjoy them over and over again! (I really love Carla! LMAO)

Update: I see that Clayton G. Anderson's review has been removed. GOOD! As you can see in my message above, I am a fan. I saw the PBS special and it showed about one full hour of the real show. The real show is 2 hours and 40 minutes. My suggestion to all is to go to the Andre Rieu site (www.andrerieu.com) and order "New York Memories". It is the entire presentaion at Radio City Music Hall, NOT just what was shown on PBS.

Having had the opportunity to be in the audience of this performance, I know exactly what to expect from this DVD. My family and I will enjoy watching this concert and will be able to recall all of the excitement and fun of an an extremely memorable evening at Radio City Music Hall with Andre Rieu!

I have several of Andre Rieu's DVDs and while most of them are enjoyable, this one is the best so far, in my opinion. Unlike one of your previous reviewers, I thought the Harlem Gospel Choir was great and suited a concert recorded in New York at Radio City Music Hall very well. I also like to see the audience and all the featured soloists so I enjoyed the way it was filmed. You almost feel that you are there! The repertoire was a 10 ... all among my favourite pieces and well chosen to capture many moods. Everything was played beautifully with contagious enthusiasm. This is definitely a keeper. You can't help but feel great after playing it.

This DVD is one of Andre's best. The music includes many American favorites. We enjoyed the entire show from the first song to the last. I would highly recommend the DVD to anyone.

Be aware before you buy that this is the same as New York Memories - just repackaged. They seem to do that quite often so I will no longer get my mother these DVDs "hot off the press", as I did with this one in September. She LOVES them but I will now have to make her wait so I can read the reviews to let me know if they are recycled. Thanks to those of you who do, I will do the same.

Magnificent performance by Andre Rieu and his orchestra, choir, and with special performance by Harlem Gospel Choir. I do not get tired of watching it. This one is for keeps.

Ever since Andre Rieu debuted he's always done things his way. In `Radio City Music Hall: Live in New York' Rieu's American arrival takes all that we know and love about his show and makes it fresh and memorable. Taking on the Big Apple, the Maestro fittingly does everything big. The joshing is appropriately scaled down to fit a proper venue and mood. Surely, there are some familiar pieces, like "Finiculi, Finicula," "The Blue Danube," and "Radezky's March," but he tailor fits his songs for his Broadway audience. And Broadway is well represented this time.

If New York City is America's best representation of the melting pot, then the Maestro certainly mixes his ethnic ingredients well. Italians are represented in the theme song "My Way" with a pictorial tribute fittingly enough for Frank Sinatra. "Godfather Waltz" and "Torna a Surriento" delve through these roots more thoroughly with video drawing from scenes in Tuscany.

Then, some of the happiest surprises come from guest stars, including young violinist, Akeem Camera and The Harlem Gospel Choir. Spiritual songs from "Amen," "Amazing Grace," and "I Will Follow Him" are given an exhilarating presentation. Instead of being accentuated, the choir takes front and center while the Johann Strauss Orchestra is heard in the background.

This grandeur is nearly matched by their rendition of show tunes. And what a refreshing lot we're given this time around! "The Music of the Night," easily 'Phantom of the Opera''s best song; "I'm Singing in the Rain," and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" are all done to perfection. Wisely, he leaves the theme song to `The Titanic' behind for a whole new sound, which is honed with intricate skill.

Other highlights include the enchanting "Dance of the Fairies," "The Life of Artists," and "The Washington Post". Always partial to Sousa, even when not touring America, Rieu does "Stars and Stripes Forever," but adds a wonderful rendition of "America the Beautiful," and starts with the rousing "Seventy-six Trombones" (from `The Music Man').

Besides making it big, downplaying the hijinx, and freshening up the play list, Rieu changes the personnel this time around. In place of siren Carmen Monarcha, his own three Italian tenors join the troupe with some other fine singers. Otherwise, all the familiar orchestra faces are faithfully intact.

Andre Rieu is as much a perfectionist as he is a festive entertainer. On `Radio City Music Hall: Live in New York,' he's able to cater his music skills to thrill a highly receptive New York audience with a big night out on the town.

I was watching one of his other DVD's when I saw a preview to this one, super DVD.
I can watch Andre Rieu all day long.

I had previously bought Andre Rieu: Radio City Music Hall Live in New York for myself and have enjoyed it many, many times. Sometimes I play it even though I don't have time to sit down and watch. The music fills my house. I bought this one as a birthday gift for a good friend, knowing she would enjoy it as much as I have. I wasn't wrong--she said it is wonderful.