Customer Reviews

Christmas With Kiri Te Kanawa - Kiri Te Kanawa, Michael George,

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first experienced this concert six years ago in a television adaptation, where each carol was introduced by David Frost with an astonishing amount of misinformation. Even with that intrusion, Kiri te Kanawa's performance of such carols as "There is no Rose of Such Virtue" and "Of the Father's Heart Begotten" was superlative, and on this DVD, Christmas with Dame Kiri can be savored without commentary. She is well supported by the choirs of Coventry and Lichfield Cathedrals, by the BBC Philharmonic, and by the trumpet of Jouko Harjanne. She is perfectly complemented by bass-baritone Michael George, who deserves more acknowledgement in the packaging of the DVD. Kultur International is furthermore quite Scrooge-like in failing to provide any information about the versions of carols performed here, but that's my final "humbug" for this item. Kiri te Kanawa and Michael George perform with sincerity and art, the recording is good, and the camerawork and editing are satisfying, with panoramas of the cathedral juxtaposed with Graham Sutherland's Christ the King, and candle flames that resonate like the music itself.

Truly this concert goes beyond itself to convey the beauty, tenderness, joy, of the feast of Christmas. I love it very much.

I was delighted with this DVD. Te Kanawa's voice is radiant, and she is beautiful and dressed elegantly for the season. The DVD has a great deal of variety featuring a singer with a marvelous bass voice, superb orchestra, and a boys' and men' chorus that are all well-trained. I plan to watch and listen to this wonderful DVD for many years to come. I love to hear the standard and familiar Christmas carols, as well as some more unfamiliar ones that are included. Thumbs up on this one.

I love Christmas and I love Kiri Te Kanawa. Put the two together with a marvelous boys choir, a wonderful orchestra and you have a perfect holiday treat. There are familiar carols included so certainly can be enjoyed by everyone.