Customer Reviews

Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene Moscow

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For Jean-Michel Jarre fans in the US, this DVD is a must-buy for the simply reason that this is only the second time that there has been an NTSC-formatted Jarre video. (The Houston concert video from 1987, now out of print, was the last time.) The video, once again, documents an achievement of enormous scale.

So why the reserved 3-star rating? Jarre concerts have always been difficult to capture on film - his canvas is nothing less than the skyline. But this film seems to completely avoid this challenge altogether by focusing on close-ups on stage. Views of the vast, painted, building-scape are occasional. This documentation of the concert stands in stark contrast to what the live audience surely experienced - a unique fusion of architecture, music, and pyrotechnics. And although the Young Bolshoi Dancers are listed as part of the concert, they are not seen on this video.

The soundtrack is solid but unexceptional. No high-quality PCM audio track is available - only the standard Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0. The balance matches the film, focusing on close-up sound rather than capturing the pyrotechnics-music combination that the audience must have heard.

The documentary will turn out to be far more interesting for many fans. Again, for US fans, this is the only chance to catch a glimpse, however brief, of footage from other concerts such as Docklands (London) and La Defense (Paris). This 53-minute piece traces Jarre's entire career, with particular attention placed on the evolution of his ground-breaking concerts.

I have the complete concert recorded, and even though the sound quality is poor (had to remaster it many times), the concert was superb.

Now for this DVD... what we have here is edited concert, what could be also explained with the word 'Oxygene'. For example, we have about 6 minutes of Rendez-Vous 2, and in the concert a 9-minute edit was played. Since the DVD is Oxygen in Moscow, they have scrapped f.ex. 'Ethnicolor', 'Equinoxe 7' and 'Equinoxe 4', and even more is missing. And many of the other tracks are edited, and like previous reviewer said, the sounds don't sync.

Like previous reviewer also said, the laser harp seems like it hasn't no sensor or no trigger. During the concert, the laser harp was mailfunctioning a little (some notes sounded strange), so it wasn't really fake. But in this DVD, IT SEEMS LIKE ONE!

First I would have given 5 stars to this DVD. Like it first seemed to be. Good music and great performance (althought I would like to see something else than the players since this is a Jarre-concert...). But I take one star out because many of the songs were left out or then edited (excerpt of Chronologie 6 in the end doesn't make me feel better...). Again one star out for not bothering synchronising the drums/laser harp/etc. One star out for not having any extras (like the better Brazilian edition). So 2 stars for the DVD. But I'll add 1 star for the DVD because of 'Making the Steamroller Fly'-document. It is great to view for people who don't know a rats arse about Jarre, nice document.

And this is the only Jarre DVD that exists, what is very sad to me. I would like to see 'Paris La Defense', 'Destination Docklands' etc. via DVD. But then again, we could have the edits of the concerts. However, as this is the only Jarre DVD, it is very nice bonus to Jarre-collection. But it has it's flaws...

I don't see many concerts, so I may be easily impressed. Oxygene Moscow brings tears to my eyes it is so powerful and beautiful. I think of what day to day life for Russian people must be like. With all their trouble it is still their country and they must have pride and hope. The concert must have brought them great joy. The visuals were so large and coordinated with the music beyond anything I have ever seen. I've seen the DVD 4 times and I see something different each time. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I cry each time. The whole thing is so powerful and I feel so good for the Russian people. I made an audio tape to play in the car. I'm still hearing different things than I saw and heard before.

I personally have several Jarre CDs and enjoy the music immensely, but to actually experience his concerts on video/DVD truly brings the music to life. The incredible mix of music, media screens, lasers, live choirs and orchestras, spectacular stage performances, and mind-blowing pyrotechnics - as well as this particular concert's surprise from above - is absolutely essential to a true understanding of the genius of Jean-Michel Jarre.

Also highly commendable is the beautiful camera choreography throughout the concert. A spectator in the audience 9especially one close enough to see the stage performance) would be highly overwhelmed because there is so much to look at, but the camerawork both selects the important highlights of the near-perpetual visual blitz while still rendering this same jubilant overwhelming of the senses.

For any Jarre fan, and anyone who enjoys truly spectacular experiences, this is certainly a MUST-HAVE item!!!!!!!!!

Welp, I watched this DVD last night and must say.... WOW!

I must give kudos to JMJ for bringing just about every vintage synthesizer known to man out there on stage! I'm talkin' a large Moog modular, EMS gear, ARP 2600, CS80, Eminent Organ (i think), Minimoog, and LOTS more. Newer synths included Nord Leads, JP8000, and other assorted synths.

The thing that I enjoyed is that many/most of the parts were played live. I'm sure there was some sequenced stuff going on, but most of it looked like an actual performance. That really makes it worth watching, ya know? :)

The video quality of the show was good. Not great, but definitely decent. There were of course, a lot of shots of JMJ up close and some not so close. There were also some shots of the other members of the band, though I'd like to have seen a little more of them as well. I think they could have shown a little more of the fireworks and other lighting effects too, but I guess that they did okay on that.

The soundtrack is in 5.1 surround, but the rear channels weren't used for anything spectacular... No cool laser harp panning effects or anything. :( Overall, things sounded nice and clear, but I did add some bass EQ for a little added impact.

Other items of note were the "real time" (doubtful) communication with the MIR space station, and the moment of silence and song dedicated to Princess Diana. Oh, and on one song Jarre played a theremin!

Overall, I feel this was a great DVD. For electronic music fans such as myself, I'd say it makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience than the recently released Vangelis Mythodea DVD (with all due respect to Mr. Papathanassiou).

Watching this Jarre DVD brought back memories of the Houston show I saw in the mid 80's. That night was totally surreal.

Anyway, that's my review. Now go buy the DVD! :)

This show is fantastic" You will see JMJ using his old keyboards" Along with the new technology of the Laser Harp! Have you ever seen JMJ in a stunning performance" Playing Oxygene 10, uses this 'keyboard' in a very special way. In a word: Jean Michel Jarre is better than ever" Give this dvd 5 + stars" Featuring The Ex- Red Army Choir,Bolshoi Kids Choir,Young Bolshoi Dancers.5.1 Dolby Digital Surround" An unique event that can never again be replicated" 113 Minutes Long'A treasure to own"

Great 5.1 quality, fine picture, brilliant show, very nicely done documentary about Jarre and people around him, ...

To truly experience Jean Michel Jarre, you have to be there. However, if you can't, this is not bad at all. They did a decent job capturing the event, but were smart enough to keep the camera mostly on him. He is entertaining all on his own, and his shows are too complex for video. The true goldmine on this DVD, I found, was the extra feature where they chronologically go through his past concerts giving you bits and pieces on how they were made, what went on in his life at the time, and actual footage from the shows. That by itself was worth the purchase. So if you're a fan, this will not disappoint you. Just don't buy it expecting to feel the full Jean Michel Jarre experience.

The tunes in this dvd are some of the best you'll ever get to hear from the master of the electronic music. Filled with more than 15 songs, it features hits as Oxigene4, oxygene 7 and 10, rendez vous and many other. While the camera director could've shown us more of the general ambiance in Moscow, I'm pretty happy to just get a glimpse of my favorite musician. The 50 minutes documentary with itnerviews and music from JMJ is a must you can't miss.

I was present at Jean-Michel Jarres awesome 1988 London Docklands Concert. Nothing has compared since.

The next best thing however is Oxygene Live in Moscow. Put simply, this is a wonderful concert. The tracks all blend in nicely together, the sound quality is excellent for a live event and the lasers, lights and fireworks make for an breathtaking listening experience.

Jarre plays his keyboards and laser harp with is usual panache, and in particular I thought that Oxygene 13 was a great choice of closing song. Very moving.

- Overall, you'd be quite insane to miss this if you are a Jarre fan.