Customer Reviews

Piano Grand! A Smithsonian Celebration

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I happend across this DVD in my local library and it is by far the best-produced concert video I have seen. The production quality is extremely high. The picture is crisp, the sound is clear and balanced. Billy Joel is an engaging host who introduces the listener to a vast array of well-known performers with backgrounds in classical, jazz, and pop music. While there is such a wide range of musical genres, there are no dissapointments in this show. Performances are all of a high caliber. You won't be disappointed with this choice, I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who loves classical or jazz music, and mostly... the piano.

This DVD is one of my all time favorites. As a piano lover myself, this is a real nice treat. You can see many excellent artists perform various genres of piano music ranging from classical to jazz, contemporary, and pop. As a reviewer mentioned, I really like to see the French pianist play the popular classical numbers. Of course, to watch such famous artists as Billy Joel, Dina Krall, Marcus Roberts and Labeque Sisters is true pleasure. You would also be interested in this DVD if you noticed Hyung-Ki(Richard) Joo, a Korean American artist, was the pianist who had performed Billy Joel's first classical album "Fantasies & Delusions, Op. 1-10".

I like the PCM audio track, which is always more natural than DD5.1. In between performances, there are some "Snoopy" cartoons about music, which is enjoyable too. If you like music especially piano music, you don't have to hesitate getting this.

I first saw this presentation on PBS TV. Unfortunatly, I did not see it all but was determined to "See It All". The opening by Billy Joel alone is worth the DVD. His greatest recording ever of "Piano Man" If you think you have heard it before, forget it. This performence will bring tears to your eyes beleive me.The rest of the program will give you a cross-section of great Pianists like nothing else you have seen. From the Classics to "Dianne Krall" This is an absolute "Must Have DVD" for the piano enthusiast. Period.

Almost any pianist or piano enthusiast will find something to like from this DVD, although I doubt any will like all the selections. This is as it should be...a fair tribute to the piano must include music from many genres.

For me, the highlight of the DVD is Cyrus Chestnut's performance of 'Baroque Impressions', an original jazz improvisational piece built from a Bach theme. His performance was spellbinding...I watched that segment over and over again. Also excellent were the performances by Marcus Roberts and the Labeque sisters.

Billy Joel does a creditable job as MC, and his over-the-top rendition of 'Baby Grand' that opens the DVD is also great.

The producers did a good thing by trying to include some living legends performing live: Jerry Lee Lewis, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Dave Brubeck. Unfortunately, as these artists are well past their prime, watching their performances was a little saddening...knowing what greatness they've produced in earlier times. Of this group, Brubeck does well in picking a piece that is reflective in nature. I expected to see Ray Charles here, but curiously a performance by him was not included.

Cyrus Chestnut's performance alone justifies the price of this DVD. All in all, a great way to spend an evening!

Somehow, this DVD has a very eclectic selection of music styles (you get Baroque, Romantic and Impressionist classical music together with Rag, Boogie, Rock & roll and Jazz) in a mixture that I would have normally considered misfortunate, but in this case, being the piano the subject around which everything happens, it seems OK. I am a piano fan (I love how the instrument sounds and feels when you touch it and play it and I appreciate how it accomplishes as a one man orchestra) so you might think that my opinion ought not to be objective, but everybody I shared this DVD with (from 25 to 70) loved it. You get performances by some great pianists, some goodies (otherwise, how would you qualify Diana Krall) and other mature but yet vital respectable legends. Billy Joel (who also plays) acts as a very appropriate host. In the hole, watching and listening to this DVD results in a pleasant experience that you may even find instructive (in between every performance you have comments by Billy Joel and the interpreters, about the history of the piano, the music itself and how they feel about music). Maybe this DVD is not necessarily a must, but you wont regret if you acquire it and I am sure you will enjoy it (I certainly do) if you like the styles of music it contains.

I bought this DVD primarily to see Diana Krall, but was totally enthralled with the whole show. Billy Joel is excellent as emcee, and the whole two hours is captivating if you are a piano enthusiast, as I am. Well worth the money...I am sure I will watch/listen to this DVD many times. Makes for a very relaxing and entertaining evening in front of the tube.

I bought this dvd mainly because I'm so intrigued by the French piano school at the Conservatoire de Superieur in Paris. The pianists from the Paris Conservatoire that were featured included Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the Labeque Sisters. I am just in total awe of Jean-Yves Thibaudet. Being a professional concert musician myself, I have one of the greatest respect for him in the world. He is not a "snobbish" classical musician and his playing style appeals to many different types of audiences. His performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto in A Minor (1st movement only) just made me feel like I was floating on a cloud, daydreaming on a beautiful spring day in Norway. All you Thibaudet fans MUST see this dvd.

Nothing better illustrates the versatility of the grand piano than this Smithsonian tribute to the greatest musical instrument ever invented.
Performers from Jerry Lee Lewis to Toshiko Akiyoshi to the Labeque sisters demonstrate why the piano when played with feeling launches the soul into orbit.
From Lewis' key banging, for example, comes an almost primal rhythm that sets the feet tapping; Akiyoshi's improvisional interpretation of "When I Was 17'' illustrates the many ways one tune can be played; and the Labeque sisters' double piano version of Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite'' shows the piano's unique ability to make softly played, relatively uncomplicated pieces sublime.
The Smithsonian wisely chose Beethoven as the center piece of the tribute. As Robert Levine, a piano historian and concert pianist, explains, Beethoven's raging talent forced piano makers to enlarge the instrument to its modern size -- the smaller version he learned on wasn't capable of expressing the magnificent music racing in his head.
Despite the eclectic line-up, the performers all have one thing in common: a passion for the piano. And it shows on this video, e.g., the Labeque sisters virtually go into a trance as they play the Ravel piece.
Watching these pianists become enraptured by the ethereal sounds they elicit simply by caressing its keys equals the joy of hearing their inspired playing.

This is the best concert that I have never seen before.This contain many great star,and they all have a great performance.Especially Billy Joel,I won't forget he sing and play "Baby Grand" at the beginning of the concert.If you are a piano lover,this is the best DVD that you need!!

I rented this from Netflix and was totally blown away. A great DVD with wonderful performances, playing, and well shot too. It's really a crossover DVD in that jaz, classical and rock are all represented. When I went to purchase it I found out it is out of print and being sold used for $150. Outrageous! If you really want to have a copy of this, rent it from Netflix and rip it yourself. Skip the used rip-off. Got $150 to spend on this used, good for you.