Customer Reviews

Prom at the Palace - The Queen's Concerts, Buckingham Palace

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

 

 

You'll never see a gathering of musicians like this again. Rostopovich, now deceased, 12-year-old monster prodigy clarinetist Julian Bliss, opera stars, ballet, orchestra, gospel--all honoring the queen for her 50 years of reign. Fantastic performances, fantastic setting, fantastic recording. As a musician, I recommend this DVD to my students. As a friend, I recommend this to others as a great performance with many genres to enjoy. I generally dislike music DVDs, instead preferring CDs. However, this is superb.

FIRST THOUGHTS: UNREAL ATMOSPHERE - BUT IT IS REAL!

All through this concert one could see both the grounds and surroundings of Buckingham Palace, as the sun set. Really pleasant to look at. There were interiors with the Ballet and outdoor fireworks in this eclectically balanced live presentation. Queen Elizabeth was our host too!

WHAT I LIKED MOST:

There was a lot to like and there was no time to yawn during this 2-hour program because the pieces were short and very varied.

The 12 year old Clarinetist Julian Bliss gives an amazing rendition of "Messager's Solo de Concours," which was my favorite.

"Jupiter" from "The Planets" by Holst was the reason I wanted this DVD and it was well done, but the entire work is 53 minutes compared to about 8 minutes for this movement.

Of course there were fireworks and ballet and choruses, all in a very well blended order.

ABOUT THE DVD: GREAT SOUND AND VIDEO

FEATURE: You can select scenes by artist or by the scene, which is very easy to use feature.

BOTTOM LINE: WORTH SEEING FOR THE SCENERY ALONE BUT THE MUSIC IS GREAT

I got this one mostly for a look at the Palace and grounds, haven't listened to all of the program yet. The music is pretty much classical, seems well done, if you like that sort of thing you should find a lot to appreciate here. I found it interesting that a couple of selections were by a black choir (The London Adventist Chorale?), spirituals, I guess favorites of the Queen. I liked seeing inside, and out, of the Palace (unlike Elton John's Party at the Palace selection you could tell that these were live performances by seeing the crowds outside the windows), Swan Lake was done in the Ball Room and Bachianas Brasileiras no.1 was performed in The Music Room, my greatest complaint was that the cameras seemed to spend a lot of time examining the ceilings. If you buy both Prom at the Palace and Party at the Palace I think that you'll find this one to be the better arranged program although I think news reports said that the Party concert itself was actually better organized.

Really enjoyed Prom at the Palace, had a lot to ofter in talent and music. The Brits know how to put on a great concert, most enjoyable. I would recommend it to all those who like the Brits and the Queen.