Customer Reviews

Renee & Bryn: Under the Stars

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I really expected to dislike this DVD, despite being a fan of both Ms. Fleming and Mr. Terfel, but this turns out to be a completely winning project from beginning to end. The concert is divided into two parts: a group of classical arias followed by a well-chosen selection from Broadway shows.

Of the many pleasures here, Fleming gives a completely thrilling version of Dvorak's "Song of the Moon" from "Rusalka," and "Loving You" from Sondheim's "Passion." Later she unites with Terfel in Sondheim's "Not While I'm Around," one of the most touching songs from "Sweeney Todd." They also do a gorgeous "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" with their two voices intertwining as precisely as anyone could want in Gershwin's soaring song. Terfel is also amazingly good in "Seventy-Six Trombones" from "The Music Man," and several unexpectedly moving tracks from "Woman of the Year."

The setting for the concert is Terfel's own Faenol Festival in North Wales, and this DVD could almost be a travel advertisement sponsored by the Welsh government. The camera often pulls back for long shots of the concert tent, positioned serenely right next to a lake, with rolling hills in the background and a sky full of stars above. (Well, for most of the concert, anyway -- near the end of the evening it begins to rain!)

The Welsh Opera orchestra does a terrific job, as do conductors Gareth Jones (in the classical half) and Paul Gemignani (in the Broadway portion). I was as skeptical as anyone of this crossover-type project, but I must confess, it's totally wonderful.

Crossovers tend to either be disastrous or brilliant. Renee & Bryn make a smashing pair in this DVD. The CD is equally outstanding. At first I thought Renee's voice was a bit too powerful for the roles that she sang, but after the second time I listened to the DVD, I was convinced that on one would be able to do it better. Even though it was Bryn's concert, Renee took the limelight from the start and was the audiences star. She has a unmatched stage glamour, similar to that of Angela Ghiorghiu, Anna Moffo and Maria Callas (if one can dare put them in the same league). The DVD has an added opera concert which is a great bonus. Her "Vilja, o Vilja" is magic (I was speechless when she reached the top note at the end with such ease). In the Broadway section, the highlight must be "Not while I'm around". The two voices compliment eachother and they both look like they are enjoying what they do. The filming of the concert and interviews are a great bonus. All in all, a wonderful buy. Well worth it if you are a Renee or Bryn fan. Well conducted, well produced and brilliantly sung!

Both of these singers excel at opera and Broadway show tunes with Mr. Terfel having a bit of the edge over Miss Fleming in the Broadway portion. The location of the concert on a lake in South Wales is really beautiful. The occasion is Mr. Terfel's annual festival with Miss Fleming as his special guest. There are also some additional features regarding making the concert recording on the disc. I didn't see the broadcast of this concert but believe only the Broadway portion was beamed on PBS and the opera portion was not. There are 12 arias that both singers have made their own and they perform them all very well. The Broadway selections are also excellent. Terfel really brings a wonderful interpretation to all the American show tunes as proven by his previous two successful CD's. Fleming is in good voice but somehow, I felt her usual energy and sparkle wasn't always present in this concert. I've seen her many times and have witnessed this before. Ever the professional, you may not be bothered by this or even notice that her usual persona isn't quite there. She scooped a few too many notes but sang with solid technique otherwise. Regardless, if you like these two singers (they are two of my favorites), you must get this DVD. You will watch it over and over! Felt the conductor wasn't quite up to the pace of the show tunes and that a little more "punch" was needed in the orchestral Broadway portion. The arias were better as far as the orchestra and conducting was concerned. Certainly, this is a concert that offers something for everyone's taste and I intend to play it at my next opera gathering. Their voices don't necessarily blend as well as each does with other singers but their voices compliment each other's beautifully. This should be a definite addition to your DVD collection. If you like Terfel, his new concert DVD from Amsterdam is also recommended highly by this avid opera collector. Great concerts are rare for opera as well as Broadway show tunes. This one is certainly entertaining.

Highly enjoyable! What a treat it must have been to sit in this audience! Fleming's Rusalka Song to the Moon was so heart-felt, Fleming walked off stage fighting tears. Vila, o Vilja from the Merry Widow was just gorgeous. And that gorgeous gelled out high note at the end was just heaven. What's admirable about Fleming is the control she maintained with her body while she sings. She just stands there, arms by her side, and sounds comes out. And the songs where she does gesticulate, the movements are easy and smooth and always influenced by an emotion and given an action. Almost every song on this DVD sounds better than on the CD -- if that's possible! Fleming does this surprise high note in the middle of Summertime that's perfectly welcome and beautiful. The "Bess, You Is My Woman Now" duet is everything I hoped it would be. Bess is tailor-made for Fleming's voice. Terfel gives a hefty Porgy, accent and all! Fleming's "Hello, Young Lovers" is so touching! Terfel sings everything with that sure assurance that we've come to expect from him. Watching him sing is a singing lesson onto itself!

Believe me, for what this is really worth, the price isn't bad at all!

This concert brings you right to the forefront of musical perfection!! Renee Fleming and Bryn Terfel bring best of both worlds - Opera on one day and Broadway the next - together as a rare and wonderful musical treat! Each of these accomplished artists display their fine vocal talent. Both possess an emotional diversity which in turn makes each song a uniquely classic experience.

These concerts were filmed in a way that makes you feel you are actually there for each day of the extravaganza. You can see many of the musicians up close in the orchestra as if you are standing on the stage next to Renee and Bryn! Experiencing the conductor with the orchestra is fascinating! It's as if you are in a musical fantasy world thanks to the insight and genius of the director.

Vocal genius doesn't get any better than this! Ms. Fleming and Mr. Terfel are not stuck in some stereotypical genre - instead they illustrate a metamorphosis in musical expression!! Highly recommended for only those who truly appreciate variety from sophisticated and talented world-class artists.

The repetoire in this DVD sung by Bryn Terfel and Renee Fleming is engaging and exciting. I enjoyed this concert and the extras on the DVD were also impressive. The opera was of more interest to me than the musical theatre was, but I enjoyed both sides.

Although I did feel that the choice of operatic repetoire on Mr. Terfel's left a tad more to be desired. I understand that the people were expecting entertainment as the main focus(and what beautiful location!) but songs like Granada and Pourquoi me Reveiller I thought were stretching his voice a bit. In anycase I love those songs anyway and I was enthralled.

The musical theatre probably could have been interpretted better, especially in terms of the conducting, which I thought was slightly robotic.

The concert blends opera and musical theatre intelligently, so as to widen its audience, and it achieves its pupose, ending up being highly entertaining viewing.

I preferred the other recital DVD 'Live in Concert' however.

This is a superior production. Set in rural Wales on a glorious fall night, the Welsh National Orchestra provides splendid accompaniment for Renee Fleming and Bryn Telfer. Their music is magnificent and the DVD highlights selections from Opera and Broadway. It is a cherished possession. Bin Pettit

Excellent DVD - I love the opera and Broadway selections, and of course the performances by Terfel and Fleming are stellar. My favorite is Song to the Moon, sung by Fleming.

Being a GREAT fan of both singers, and owning the CD of the Broadway section of this concert, my wife and I were quite eager to watch the concert.

Terfel doesn't move. Flemming's gown seems to have been designed by Frank Gehry. And both singers' eyes dart down to the teleprompters at the foot of the stage during the Broadway section of the concert. This is constant, and breaks the mood and the connection with the audience.

One big guffaw - which has not been noted before - is Terfel's changing of a line in 76 Trombones (the one song he completely, totally, bludgeons to a Welsh death - fighting the rhythm and dropping the great pun/line "the great crea-tor") Almost unforgivable, Terfel actually changes the line "there were double belled euphoniums and big bassoons, each bassoon having its beg fat say" to "there were double belled euphoniums and big BA-ZOOMS each ba-zoom having its big fat say". Sophomoric at best. My wife and I looked at each other, replayed the sequence a couple of times, noting the slight smirk that appeared in his grin.

I'm sure Fleming was impressed by his sophisticated wit. Yea, right.