Customer Reviews

Rufus Wainwright: Rufus! Rufus! Rufus! Does Judy! Judy! Judy! Live at the London Palladium

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I was one of the fortunate audience members at the first incarnation of this show, at Carnegie Hall on June 14, 2006. I also had the great pleasure (even though Rufus was not in his best vocal shape that night) of seeing the show re-created at the Hollywood Bowl in September, 2007. I wish I'd been able to go to London to see the show featured on this DVD. Being a huge fan (along with millions of others!) of the original concert Judy recorded, I was thrilled to have been able to see the show in person twice and now I can re-live the excitement whenever I want, by watching the DVD. The DVD re-creates the thrill of being in the audience. While the London crowd is a bit more subdued than the NY or LA crowds were, the performance is first rate, with many of Rufie's humorous anecdotes and top notch vocals. Also featured are performances by Rufus' sister, Martha Wainwright, singing a spectacular "Stormy Weather" and a duet of "After You've Gone" with Judy Garland's youngest daughter, Lorna Luft. Kate McGarrigle, Rufus' mother, also makes dual appearances at the piano for "Over The Rainbow" and several selections during the 'encore' portion of the show. Also something special is Lorna Luft's encore, where she is visibly moved, after singing the song "Bluebird" which Judy sang (on the same Palladium stage) in her last movie, "I Could Go On Singing". While all of Rufus' songs are wonderful, especially notable are "That's Entertainment", "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Rufus quipped, after the Hollywood Bowl performance: "I'm glad this is the last time I have to sing that one"), "If Love Were All", "Zing! Went The Strings of My Heart", "Rock-a-bye You're Baby...", and, my two favorites, "Chicago" and "San Francisco" (which he repeats as a final encore). You will thoroughly enjoy this DVD if you are either a Rufus Wainwright or a Judy Garland fan. (or both!) I wish they had shot the video at Carnegie Hall, but having this London performance is truly a gift I will enjoy many times.

A special note: If you ever get the chance to see Rufus live, jump on it - he puts on a GREAT performance, every time. I have seen him live 8 times and am looking forward to seeing him again and again!

I believe that I am the first person to review either the DVD or CDs who actually saw and heard Garland perform in 1961. I was 18 and saw Judy at Boston Garden about 6 months after the Carnegie Hall concert. I am a Rufus fan, but put the DVD on with some fear. How could Rufus possibly be as good as Garland? He is not as good, but it was much closer than I expectly.

The five songs that I most remember from 1961 were "Do It Again" (almost as good, with Rufus singing in Garland's key), "That's Entertainment" (lowest point in Rufus's evening; Garland unexpectly danced while the orchestra was playing and also sang the h*ll out of the song), "If Love Were All" (great job by Rufus), "Over the Rainbow (again not quite as good as Judy, but close). "Come Rain or Come Shine" (Judy's greatest
moments of the concert; Rufus almost matched her and totally won me over).

Garland had more vocally power, over 30 years of experiece singing these songs and the #1 album in the country ("Judy in Carnegie Hall") the night I saw her in 1961. Additionally, she was one of show business' greatest live performers. Great praise to Rufus for carrying this off so well.
My only regret is that this review, which might convince people to buy the DVD who might otherwise not, will be lost at the end of the posted reviews.

What a DVD! No, he does not have Judy's vocal range or the level of emotion she was willing to share with her audience, but he makes up for it with sheer exuberance. For two hours he turns out an exhaustive performance. The conductor of the wonderful orchestra, Stephen Oremus, looks like a teenager, but he is a wizard with a baton. Whatever you do, do not miss this wonderful DVD.

Much as we appreciated the postmodern elements of this undertaking -- what with Mr. Wainwright and company's performing the entire Judy @ Carnegie Hall reportoire using the original Mort Lindsey arrangements, to boot -- and the effort expended by all and sundry connected to this production, we couldn't help but be reminded of a quote from fictional character Addison DeWitt which I paraphrase below:

"Mr. Wainwright's talent wasn't tall enough for that gesture."

Watching this concert felt frighteningly like those occasions when one was made to sit through a neighbor's precocious child being made to perform for his relatives. Makes one question just how inured we've become to mediocrity and ersatz "talent" for lack of anything better. Rufus!Rufus!Rufus! doing Judy!Judy!Judy was Sad!Sad!Sad, indeed.

A fascinating metamorphisis. A stunning orchestra - It is worth buying just to see the orchestera leader Steven Oremus - he is the epitome of Mort Lindsay - He makes the show. The talking segments are not very good - Rufus is not in his element when he jokes. Lorna Luft is AMAZING doing Hello Bluebird. Stephen Oremus solos on Foggy Day and If Love Were All - and he is an angel to behold. As an aside Rufu's dad is featuered in disk 2 of SNL Live Volume 1 - season one - and you can see alot of similarities.

PS - He would have been fabulous wearing Judy's Jacket from 1961 - he costumes are also sub par for the show.

As a teenager I spent hours singing along with Judy Garland's Carnegie Hall album. I admit I have been eagerly awaiting this DVD,because I love both Judy and Rufus Wainwright, especially his gorgeous version of Leonard Cohen's Halleluyah. I was not disappointed. the DVD is wonderful to look at, and incredible to listen to. The performance is an amazing homage to Judy Garland and to the memorable songs of the 1930's and 1940's in her original Carnegie Hall concert. Of course, songs like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, The Man Who Got Away and San Francisco are represented, but so are lesser known Noel Coward and Cole Porter masterpieces. Wainwright has several special guests but the DVD shines the most when it is just Rufus and his stunning orchestral accompaniment. This is the rare concert DVD that makes you feel as if you are really there. I can only hope that Wainwright takes this amazing concert on the road in the United States. Until then all of us who are either Judy fans, Rufus fans, fans of the great songs of the 30's and 40's, or just plan fans of amazing concert performances will have to settle for this fabulous concert DVD; no settlement at all really. Lucky for us, this DVD is incredible. Buy it and play it again and again.

I love Rufus and think he's something of a national treasure...I also think Judy's Carnegie Hall album captured one of the most spectacular moments in music history.
I loved Rufus when I listened to the CD of this concert but the live perfomance left me cold. Rufus seemed really self-conscious and apologetic for a lot of the material and very awkward in bits. While no one expects him to imitate Judy, I expected him to have more fun with it...this is larger than life stuff and should not be done in half-measure.

This is by far the best concert DVD I've ever seen. There are little to no shots of the audience, which is rare among modern concert videos. It's like being there. If you like American Songbook tunes and you like Rufus, then this is a must buy.

Amazing! A magnificent setting and fabulous performance. I agree with Lorna Luft that Judy Garland would be proud and impressed. Highly recommend this for anyone who is a Rufus or a Judy fan. Martha's version of Stormy Weather is brilliant.

Rufus puts his heart and soul and beautiful voice into these great Judy songs. Glad to see it on DVD, live at the London Palladium!!! Great DVD - I highly recommend it.