Live in Paris and Toronto [ENHANCED] [IMPORT] [LIVE]

Loreena McKennitt

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 2003)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Import, Live
• Label: Warner Bros.
• ASIN: B000050WXM
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #126,762 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prologue

2. Mummers' Dance

3. Skellig

4. Marco Polo

5. Highwayman

6. Serenissima

7. Night Ride Across the Caucasus

8. Dante's Prayers

Disc: 2

1. Mystic's Dream

2. Santiago

3. Bonny Portmore

4. Between the Shadows

5. Lady of Shalott

6. Bonny Swans

7. Old Ways

8. All Souls Night

9. Cymbeline

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Loreena McKennitt's two-CD set, plucked from performances in Paris and Toronto, documents the modern-day troubadour's live dimension, luxuriously unraveling her talents on harp, accordian, and piano like a finely woven tapestry. Lovers of The Book of Secrets, The Mask and Mirror, and her other enchanting albums will be pleased by this virtuoso performance and crisp recording of many favorite songs including "The Mummers' Dance" and "Bonny Portmore." McKennitt's voice is in finely polished form here--no hints of hoarse tour fatigue whatsoever. "Marco Polo," a delicious, trancelike jam on The Book of Secrets, rushes a bit too quickly, lacking the expansive, improvised groove that could've richly garnished this tasty track. But this is a small bit of tarnish on the silver beauty of this magnificent collection, brought to life by McKennitt's ensemble of violin, cello, hurdy-gurdy, bass, and percussion that all interlock lovingly with McKennitt's angelic voice. And what makes this gem even more beautifully poignant is its dedication to McKennitt's fiancé, who died in July, 1998, in a boating accident. Proceeds from album sales will go to his memorial fund dedicated to water search and rescue. If in 1999 we weren't fortunate enough to indulge in new material from this special artist, we at least have a taste of her extraordinary music to savor in a new, golden light. --Karen Karleski

Product Description

Internationally reknowned artist, Loreena McKennit, one of the most influential celtic/new age artists of contemporary music. Canadian singer/composer Loreena McKennitt is self-managed, self-produced, and the head of her own internationally successful record label, Quinlan Road.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great live recording, wonderful songs..., November 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Live In Paris & Toronto (Audio CD)

That said, this is not her best work (which are: The Mask and Mirror, and Book of Secrets). The first CD here is essentially a repeat of Book of Secrets and while some songs work better live (Highwayman comes to mind) some are not as good (the Mummer's Dance which is "perfect" on the Book of Secrets CD, here it is a bit rushed and the awesome power and sense of "controlled abandon" is lost in this live version. For me, Mummer's Dance on Book of Secrets CD is as close to perfection in music as I ever hope to hear).

The second CD here is well worth owning. Just about every song is better than the studio version. Loreena made a fairly radical shift in her music over a period of several years (starting with "The Visit") and by the time this tour takes place (1998) she was quite comfortable with her new sound (and her band of "idling Porsche's" as she calls them ;-). The result is that all these older songs benefit. Not that the old versions are bad, they were great, just these versions are slightly better.

My only problem (and its minor) with the second CD is that it ends anti-climactically. The real heart of the record is "The Bonny Swans" followed by her haunting song "The Old Ways". The two encores given here (All Souls Night and Cymbeline) just don't measure up. Keeping them was faithful to the performance but marrs the CD, in a very small way.

BTW: I saw her San Francisco performance, it was wonderful and just like the recordings on these CDs.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Let your indulgence set me free.", June 5, 2005

By	Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Live In Paris & Toronto (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful album on many reasons. Like most McKennitt fans I held off from buying it because I already had the songs on other CDs. This first CD is really a complete performance of The Book of Secrets, and the second is a carefully chosen selection from The Visit and The Mask and The Mirror (plus a hidden bit, which as you will see shortly could probably be considered a lament and a memory). By and large McKennitt stays very true to the original recordings. Tempo's are generally slightly slower, although there are exceptions like The Highwayman, which is a full minute faster here.

There are subtle differences everywhere in phrasing and the inner working of her group. In a piece like The Mummer's Dance, for instance, you become much more aware of the workings on the strings. And songs like The Lady of Shallot and Dante's Prayer reach a level that can only be described as perfection. Live performance is the acid test of a musician's powers, and everyone in the group, from the likes of Brian Hughes and Hugh Marsh to La McKennitt herself, achieves everything that could be desired.

This was McKennitt's last album, put together in 1999. Suddenly a brilliant and fertile career came to a halt, with nothing about why every being said. The sole clue to the hiatus is two lines in the album folder dedicating the album to the memory of Ronald Douglas Rees and mentioning the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund For Water Search And Safety. Ronald Rees was Lorena McKennitt's fiancé and he died unexpectedly while she was wrapping up this album. For some time she was completely silent, but has gradually increased her performances again. Now a visit to her website reveals that another album is in progress. Good for us, and very good for Loreena as well.

If for no other reason than that on two CDs you have many of McKennitt's songs done beautifully you should by this. For the newcomer, I can't imagine a better introduction to the work of a woman who is scholar, minstrel, and beauty. For the fan it is a reward for the affection of a singer/songwriter who has stayed steadily true to her vision of what should be, rather than fall to the lure of pop culture.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes you smoke the pipe to watch the smoke, November 21, 1999

By	Dominic (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live In Paris & Toronto (Audio CD)

Lorenna Live is not about the music. It's the mood. She carries "an evening" so beautifully and magically. It takes you out of your surroundings and put you into the embrace of her sound. It has become my favorite rush hour commute music. I can stay in that subway car for ever with that album.