Musicals & Music Films > M Musicals & Music Films

Fantabulous! Glyndebourne's 'Giulio Cesare' 2005

Advantages: Everything.
Disadvantages: Nothing.

...the story begins just as Giulio Cesare has triumphed over his rival, Pompey, in Egypt. Pompey’s widow and son, Cornelia and Sesto, are taken under Cesare’s protection, while Cesare offers to forgive Pompey if he surrenders. However, Egypt’s King Tolomeo (Ptolemy, Cleopatra’s ambitious brother), Pompey’s ally, wants to rule Egypt alone, without his sister Cleopatra. He sends to Cesare through his general, Achilla, a gift of the bloody head of Pompey ...
...Character --- Performer (voice) Giulio Cesare --- Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano) Cleopatra --- Danielle de Niese (soprano) Cornelia --- Patricia Bardon (mezzo-soprano) Sesto --- Angelika Kirchschlager (mezzo-soprano) Tolomeo --- Christophe Dumaux (counter-tenor) Achilla --- Christopher Maltman (baritone) Nireno --- Rachid Ben Abdeslam (counter-tenor) Curio --- Alexander Ashworth (baritone) On-stage violinist --- Nadja Zwiener Orchestra ...

zerbine28 29.04.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Giulio Cesare - Handel (DVD)

He's still got it!

Advantages: Story Line is great!
Disadvantages: Not enough traditional

...it was. This time Michael Flatley decided to take on the irish revolution over in America. The show is all about the revolution bascially. The opening dance danced in the hard show was so compelling fast, and breath taking. This time he has added a variety of styles for example, ballet routines, break dance, tap, with the added bonus of more stylistic with one routine Michael and his troupe are dressed as a mafia gang, and war it out with another ...
...shoes. Again we see Michael fast feet and forceful lead, he also plays his flute again, with the violinists who were the same but we don't need to complain about that. Two new singers accompany him which also do the show justice. The music is irish on the traditional scenes, but very modernised drum based music throughout the rest. Ireland comes to America is a excellent show which will not fail in impressing you, and the best thing is anyone can ...

jenstar12 19.01.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Michael Flatley - Celtic Tiger (DVD)

Triumph of Hype Over Mediocrity

Advantages: Lots of energy. Brilliant lyrics (except the new ones).
Disadvantages: The score and the concept are both dire. The worst musical I've ever had the misfortune to see.

I'll be honest: Cats is my very least favourite musical ever. I am a big fan of musical theatre, and even of much of Andrew Lloyd Webber's output, but Cats is dire. And now they've gone and filmed it. This is a scaled-down version of the show (which at least means that some of the score is missing - hurrah!) featuring a collection of performers who've been in it on stage. Unless you've already fallen in love with Cats, or simply must own everything ...
...What happens? Lots of cats tell us their names, one of them gets kidnapped for about two minutes and then for no apparent reason one of them walks up into some strange cat heaven. None of it makes much sense - it would be OK if they didn't try to have any plot at all and just created a revue, but that wasn't the intention and so we have a plot-show with no plot. To be fair, I can see why people might like this (which is why I've been very generous ...

DavidBedford 15.05.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Cats (Ultimate Edition) (DVD)

The sun'll come out tomorrow....

Advantages: The songs
Disadvantages: corny in places

Annie is an orphan who tries to escape from the orphanage time and time again due to the horrid orphanage owner. One day Annie get's chosen to live with a millionaire 'Daddy Warbuck'. She is treated like a Princess but Annie has this dream of finding her mother and father so escapes from his home too. Daddy Warbucks decides to place a ad on the local radio for Annie's sake encouraging anyone who knows the whereabouts of her parents to come forward ...
...that she is there's. Will Annie find her real parents? If you aren't a fan of musicals then this one is definitely not for you. At every whip stick the cast burst into song and sing their little hearts out. I'm not really into musicals as such but the songs featured in the film are so well known that I can't help but sing along and tap my foot as if I'm enjoying myself. The main character Annie is very sweet but has an adventurous edge to her which ...

claribella 16.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Annie (DVD)

They both reached for the gun.

Advantages: A unique musical.
Disadvantages: None.

...musical. A jazz musical. In Chicago two women, Velma Kelly (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Roxie Hart (Renee Zellweger) are arrested for murder, Roxie for the man she's been having a fling with, desperately trying to get into stardom and stage sensation Velma for her husband and sister double murder. Now in prison the two try to gain Billy Flynn's (Richard Gere) attention so he will try and get them out of jail. While Roxie spends time in jail, she ...
...Disk 1: A delightfull movie commentary with a deleted song 'The class' A duet featuring Velma and the warden - Mama Morten. Disk 2: The history of Chicago, extended performances and much much more about the show, director and crew. Every song in this movie is excellent and this feature packed DVD brings one of broadway's finest to your living room. ...

Mistybrook 07.08.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Chicago (Special Edition) (DVD)