Vienna Boys' Choir - A Mozart Celebration DVD

Advantages: Origami-like sets, costumes, bold basic colors; Mozart's music, all sung beautifully.
Disadvantages: Un-PC elements may cause unease in modern audiences.

...Vogelfänger ich bin ja'. (Chapter 4). His glockenspiel bells sound like a music box's magical tinkling, a genuine pleasure and comfort to hear. The Three Ladies (Elizabeth Whitehouse, Helene Schneidermann and Renée Morloc) all sing wonderfully in unison and individually, their lilting deliveries graced with wit and humor. The little fellows playing the Three Little Boys sound just like little cherubs, vocally reminiscent of those Vienna Choir Boys. Possible Minuses. One must remember the context of the times in which 'The Magic Flute' was written, a time when political correctness was unknown. The "black men" in the story refers to the Moors (Arabs, probably North Africans), and Monostatos, the obviously lascivious Moor in Sarastro's realm, isn't exactly a model of probity or upstanding moral character. That the Moors would be played... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent performances in a perfect setting
Disadvantages: Very minor quibbles

.... There is a little biographical information about both artists in the DVD booklet, but not much - something which I'll be coming back to later... But here is some more info: http://www.harrisonparrott.com/artists/GilShaham.asp http://www.orlishaha m.com/ DVD: This DVD was filmed as part of the celebration year in Austria during 2006 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth. One of the most unique things about it is that rather than choose a concert hall for the performance, the artists are seen playing in a room in one of Vienna's many beautiful palaces - the Palais Daun-Kinsky - which adds a tremendous amount of grandeur and atmosphere to the whole viewer experience and sets the music perfectly into the context of when it was composed. Here's some pictures of the palace - http://www... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Bright, colourful, gripping story
Disadvantages: May seem dated, purely fictional story

...to be a memorial for himself. * * * * * If I have any criticisms of this film, it would be that by today's standards it seems a bit dated. There are no special effects (although it is set in 18th Century Vienna, so there's only so much you can get away with). The acting on the whole is convincing. But there are certain characters who you could groan at. I thought Constanze, Mozart's wife, was a little ditzy and boring, even slightly annoying. I think it was the clash of accents, Mozart's American twang, Constanze's European influence (if I recall) and star-studded cameos, such as a young Simon Callow, adding a touch of BBC English. But on the whole I greatly admire this film, its attention to detail, and despite the fictitious nature of the plot, the film makers tried to ensure authenticity in costume and location. In some writing I have by Peter... Read review

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