A magnificent look at the performer and wonderful woman behind it
598761
This is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book about the life and career of "Miss Showbusiness" Judy Garland. This was the first real book on Judy I read and what an excellent way to begin. I had vagually known that the many stories about Judy were disgusting lies. Now John Fricke (after his other great book) now puts Judy in her proper place, I wanted to get to know the woman better and this book did better than that. I actually felt that I was there with Judy, experencing her warmth, joy and laughter with her in her personal life and watching her perform on the sets of films, live in concert and on her tv series. I actually got to know Judy from this book and I loved her.

Stories about Judy are often innaccurate but this book (and a few others) are the real deal. Most biographers like to think that Judy was a tragic figure and her life was a hopeless ride to despair and degredation.

But this book changed all that, Fricke brilliantly captures Judy Garland as her friends, family and co-workers knew her, as a bright, intelligent, witty human being and also a affectionate, kind and caring lady who happened to be one of the most talented performers to grace this earth.

Well done, Mr. Fricke and thank you.
4150254
Having watched and loved Amy Winehouse's 2007 concert countless times on the "I Told You I Was Trouble" concert dvd, I was very curious to view this set from France when I heard that it was being released.  Here she is even better, in my estimation, probably because she was steadier and more sober during this performance.  She seems more at ease, more confident, and a bit more on her game.  Don't get me wrong, I love the other concert dvd, but in hindsight it is now more difficult and painful to watch, knowing what was to come, and seeing the beginning of her deterioration.  She really gives a wonderful performance in this concert, most likely due to the fact that she doesn't seem to need imbibing to get through her performance.

I think, from fragments I've seen of her in the studio, and in interviews on the first concert dvd, that Amy was basically a very insecure person, and her brashness and impetuousness was a smoke screen to hide behind.  It probably helped her to relax--to a point, obviously--to have a drink during her performances.  Her take no prisoners attitude was one of the things that endeared her to me--the vulnerability, cloaked in swagger and dagger, was a really interesting juxtaposition to witness, especially when she opened her mouth and that voice came out--pulling her soul out as it came, without any varnish.  She was one of a kind.  She was real.  In the plastic world of celebrity, she was such a breath of fresh air, in my opinion.  This dvd is a treasure for anyone who misses this lost soul.  She revived my passion for music back in 2007 when "Back To Black" was released, and it is astonishing to think that she made such an indelible mark on the music world with just two albums worth of material.  She was one of the greats.
2925985
It is, at times, hard to keep up with, even your a fan of a solo performer or a ban, which means that I almost missed out on this'd beautiful album. Just when I thought I had all of Annie's solo albums, I find this beautiful package of "Diva", complete with feather insert and a second disk with a terrific interview on it.  The casual fan, will opt for the single disk, in jewel case, but if you are a fan, like myself, you would, should get this particular release. I am extremely glad that I did!!!  Thank you Annie and thank you to my seller and anyone else who happens to have an extra copy to sell. You, the purchaser, will not be disappointed. Enjoy.
245885
Because I had the pleasure of seeing Denise Duval as Mlisande at the Opra Comique in Paris in 1963, I was eager to have this recording, to see if she was as wonderful as I had remembered her.  She is more so!

The performance is very present, very "alive" and incredibly moving - an historical record worth having, especially if one knows and appreciates this underrated work by Debussy.  To hear the French language sung by natives, even those with less star-quality voices, is worth the high sticker price!
3960208
And she was like no other.  I've always liked Janis Joplin, but to see her live in concert just takes it to a whole new level.  Like seeing Hendrix live, there's a magic about the visual experience that has to be seen to be beleived.  And when you see it, you know you are witnessing magic.

Nice thing about this DVD is that besides a very generous helping of live performances from different times in her career, there are lots of interview segments as well (one segment even has a camera crew follow her back to Fortworth, Texas for her 10 year high school reunion).  An incredible singer, as raw and full of soul and humanity as ever there was in a stage performer, I was often surprised by how much humour comes out in her presence.  This is at the full-blown height of the hippy era and Janis just seems to demonstrate how really far-out and willing to tread new ground people were at the time.  As far as I'm concerned, what she did has not been done since.

In a nutshell, this is music history lessons 101, and I can't beleive it's not out in zone 1. Janis Joplin, and it's not available on DVD in America (It is available on VHS "JANICE: THE WAY SHE WAS" 1974)!

The sound on this DVD is not always fantastic, and there is some real variation in sound quality between concert performances (some in black and white, some in color). Much of it is more than sufficient to give you the idea - watching her is at least as interesting as listening to her. The 15 or so songs on film here can only be described as rare at this point (at least for Americans). I'm glad I lived to see this. Like stepping into the Twilight Zone, it's hard to beleive you're really watching her.
377594
I was never privileged to meet or know Madame Nilsson personally, but her memoir, _La Nilsson: My Life in Opera_ makes me wish I could! She was a bright spot in the world and her death in late 2005 was a huge loss. I have certainly been an admirer of both her singing and of the woman herself for many years. I do own her earlier book, _My Memoirs In Picures_, which is largely a wonderful collection of photographs from her life and career, and whetted my appetite to know more about her. If you can find a copy, I recommend that book as strongly as I recommend this longer memoir.

  That appetite has been mostly--if not completely--satisfied by La Nilsson, an easy, accessible and "can't-put-it-down" fascinating account of her life. This book is just what I would expect of Birgit Nilsson, unpretentious, friendly and conversational in tone, but awe-inspiring in terms of her artistry and long career; her great accumulation of knowledge and experience, and  about comic moments onstage and off that made me laugh out loud. Some of the funniest of these deal with language barriers, and the difficulties of correctly interpreting foreign musical terms that were misheard, or misunderstood. She is never mean in spirit, although she doesn't sugarcoat  her personal difficulties with von Karajan, and sometimes with Karl Bohm, and Rudolf Bing. But in all cases, she writes in detail about what she admired about them, too. She gave as good as she got in the area of verbal self-defense.

  She writes warmly about all her many long-time friends and colleagues on the operatic stage, most notably Wolfgang Windgassen, Set Svanholm, Jon Vickers, Astrid Varnay, Leonie Rysanek, and Hans Hotter. She was a trouper through some harrowing experiences, and while she did not put up with a lack of professional consideration from anyone, she did not just wilfully indulge in "temperamental diva" behavior.  No wonder so many of her colleagues loved and respected her!

Madame Nilsson also writes about her parents and her beloved husband, Bertil Niklasson, with great warmth, although she doesn't gloss over some of her frustrations with both parents during her childhood and adolescence. The twelve years she had to deal with her stalker, Miss N. filled me with sympathetic dismay, as I had no idea Madame Nilsson had had to endure that persistent, threatening intrusion into her life.

I highly recommend this memoir to any admirer of Madame Nilsson's in particular and of any interested opera fan in general for the insight into the career of one of the great singers of the 20th century in her own, very witty words.

Melissa Houle
4645768
The special style, songwriting and wondrous guitar work by Gillian and her partner, Dave Rawlings, have been a most special attraction to myself and many over the past decades, but having never had a chance to see them visually before, I jumped at the chance when I saw this DVD in the Amazon listings.  I watched it twice the day I got it and it has only augmented my appreciation of their performing art.
3102422
I have been a fan of Gheorghiu since I heard her Verdi heroines. She is probably one of the best Verdians nowadays, singing with great drama and control as well as a beautifully seductive voice. In other words, technique and beauty (both physically and vocally) all in one. It is heaven to simply watch her beautiful face and eyes while listening to her flawless, espressive singing. Therefore this DVD is a must for all her fans and opera fans. The covent garden set is beautifully staged and singers acted very well for a live performance. Recording is superb considering it is a live recording with minimal coughs and other stage/audience noise (Actually one of the best, well balanced live recordings I've heard). Beautifully conducted by Solti, especially the prelude to Act III. The other casts are all excellent. Some may want a more lyrical tenor than Lopardo but he sang with great drama and expression. Nucci is warm and sympathetic. Gypsy dance was entertaining. Make-up is great in that Gheorghiu really looked anaemic in Act III. This is as great as live opera can get, especially when it is so well caught on film.
3031919
Folks, if you want to see a real performer, get this dvd, you will not be disappointed in watching and listening to this genre of music.
2090013
For all of you fascinated by the Ballets Russes or Balanchine. Or those of you who have a child in ballet class.  I only knew Doubrovska from those photographs of her as the Siren in the Prodigal Son, or as the first Polyhymnia in Apollo (if you can take your eyes off of Danilova and Lifar), and from anecdotes from friends who went to SAB, who found her inspiring and endearing, albeit eccentric.  After viewing this excellent DVD, I finally understand her allure as a dancer and brilliance as a teacher.
Maria Tallchief, Allegra Kent, and Maria Calegari speak about this woman's impact on them...and it is marvelous to notice how their body language (and even cadence of speech) alters as they describe Doubrovska.  Each begins to pull their body into a more erect position, to alter the way they hold their heads. They become even more elegant.  John Taras provides thoughtful insights and continuity.  Best of all, Tanaquil Le Clerc's off-camera smoky voice adds shrewd observations which are smoothly integrated into this tale of a woman whose performing career spanned from ancien regime Russia to Diaghilev and Pavlova's adventures, and ended up bringing the best of these worlds to her American students .
Doubrovska herself-- caught on camera in 1978 --  talks charmingly about her great roles (and about working with those who created them):  Nijinska for Les Noces and Les Biches; Balanchine for Apollo and Prodigal Son ( for the last of which she demonstrates a section in someone's living room, trapped between a vitrine and a coffee table!)
And there is more.  Footage from her classes, demonstrating and giving corrections.  The process of transmission at its best, and god, is she in shape.
And then the funniest moment arrives. footage of  Alexandra  Danilova and Dubrovska in a studio in a passive/aggressive show & tell quibble over who remembers best Michel Fokine's choreography (and style!, that is of the essence) while reconstructing a section of the 1907 Le Pavillion d'Armide.  You wish they had not tried to be on for the camera and had instead spoken to each other in Russian -- to be subtitled later.  That would have been truly juicy!
Which brings me to a quibble. (Every rave review should have one).  As some of the interviews were conducted in the early days of modern technology (and thank god they were made!) the sound quality is sometimes the best it could be for then but not perfect.  Friends here in France that I've shown it to have wished for even English-language subtitles at times.  But if you are American and patient, you can get the words, so don't worry.
Now the shocker.  I could not believe the entire thing was only 36 minutes long!  I was so immersed in it, and each moment was so rich and well selected,  I thought at least an hour and a half had gone by.  Don't hesitate about buying this.  Instead of a long and fat and watery Hershey bar...you get a small and perfect and delicious truffle from La Maison du chocolat!
2701104
Cheryl Metrick captivates her audience..She grabs hold of them with her sweet and powerful performance. She is a beautiful woman who sings like an angel. She will take you to a different time and place with her array of songs. She is a gem that shines in this day and age. Pure talent that is fun to listen to. We love Cheryl Metick and can`t wait for her new CD. Try to catch her live performances if you can. A treasure of the music industry.
3928806
I confess, I was never a big Tina Turner fan and was only familiar with the tunes I heard occasionally on the radio. When I saw this concert it just blew me away. Everything about this concert was outstanding - Tina, the dancers, the band, the filming. Tina looks and sounds phenomenal, especially considering her age. The most noticeable thing to me was how good her voice sounds, she hasn't lost a thing. She sings with authority and has no problem with high or low notes, she just nails it. The band is smoking and the dancers really add a lot to the performance - both the band and the dancers are really tight, I read somewhere that the dancers rehearsed from 8 to 16 hours a day and it definitely shows. Her background singers both have outstanding voices and Tina is gracious enough to allow both of them to take a solo. Tina looks like someone who really enjoys what she's doing and truly appreciates her fans. I've got a lot of concerts on DVD, and this one rates at the top in terms of overall performance and entertainment value. You can't go wrong ordering this DVD, it's excellent in all aspects.
2451881
The fabulous Miss Dusty Springfield.  There have never been that many women to have the vocal talent of Dusty and this set of DVDS about her BBC Series in the 1960s is a wonderful way for someone to see how talented this woman really was.  It is worth every penny spent, and as she was just amazing!
3107760
This is a great artist sitting down to share with us how she managed to put it all together. Not your average "I worked with this famous singer and that
conductor". I'm sure it's an interesting read for her fans, but surely a must-read for others making their way in music. Talent surely comes in very handy, but more than that, one needs equal parts courage, imagination and perhaps most important, clarity. An inspiration.
4439909
Yma Sumac was a great singer. The myth of her voive is based on two pillars, the fascinating beauty of her vocals and the superhuman range of her register. Actually the voice of Yma Sumac had an hypnotic power over her audence, the strange beauty of her voice together with her personality on stage, where she appeared dressed in amazing costumes adorned with expensive jewels and gold in a choreographic disply worthy of the golden days of Hollywood. Her sole presence was enough to dominate the public all over the world, a public that waited in anticipation to get a ticket and finally see the diva. The other key to her success was the unlimited range of her voice that embraced no less than five octaves. A trained opera soprano or tenor moves between two to three octaves at most, imagine five, this was the gift that allowed her to sing to the highest end of the soprano coloratura and descend to the deepest end of baritone register.
The impression of this sonority in the Sovietic theather shocked audiences, who imagined bein in front of a supernatural human who lead them to higher spiritual spaces, making them live an unforgetable magical experience in this concert in 1961.
Today the image of Yma Sumac flies alone in the history of music and her memory will always be of a mysterious, mystical, fascinating, unique artist with an ever lasting reign. Perhaps the legend has some truth and we must wait another thousand years to hear another Yma Sumac.
2934369
Gives you a behind the scene look at the life of s background singer and history of pop music. It also showcases the phenomenal voice of Lisa Fisher.
3464308
Great behind the scenes look at what is one of the greatest performance bargains ever made.