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Salute to Vienna
List Price: Unknown [Buy now and save at Amazon]
The Movie:
This special event concert focuses on the Waltzes, Polkas and Marches of Johann Strauss, the stirring music of Aaron Copland and the great songs of George Gershwin, performed by international artists and the sixty piece Strauss Festival Orchestra. Hosted by famed actor Gregory Peck, this also is the first time that the Vienna Choir Boys and the Boys Choir of Harlem have been paired together.
The DVD
VIDEO: Although I found the audio quality to be remarkable, the video quality remained less than impressive. Although the full_frame presentation certainly didn't look awful, there were some noticable problems. Sharpness and detail, however, was not one of them. The picture looked very well-defined throughout and although it had sort of a "flat" feel, the picture never looked "soft".
The main problem was shimmering, which the presentation seemed to occasionally suffer from. On the bright side, I only noticed one or two very slight traces of pixelation. Colors appeared bright and well-saturated at times if one of the performers was wearing bright clothing, but for the most part, colors remain subdued.
SOUND: The concert is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. Both audio presentations were quite good, but the DTS 5.1 presentation presented definite improvements over its Dolby counterpart. The concert sound experience does have the surrounds stay active for the majority of the show, but thankfully their use remains an appropriate re-inforcement/hall echo of the front speakers.
The entire concert remained a very natural sounding recording, capturing the echo, openness and general accoustical feel of the hall very well. The audience also felt as if they were farther out into the front speakers than the music. Overall, I really liked the sense of dimension and environment that this DVD provided. The DTS track really makes this feeling of "being on stage" more defined and apparent.
The talented musicians certainly recieve justice on this presentation. The front speakers present every detail of the music with remarkable clarity, warmth and detail. Rather than all blending together, the music sounded well-defined. I also liked how the surrounds were not used agressively and the front speakers were allowed to keep the focus. The result is a wonderfully enveloping mix as the surrounds simply fill the room and don't distract. Also impressive is how well some of the vocals come through. Many of the singers involved in the concert can really hit the very high notes, and the top of their range is captured very well here - even the high notes sound comfortable and not thin or shrill.
Again, the Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation was generally good, although the DTS version seemed fuller, richer, more detailed and more open, capturing the enveloping concert hall feel better.
MENUS:: A clip from the concert is presented in the background of the main menu, while the index has clips from the chapters.
EXTRAS: The trailer. That's it, that's all.
Final Thoughts: Although I enjoy classical music I'm not hugely familiar with it. Still, I was able to sit back and enjoy some immensely talented performers pay tribute during this concert experience. With DVD International's audio presentation, I wasn't brought to the concert itself, but I thought the audio experience made for a very enjoyable rendering of what it must have been like to be there. Recommended and fans of classical music should also consider the Naxos Musical Journey DVDs from DVD International.
This special event concert focuses on the Waltzes, Polkas and Marches of Johann Strauss, the stirring music of Aaron Copland and the great songs of George Gershwin, performed by international artists and the sixty piece Strauss Festival Orchestra. Hosted by famed actor Gregory Peck, this also is the first time that the Vienna Choir Boys and the Boys Choir of Harlem have been paired together.
The DVD
VIDEO: Although I found the audio quality to be remarkable, the video quality remained less than impressive. Although the full_frame presentation certainly didn't look awful, there were some noticable problems. Sharpness and detail, however, was not one of them. The picture looked very well-defined throughout and although it had sort of a "flat" feel, the picture never looked "soft".
The main problem was shimmering, which the presentation seemed to occasionally suffer from. On the bright side, I only noticed one or two very slight traces of pixelation. Colors appeared bright and well-saturated at times if one of the performers was wearing bright clothing, but for the most part, colors remain subdued.
SOUND: The concert is presented in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1. Both audio presentations were quite good, but the DTS 5.1 presentation presented definite improvements over its Dolby counterpart. The concert sound experience does have the surrounds stay active for the majority of the show, but thankfully their use remains an appropriate re-inforcement/hall echo of the front speakers.
The entire concert remained a very natural sounding recording, capturing the echo, openness and general accoustical feel of the hall very well. The audience also felt as if they were farther out into the front speakers than the music. Overall, I really liked the sense of dimension and environment that this DVD provided. The DTS track really makes this feeling of "being on stage" more defined and apparent.
The talented musicians certainly recieve justice on this presentation. The front speakers present every detail of the music with remarkable clarity, warmth and detail. Rather than all blending together, the music sounded well-defined. I also liked how the surrounds were not used agressively and the front speakers were allowed to keep the focus. The result is a wonderfully enveloping mix as the surrounds simply fill the room and don't distract. Also impressive is how well some of the vocals come through. Many of the singers involved in the concert can really hit the very high notes, and the top of their range is captured very well here - even the high notes sound comfortable and not thin or shrill.
Again, the Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation was generally good, although the DTS version seemed fuller, richer, more detailed and more open, capturing the enveloping concert hall feel better.
MENUS:: A clip from the concert is presented in the background of the main menu, while the index has clips from the chapters.
EXTRAS: The trailer. That's it, that's all.
Final Thoughts: Although I enjoy classical music I'm not hugely familiar with it. Still, I was able to sit back and enjoy some immensely talented performers pay tribute during this concert experience. With DVD International's audio presentation, I wasn't brought to the concert itself, but I thought the audio experience made for a very enjoyable rendering of what it must have been like to be there. Recommended and fans of classical music should also consider the Naxos Musical Journey DVDs from DVD International.
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