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(Jewel 2 CD
+ DVD) [LIVE]
Loreena McKennitt (Artist)
Audio CD (August 21, 2007)
Original Release Date: August 21, 2007
Number of Discs: 3
Format: Live
Label: Verve
ASIN: B000SO7OM0
Editorial
Reviews
Amazon.com
After nearly a decade off the scene, Loreena McKennitt returned to the performance
and recording stage in 2006 and 2007. The Canadian singer picked up exactly
where she left off, traveling through the Celtic-Middle Eastern fusions she
explored on The Book of Secrets with her latest studio album, An
Ancient Muse. Now, with momentum behind her, she's released a DVD document
of her performance at Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. This is the same
performance that has been running on PBS station pledge drives for the last
year, but with a double CD included. McKennitt's renditions of songs from An
Ancient Muse and her earlier albums are impeccable. As she is something of
a perfectionist, there isn't much deviation from the original studio versions,
but McKennitt is in fine voice and the band gets to rave it up a few times on
tracks like "The Bonny Swans," where violinist Hugh Marsh and
guitarist Brian Hughes trade increasingly frantic leads. This is an expanded
group for McKennitt, with players from England, Greece, and the Middle East
playing oud, dumbek, kanoun, hurdy-gurdy, duduk, and other ancient sounds from
the British Isles to Turkey. The advantage of this edition of the Alhambra
performance over that seen on PBS is that we're spared McKennitt's earnest and
precious interstitials, talking about the location and her inspirations while
slowly running her hands over Celtic carvings. But if you want it, that version
of the performance is also on the DVD, as the commentary track. The CDs wisely
drop even the between-song patter, which is fine, but not something to sit
through on repeated listenings. Although the performance is beautifully, if
conventionally filmed, and it's great to see this virtuoso band playing in
communion, it's ultimately McKennitt's songs themselves that brim with visual
imagery as she creates her ancient evocations as effectively on the concert
stage as she does in the studio. --John Diliberto
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BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, BEAUTIFUL CONCERT
I compare Loreena McKennitt with Sarah Brightman not because their
styles are similiar (because they're not) but because they are both musical
geniuses. Each in theor own way hold the key to popular success without having
to compromise the essence of their art. Also, both artists produce riveting
filmed concerts--again, in very different styles. Brightman is highly
theatrical & Loreena Mckennitt is contemplative, yet not introverted. In
the Alhambra Concert she wears little or no make-up. Her strawberry blonde hair
is like a halo, her face is luminous.
Loreena singing & playing her Irish harp is a lovely sight indeed.
Amazingly, this fantastic concert DVD is thrown in as a bonus gift (this is
true of all McKennitt CD's.)The songs selected just happen to by all my
personal favorites, including my all time favorite poem: The Lady of Shalott.
But this is not a "best of best" CD. All the old favorites are given
completely new composition & interpretation.
Appropriately, there is a heighten Middle East flavour--spiced up with a little
improvisational-like jazz.
All the accompanying musicians are outstanding, an ensemble elegance that is
inspiring.
It is wonderful to hear these songs with new interpretations--it is even more
inspiring to watch the actual performance.
The Book
of Secrets
The Mask and Mirror
The Visit
Elemental
Eden (US Release - 16 tracks)
Review: JEFarrow
Updated 03/08