(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
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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
Loreena McKennitt and
Sarah Brightman are my personal favorite diva, goddess & genius. Each in
her own way hold the key to popular success without having to compromise the essence
of their art. Also, both artists produce riveting filmed concerts--granted, in
very different styles. Brightman is highly theatrical with impressive
technical--almost athletic--effects; Loreena Mckennitt's performance is
contemplative, yet not at all introverted.
In the Alhambra Concert DVD McKennitt wears little or no make-up. Her
strawberry blonde hair flows 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 be all my personal favorites, including The Lady of Shallot (Tennyson) and
McKennitt's own The Old Ways. Other stunners are The Mystic Dream & the
daemonic themed Stolen Child. But this is not a "best of best" CD.
All the old favorites are given completely new composition & interpretation
by artists of the highest caliber. They deliver inspired work of their own because
they have been obviously inspired by McKennitt--and this is just one sign of
that "genius" factor alluded to above.
This particular
concert features an appropriately, heightened Middle East flavour--spiced up
with a little improvisational-like jazz. The opening tune The Mystic Dream with
its jazzy, sexy saxophone opening.
All the accompanying musicians are outstanding, working as equal participants
in ensemble elegance.
It is wonderful to hear these songs with new interpretations--it is even more
inspiring to watch the actual performance.
I would gladly pay this amount for any Loreena McKennitt production. This
beautifully done package with 2 CDs & 1 DVD is an exceptional value.
So impressed, I had to invent my own 6 Star Rating!
The
Book of Secrets
The Mask and Mirror
The Visit
Elemental
Eden (US Release - 16 tracks)
Review: JEFarrow
Updated 03/09