SITE RATING: 6/10
SITE
REVIEW: An
excellently-filmed concert, the OSJ
organization have commissioned a fine,
multi-angled production which shows off the
concert to its best effect.
Unfortunately, the DVD-R is region-locked,
so you will need an Region 2 or Universal
DVD player with which to play it. The
DVD reveals that besides the small wind
orchestra (approx. 9 players) there is also
present a cellist and string bass player,
and perhaps an organist as well. This
would still be an idea orchestration for
small choral forces who want a lighter, but
still full-sounding orchestration to perform
with. The performance is the same as
I've noted in the review of the CD release,
with some disunity in the OSJ Voices, fine
ensemble playing from the Orchestra of St.
Johns, and a split-decision amongst the
soloists, with soprano Nardus Williams and
counter-tenor Roderick Morris not rating
high in my estimation, but Christopher
Turner and Bozidar Smiljanic rating higher
in tone, but none of them are
deal-breakers. The performance gains a
bit in seeing the faces and professional
attitudes of the soloists and other
performers, and is the ideal way to
experience the concert.
NOTE: As far as ordering this DVD, I had to
write directly to the OSJ to figure out how
to ship to the States, since their website
would not allow for that option, but they
were very helpful and shipped quickly.
In essence, I had to supply a UK address in
the mailing instructions (I used the OSJ
office address) and added 7.50 as a
"donation" to cover postage, while supplying
my true mailing address in the "notes" for
the order. It's worth hearing and
seeing for the unique orchestration, and for
the well-shot and produced video.
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