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"ROMANTIC PARADISE" DVD   
(broadcast on PBS as: Live In Tuscany)

Andre Rieu & JSO
A review by Lance Ciepiela
Gilbert, Arizona

A superb, musical extravaganza, outstanding in every way, featuring our magnificent maestro, Andre Rieu, and his spectacular Johann Strauss Orchestra & Choir. The very talented Andre spoke perfect Italian for the enthusiastic, friendly citizens of Cortona, Italy, with the English translation streaming as he spoke to the attentive audience.

This wonderful 2003 Concert takes place in the center of the town square of Cortona, and many of the citizens attending, were overcome with great happiness, and tears of joy, listening to the soothing, beautiful sounds and melodies coming from the stage.

Andre featured many great Italian melodies, starting his Concert with his absolutely magnificent rendition of the great Italian musical masterpiece, "The Godfather". Then came his beautiful rendition of one of the world's greatest love melodies, "Strangers in Paradise". The citizens of Cortona were completely mesmerized in enraptured silence, when Andre brought on stage the great Italian singers, Carla Maffioletti and Carmen Monarcha, to perform with him and his great orchestra. Also featured was another great singer Suzan Erens.

This awesome DVD runs for 2 great hours, and has 2 parts, I & II, with 11 great melodies in Part I, followed by 12 wonderful melodies in Part II. Also featured is a personal interview with Andre himself, and many other extra features, like "Making Of behind the scenes", "bonus tracks", and the "Magical Andre Rieu Song Selection".

This DVD is "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED"
 

AndreRieuFans.com
review provided by
Lance Ciepiela
Gilbert Arizona USA

Denon Classics is excited to announce the CD and DVD release of "Tuscany from composer/conductor and violinist Andre Rieu. Filmed in picturesque Cortona, Italy, Rieu's new PBS Special (his 11th special for PBS) features the performer along with his Johann Strauss Orchestra and soloists performing romantic classics in the main courtyard of the historic Tuscan town. Rieu's concerts have gained increasingly larger audiences due to the success of his previous special, "Live in Dublin" the #1 pledge drive program of last year for PBS. "Tuscany" is set to surpass that success and dominate the fall pledge drives this year. Also known as "The Waltz King of Europe", the Dutch born violinist consistently tops the classical charts since his first recording and has recently seen all of his new Denon releases become best sellers each cracking the Top 5 Billboard's prestigious Classical charts. With his Holland-based orchestra, Andre Rieu has electrified audiences worldwide with his unique musical vision - blending classical and pop elements, rhythm and dance into a charismatic event. It's a vision that has solidified Rieu's reputation as one of the premier live performers. Filmed live during a performance in Cortona, a city fifty miles southeast of Florence, "Tuscany" captures the essence of the region in musical arrangements that evoke romance and timeless beauty.

The 15 sweeping, emotional compelling compositions on "Tuscany" magnificently capture the whimsy and lushness of the North Alps province, considered by many to be Italy's most beautiful. Gently rolling hillsides, vineyards, olive gardens, farmhouses and castles - the quintessential picturesque Italian scene. The set begins with the haunting "Romance Anonyme" and continues through a selection of favorites and new additions to the repertoire. Respighi's "Italiana", Jacques Offenbach's "Barcarolle", "Lagune Waltz" by Strauss are performed along with the big band flavored "Chanson d'Amour" a 1958 hit by the Fontaine Sisters.

In Europe, Rieu's sold out stadium concerts and bestselling hit albums have made him a virtual pop star. Having attained multiple Platinum and Gold awards for sales in Germany, France and Holland he is currently the best selling instrumentalist in Europe- Pop or Classical! "From Holland With Love', his breakthrough top 5 of the German Pop music chart for over 6 weeks earlier this year. His television specials air through out the continent and have won numerous local awards. His progress in the United States is equally impressive as he attained more Top 5 charting albums in the U.S. than any other Classical instrumentalist last year.

Born into musical family (his father was a conductor), Rieu became very familiar with the world of classical music at an early age. He fell in love with the violin immediately after his first lessons at age 5. His love of classical music was tempered only by the overwhelming solemnity he felt at concerts emanating from the audience. Rieu's performances and charismatic showmanship aim to sweep the audience up into the joy of the music, creating an interactive emotional and physical bond unique to the classical concert circuit. His many world tours have earned him a legion of dedicated fans the world over and this year's successful U.S. tour will be followed up by a Spring 2005 visit by the conductor and his orchestra to America.

Denon Classics is a division of the Savoy Label Group which is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. Newly reorganized and now headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, Columbia Music Entertainment has reemerged as a significant force with a stable of newly signed platinum-selling artists.