DVD : The Luciano Pavarotti And Friends Collection [1992] (NTSC)

Rating: - THE MOST ESSENTIAL COLLECTION OF ALL TIME!!
Luciano Pavarotti is undoubtably the star here. He's moving through every kind of music the best way. Nessun Dorma is here, Caruso is here, Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus and many many more. The co-stars include Aaron Neville, Al di Meola, Alex Britti, Andrea Bocelli, Andreas Vollenweider, Aqua, B.B. King, Biagio Antonnaci, Bob Geldof, Bono & The Edge, Boyzone, Brian Eno, Brian May, Bryan Adams, Caetano Veloso, Celine Dion, Dolores O' Riordan, Edoardo Bennato, Elton John, Enrique Iglesias, Eric Clapton, Eros Ramazzotti, Eurythmics, Florent Pagny, Gam Gam, George Michael, Gianni Morandi, Giorgia, Gloria Estefan, Irene Grandi, Jill Dell' Abate, Joan Osborne, Joe Cocker, John McLaughlin, Jon Bon Jovi, Jon Secada, Jovanotti, Laura Pausini, Leone Magiera, Lionel Richie, Litfiba, Liza Minneli, Luciano Ligabue, Lucio Dalla, Mariah Carey, Meat Loaf, Michael Bolton, Michael Kamen, Mike Oldfield, Monica Naranjo, Nancy Gustafon, Natalie Cole, Nenad Bach, Neville Brothers, Paco de Lucia, Patricia Kaas, Pino Paladino, Renato Zero, Ricky Martin, Savage Garden, Sheryl Crow, Simon Le Bon (from Duran Duran), Skunk Anansie, Spice Girls,
Stevie Wonder, Sting, Suzanne Vega, The Chieftains, The Corrs, The Kelly Family, Tracy Chapman, Trisha Yearwood, Vanessa Williams & Zucchero among others(!). For me, one of the ultimate highlights is the song We are the world at the 1999 concert for Guatemala and Kosovo.
I'm writing this review in October, 2007 and the death of the greatest tenor a few days ago makes this collection even more worthy and it's the best gift you can buy for yourself and at the same time support philanthropic causes throughout the world.
Needless to say, highly recommended.

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Rating: - POINTS TO CONDISER
Over the years I watched these concerts off RAI TV via Eutelsat from my home in Manchester. I own some of the individual concerts on imported Hong Kong DVD's but I shall be getting this box (which was only available in Australia up until now) in the near future.

Interesting how the official reviewer mentions NO names of any of the artists who are not Anglo-American.
For me one the best is Irene Grandi on the Cambodia and Tibet concert. Both in terms of her duet with Luciano on the classic Italian pop song "guarda che luna" and her own rock-pop hit "la tua ragazza sempre".
One of the things that I miss from the transmission versions that I watched in the 90's is the conversations. I know a lot of people knock Celine Dion but she is always a very warm and expressive human being and she addressed the audience in the best spirit and the crowd loved her for it. In the individual import compilations that I already own which I presume are the same edits here, you don't get those inbetween moments of verbal remarks and expression that we got watching the transmissions.
The shows were not all equally good, there were good years, lesser years and great years. There are highs and lows within shows and some performances that felt important at the time have since faded while other performances that felt routine at the time now mean more and have better stood the test of time.
Timing and perception I guess are everything. Many popsters and rockers may never consider someone like Vanessa Williams but she performed oustandingly. As for British artists many prove that they are the only ones lacking a proper musical education. The Corrs were far better attempting Italian no doubt from the Latin they were taught in their Irish Catholic school. Sheryl Crow reveals her formal music training when she sings Opera ( yes folks all that record label trailer-park-girl image is pure fiction!!!) Michael Bolton reveals himself an Opera tenor as does French pop star Florent Pagny. It is only the British and most specific the English pop stars who lack both classical training and language skills. Pop stars from all the other countries even Canada's Bryan Adams prove that there is more to them than meets the eye. That said George Michael may well have given the greatest vocal performance of his life on "BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?" But even Michael along with Eurythmics and other Brits force Luciano to sing THEIR material while pop stars from other countries including the USA give their best attempt at Luciano's music. Typical Brits, the whole world has to do things our way don't expect them to make the effort the others do. But again like I have already said what comes out clearly is that Pop stars from other countries have both classical music education and languages skills that Brit stars so obviously lack and it shows!!

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Rating: - Wonderful Entertainment
The whole boxed set worth every penny. A great present for someone special who likes all good music, be it Pop or Opera and all in between. Great entertainment! Some you will not like so be it.
But best of all is how Pavarroti blows the minor leagues away.
I must mention the Children's choirs, they are wonderful and all deserve an oscar.
Mr. Pavarotti must have been proud of them, he looked like he enjoyed it all.
Also a great Host to so many stars. Hope they all appreciate it.
Set me off looking for CD's & DVD's of many of the Artist's. Pity they are not available in the UK.
Great viewing and entertainment.