Music : Nights from the Alhambra - (Jewel 2 CD + DVD)
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0774213011107
Format: Live
Label: Verve
Manufacturer: Verve
Number Of Discs: 3
Publisher: Verve
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Sales Rank: 1521
Studio: Verve
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Editorial Review:
Album Description:
An enchanting musical performance, set beneath the stars in the breathtaking Moorish heart of medieval Spain. Captured in concert in September 2006, singer/composer Loreena McKennitt leads viewers through the multi-textured landscapes of her catalog, from traditional Celtic ballads to literary narratives and highlights from her latest recording, An Ancient Muse.
Filmed in rich HDTV, Nights from the Alhambra evokes the otherworldly magic of Granada's palace of dreams, the fiery and inspired performances of a stellar cast of supporting musicians and, of course, the unforgettable voice and songs of Loreena McKennitt herself. The package includes the complete footage on DVD and 2 separate audio CDs that encompass the complete evening.
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
More from Loreena McKennitt
An Ancient Muse |
The Book of Secrets |
The Visit |
To Drive the Cold Winter Away |
The Mask and Mirror |
A Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season |
Parallel Dreams |
Elemental |
Live in Paris and Toronto |
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
This cd/DVD set of Loreena McKennitt's performance in the beautiful and mystical Alhambra is indeed very special for her fans as well as newcomers to her enchanting voice and unusual instruments. Applause time is minimal with more time for the music, which is clear and lovely. The DVD and optional commentary in which she speaks of the history of the Alhambra is educational as well as beautiful. Thanks to Loreena McKennitt for this special performance.
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I had the album for quite a while before I played the DVD. It's fantastic and maybe the first time I understood where all these amazing sounds come from. The music is wonderful, many of the songs I like even more than the studio version (how often does that happen?). But don't miss the DVD, it's simply amazing!
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I love her music and songs but I wish they had edited out the applause, it really ruins it for me.
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fabulous music, requiring your heart to listen to it
I purchased again for another two to send to friends
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I became a fan of Loreena McKennitt since "The Book of Secrets"."Nights from the Alhambra" is simply excellent-For the music as well the DVD.Watching her in concert is simply great along with her band of musicans as well hearing the cd's.It was a shame her last live cd-"Live in Paris and Toronto" did'nt have a dvd.This more makes up for it."Nights from the Alhambra" came in a diga-pak with the discs spread out-beautifully packaged.If you want to see and hear Loreena Mckennitt in concert-This is it.Her Celtic Music simply beautiful.
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