Cat.no: 201274 9

Cert: E

Running time: 49 minutes

Year: 2000

Pressing: 2000

Region(s): 2 (UK PAL)

Chapters: 13 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 5

Price: £19.99

Extras: Discography, Biographies, Photo Gallery

Director:
Kriss Russman

Producer:

Anthony Geffen

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Singing Welsh wonder Charlotte Church travels to the Holy Land in search of the first Christmas, taking a tour round Nazareth and Bethlehem to visit the birthplace of Jesus and to fulfil her dream.

Amongst this are songs recorded at the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem with the Chamber Cantus Choir and the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra, a track listing for which is below, where Charlotte sings while surrounded by the orchestra. Traditional Christmas songs are included, such as: The First Noel, When a Child is Born, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful, although I'd prefer to have the Boney M version of Mary's Boy Child. The classic Ave Maria is here too as is the title track of her new album, Dream a Dream, to the tune of Faure's Pavane.

I have to say at this point that I'm not religious at all, but am quite partial to a bit of classical music and wonder when Digital Radio sets become the norm will we be able to hear the music in Dolby Digital 5.1 as we can on this DVD?

One thing we learn on her journey is that apparently Mary gave birth to Jesus when she was just 15 years old. Then again, it's been rumoured that his date of birth was actually around May, 4A.D. so who's to say what's accurate?

There are 13 chapters and the listing is as follows :

1. The First Noel 2. Ave Maria 3. When a Child is Born 4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 5. Mary's Boy Child 6. O Holy Night 7. The Little Drummer Boy

8. Psalm 23 9. Silent Night 10. What Child is This 11. Draw Tua Bethlehem/Far Over Bethlehem 12. O Come All Ye Faithful 13. Dream a Dream / end credits

I have since found out that the content on this DVD was shot in 16:9 and so is cropped to 4:3 for this release, since the BBC are showing it over the Xmas period in widescreen. Hence, I shall be marking the score down. Quality-wise, what is there is excellent from the dark interiors of the abbey to the brightly-lit outdoor scenes. The average bitrate is a very high 8.75Mb/s, often peaking over 9Mb/s.

The sound is also first rate with the concert available in crystal clear Dolby Digital 5.1, Charlotte's vocals taking centre stage and the orchestra surrounding you effortlessly. A standard PCM Stereo option is also available.

Extras :