Cat.no: 056 212 2

Cert: E

Running time: 133 minutes

Year: 1998

Pressing: 1999

Region(s): 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (UK PAL)

Chapters: 35 plus extras

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1, Linear PCM Stereo

Languages: Songs sung in respective languages

Subtitles: 7 languages (Interview clips only)

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 9

Price: £17.99

Extras : Scene index, Interview clips

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Conductor:

James Levine

Director:

Mathias Ledoux

Audio Producer:

Christopher Raeburn

Cast:

Jose Carreras
Placido Domingo
Luciano Pavarotti

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Their previous meetings were in 1990 in the famous Baths of Caracalla in Rome and in 1994, with a more American flavour, to coincide with the 1994 World Cup final in Los Angeles. This was then followed by a world tour spanning four continents of Asia, Europe, America and Australasia.

This time round the Eiffel Tower provides the backdrop as it was recorded live with the Orchestre de Paris at the Champ De Mars, with two medleys orchestrated and arranged by Lalo Schifrin, best known for his theme tunes to Mission: Impossible and Bullitt.

There are 35 chapters and the listing is as follows :

1. Le Carnaval Romain
- Levine with the Orchestre de Paris

2. Io Conosco un Giardino (Maristella)
- Jose Carreras

3. Amor Ti Vieta (Fedora)
- Placido Domingo

4. Quando le Sere Al Placido (Luisa Miller)
- Luciano Pavarotti

5. T'Estimo
- Jose Carreras

6. Memoires de Danton
- Placido Domingo

7. Granada
- Luciano Pavarotti

8-15. Medley of Romance (arr. Lalo Schifrin)
- Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti

Sous Le Ciel de Paris
Solamente Una Vez
Maria, Mari
Torero Quiero
Parlami d'amore Mariu
Tu, ca 'nun chiagne!
Manha de Carnaval
Ti Voglio Tanto Bene

16 Voce 'E Notte!
- Jose Carreras

17. Quiero Desterrar de tu Pecho el Temor
- Placido Domingo

18. Caruso
- Luciano Pavarotti

19. Bacchanale (Samson et Dalila)
- Levine with the Orchestre de Paris

20. Inteniti Con Dio (Fosca)
- Jose Carreras

21. Rachel, Quand du Seigneur (La Juive)
- Placido Domingo

22. Nessun Dorma (Turandot)
- Luciano Pavarotti

23-29. Medley of the World (arr. Lalo Schifrin)
- Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti

'O Surdato 'Nnammurato
Ay, Ay, Ay
Lolita
Standchen (Serenade)
Dicitencello Vuie!
You'll Never Walk Alone
Core 'Ngrato

30-35. Encores
- Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti

Because
Marechiare
Amapola
'O Sole Mio
Torna a Surriento
La donna e mobile

The picture quality is superb for most of the concert, but for some reason it's been mastered with an oversaturation of colour, although this can be rectified by the home user with the usual TV controls even though you shouldn't have to. It also looks a little too sharp with some picture noise at times.

The average bitrate is 7.27Mb/s, regularly peaking at 9Mb/s. As the concert is presented in 4:3 fullscreen, the picture is not anamorphically-enhanced for widescreen televisions.

The sound is spot-on though, bringing life to all of the above tracks. It is available in both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Linear PCM Stereo.

Extras :

Chapters :

Languages :

Interview clips and information :

Menu :

The onscreen menus are silent and static but look good and respond quickly on this release with every selection.

Upon launching the disc, you can select the menu language from all seven options. After the copyright logo appears, then does the main menu. Selecting "Play Concert" first brings up the Polygram logo and then the intro music.

Overall, while not being an extras-extravaganza, you can't complain too much when the DVD only costs £2 more than the VHS and with twice the picture resolution.

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