Riverdance: Live From Beijing

Expert evaluations of Amazon media are usually available for my perusal, but there are none yet for Riverdance: Live from Beijing. So I will make my small contribution, hoping readers will consider buying the DVD. This was a superb and thrilling performance! The only improvement possible would have been for us to be sitting in the audience. The principal dancers, especially Padraic Moyles, are at the top of their game. Though flamenco is not my favorite form of dance, Sobrado's precision and artistry on this latest DVD made me reconsider. The audience's enthusiasm was captured so well and I could imagine being there. Cameras caught subtle glances between dancers, interaction among players in the dramas, and even a future Riverdancer in the audience. A musical conversation between the visiting performers and musicians from the Beijing school of music sent my heart soaring. If world peace is possible, I think it will begin with the artists (and scientists). This 15th anniversary of the Riverdance phenomenon showcases the troupe at the pinnacle of their art form. I recommend it without reservation.

We bought this DVD because we had seen a live performance of Riverdance that week and wanted to sustain the feelings and enjoyment of the show. This is a good recording of a live show, that happened in Beijing, although it doesn’t really matter where it was recorded because the basic show hasn’t changed much since its beginning. The only thing different is that it Beijing there was included a segment featuring Chinese musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments and traditional music, which was a nice “local” addition. If you like Celtic music and Irish step-dancing, then you’ll enjoy Riverdance. The music is haunting, the dancing flawless and energetic and the performances professional. Some of the dancers have been with the show for several years and have an obvious love for performing the show. That this is a video recording of a live show has pluses and minuses in that the camera isn’t stationary, so you get views you wouldn’t if you were in the live audience, but the camera movements were distracting at times. This isn’t the kind of DVD we would watch again and again, but neither Netflix or Amazon Prime has it available for rent and our local library, that used to have a VHS tape recording, no longer held it, so we bought it, watched it a couple of times and then donated it to the library so others could see it. That way, we could see it, ourselves, just by checking it out.

OK, OK, OK, I'm a bit biased. Not only because my friend Kevin is in the cast of this amazing DVD, but because I have seen Riverdance performed live over 20 times and this DVD shows the travel, hard work and dedication of the dancers and musicians as well as the tech crew. It is fun to see all the behind the scenes goings on. I was moved by how well received it was in Beijing where the people are under so much political control. You could see so much joy in their faces. My favorite scene is when they saw some Beijing youth dancing the same dance steps outside in a park one afternoon. Riverdance isn't just "an Irish dance show". It is so much more. It has a story and depth and beauty and artistry. If you haven't seen it before--this would be an amazing introduction to the perfection that is Riverdance.

I've loved Riverdance ever since getting a VHS tape of the original show, and now own all the different incarnations. This is a nice production, but there's not anything spectacular about it. There aren't any dances that are exclusive to this DVD and I got a little vibe of "same old, same old". But...there is a new element in that one song does include some Chinese musicians and musical themes. That definitely is something different from any other Riverdance show. As usual, there is a new pair of lead dancers for this show. They do a good job, but there wasn't (at least to my mind) anything especially memorable about them--certainly not compared to the first two pairs of dancers in the series (Michael Flatley/Jean Butler, Colin Dunne/Jean Butler). Also as usual is the costume redesigns: some good and others baffling. Other reviewers have commented negatively about the numerous audience shots during the show; yes, there are a good number of them, but that's been true of every other Riverdance show and isn't an exclusive criticism for this one. Still, it's a nice show that I'm glad to own to complete my Riverdance set,

This version of the show takes full advantage of the blu ray format, the show is stunning live and this disc has captured the experience beatifuly. I've been a fan of Riverdance since the beginning and I am very happy that I am now able to have it and that I can watch it at any time. The music is superb, the production is excellent, the artists are a bunch of talented and beautiful people. I definitely recommend it.

It was nicely done, and I didn't think there were to many audience shots. I agree the cast seemed smaller and I thought Colin Dunne and Jean Butler (River Dance at Radio City Music Hall) was a better performance overall. Also, I like the early performance of Ms. Pages in the Fire dance as well. Having said that, this version was watchable.

This video was even more than I'd hoped for, the Beijing location and auditorium is incredibly luxurious and somewhere I'll never get to visit, but feel like I've been able to experience this concert as if I was there. I've always wanted to see Riverdance and thought this might be a way to see it, and I couldn't have been more correct. The concert has been captured perfectly, from the angelic vocal performances, the multi-national stringed instruments, the exhilirating orchestra, to the wide variety of style in dance presented. I will watch and enjoy this video experience time and time again. Some of the best money I've spent.

"Riverdance: Live From Beijing" does not disappoint After watching "Riverdance" live in Manchester, England, I returned home to the US ready to see more. Upon the advice of my tour guide at Sloan Travel Co., I ordered this one. It is excellent. As good as it was in Manchester, I only wish I could have seen it in Beijing.

When I bought this dvd, it was for the music only... I appreciate irish music and other "traditionnal" music... So as I said to me, I will close the tv and hear the 5.1 music, I sat down in the living room and start the show. After 5 minutes only, I couldn't leave the show and it played 3 times in a row that evening... These guys (and girls - very beautiful girls, I must say) are very incredible. Great talent, great production, great images and great songs. Perfect.

Diese BluRay - Aufnahme ist vom Klang und vom Bild mit sehr gut bis ausgezeichnet zu bewerten! Wir sind Überwältigt von dieser Aufnahme

北京公演を納めたブルーレイです。輸入盤なので、ジャケットは全て中国語 なので、いつに行われた公演かは分りませんが、ブルーレイになっている位 なので、最近であることは確かでしょう。 もちろん、日本語の字幕もありませんが、内容は今までと殆ど変わりはないので 他の公演のＤＶＤを１枚でも持っている人は、特に気にならないと思います。 この北京公演、今までに発売されている海外公演と比べると、会場が少し 小さいのか若干小編成。しかし、タップの音は迫力がありますし見応えは 十分かと。 ただ、客席から歓声や拍手がわく度に、ダンサーの演技中でも平気で観客の アップ映像がやたら挿入されるので、人によってはうっとうしく感じるかも。 公演に中国人演奏家が参加したり（他の国の公演で自国の音楽家を入れたり することはなかったと思いますはなかったと思います）、カーテンコールで 彼らを特別に紹介したり、そういった所はお国柄と言ったところでしょうか。

beau spectacle arrivé dans les temps

Interesante para conocer esta música y sus bailes