| The Chieftains - An Irish Evening | 
 enlarge | Actor: The Chieftains
Studio: Bmg Special Product
Category: DVD
List Price: $16.98 (€13.41)
Buy New: $15.46 (€12.21)
You Save: $1.52 (€1.20) (9%)
Buy New/Used from $8.00 (€6.32)
Avg. Customer Rating:   (7 reviews)
Sales Rank: 62806
Format: Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Live, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 60 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
UPC: 090266091690
EAN: 0090266091690
ASIN: B0000507OX
Release Date: September 26, 2000
Theatrical Release Date: 1992
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Throughout their four decades of championing traditional Irish music, the Chieftains have had to suffer their share of the peculiar Irish snubbing known as begrudgery. Precisely because they became so successful abroad, the Chieftains have always seemed to have to fight for recognition and validation on their home turf. So this concert video, filmed in 1991 at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, is gratifying as a splendid performance on its own and as a sweet homecoming. The program (also available on CD), which features several ensemble reels and hornpipes, guest appearances by Nanci Griffith and Roger Daltrey, notable solos, and a brief Irish dance segment, thoroughly engages the audience, a feeling palpable on the video. Highlights include an a cappella solo by Kevin Conneff on the ballad "North Americay," a riotous flute solo on "The Mason's Apron" by Matt Molloy, and Griffith's lovely, lilting "Little Love Affairs" and "Red Is the Rose." Daltrey's bombast never really blends with the rest of the ensemble (there's a reason you've never heard a Celtic band take on "Behind Blue Eyes"), though his earnestness is appealing. All in all, fans of Irish music (and Griffith) will find this an enjoyable evening. --Anne Hurley
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Wonderful and lively! July 14, 2008
The Chieftains are one of my favorite groups, always giving a lively, entertaining performance guaranteed to make you tap your feet and/or get up and dance. Some special additions to this, done live at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, are singer Nancy Griffith who has a beautiful voice and Jean Butler who does traditional Irish step dancing to "Independent Hornpipe". The Irish instruments played by this band are of great interest to me, especially the flute, penny whistle, bodran and harp. All in all, it is filled with wonderful music and a joy to watch.
 COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT, but was a disaster March 4, 2004
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
.
Most viewers may not know that there have been at least three versions of this performance; the original live performance in Belfast; the edited video tape of the live performance that was shown on PBS a number of years ago, and the re-edited version on DVD. The DVD version is by far the worst for reasons I will explain.When the magnificent Chieftains are gone there will probably not be another traditialist group like them again. Theiy are about as near perfect as it is possible to get. And it is almost axiomatic that the Chieftains' management can do no wrong, but they really blew it with this one when they inserted Roger Daltry into the program. Then they compounded it again by not editing Daltry out of the tape to be presented worldwide on TV. Then the error was compounded yet again when for the DVD version they edited out one of the most beautiful, sensual, and lovely courting dances performed by a barefoot young man and woman dressed in old Irish farm costumes, to the lilting acapella narrative accompanyment of Kevin Conneff . Why did they edit out one of the best parts of the concert? .....Why to make room for a mediocre Daltry sequence, that's why. Fortunately, I had taped the PBS presentation on my Betamax when it was presented on TV years ago. Over the years I had always wished the concert would be made available on DVD so I could enjoy the improvement in quality and sound and see that beautiful dance again with improved sharpness and clarity, When I found the DVD on Amazon I jumped at the chance to get it, even though I knew it contained the out of place distraction of Daltry. I happen to enjoy Daltry in rock venues, but he was about as out of place in this concert as Snoop Doggy Dog doing rap, or a break dancer would have been. I actually felt sorry for him trying for a bit of relevance. At one point near the end of the concert when they were preparing to jam, he was given a bodrain (drum) to hold so he could join in,.....sort of. And a couple of times poor Roger would feign "getting with it"; by doing a little low key rock boogeying such as one might see at a club when some dorkey nerd who can't dance is trying to fake it with a few uncoordinated moves on the dance floor. It was truly painful to watch and definitely detracted from the rest of the excellent performances. Thankfully, some of the most pitiful sequences of Daltry were left out of the DVD version, but too much was also left in. Jean Butler, later of Riverdance fame, made several appearances in traditional Irish dress and was superb. Nancy Griffith was even better than she is in her own element of purely American country western. She can not only sing Irish music but she can compose it, as well. Flutist Matt Malloy did a solo that started out lively, then accellerated to an even faster tempo. With his fingers only a blur and you are thinking he is maxed out, he goes even faster. The notes were all there and on key. How the man could breathe while playing so fast is beyond me. Derek Bell, an accomplished musical virtuoso on many instruments did a delightful piano ragtime piece near the end of the concert. Prior to that he did his usual wonderful harp and piano accompanyment, and a xylophone bit as part of a happy little Chinese diddy, played the Irish way. Sadly, Derek Bell, MBE, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Phoenix October 17, 2002 after a concert and following minor surgery. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam (sympathy to his wife and family) I could go on and on about the other members as well. Daltry, as good as he was with the Who and in Tommy, was a disaster in this concert, the PBS tape, and the DVD. (That's why only one star.) I intend to burn my own DVD using the good portions of the RCA DVD and my Betamax tape, leaving out Daltry and replacing the courting dance. Then I will have a fairly decent DVD copy of this performance. Save your money.
I was blown over February 7, 2003
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
Concert films are by their nature uneven. And if said concert is by someone of whom you've never heard, there is little room for experimentation. Or so I thought when I found out I had won The Chieftains: An Irish Evening in a drawing. Fortunately, like so many times with low expectations, I was proven wrong. This was a phenomenal concert (I found out later that its accompanying album had won a Grammy). The Chieftains are an Irish band made up of Paddy Moloney, Martin Fay, and several others throughout the years (here Derek Bell, Matt Malloy, Kevin Conneff, and Sean Keane). This concert, taped live at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, also features Nanci Griffith and Roger Daltrey on separate songs. The highlights are "The Mason's Apron" where flutist Matt Malloy goes wild during a solo; their adaptation of The Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" (although I felt sorry for Roger trying to rock out during the pipe solo); and the final ten-minute jam of a song I'm not even going to try to spell (it's something like "Rack Amid a Bean Bag"). Dancer Jean Butler (later of Riverdance) also comes on to wow the crowd with her abilities. Chieftains fans have probably already heard this, but any fans of Irish music will find plenty to like here. I'll definitely be watching it again and I recommend it to anyone who loves music and has an open mind. The DVD has no extras to speak of (apart from song selections and an album list), but is a wonderful recording of a moment in time.
 The Chieftains are treasures/this DVD is a qualified must July 3, 2002
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This one has its high and low points. The overall length, video and audio quality may make this one a hard sell to other than those who just have to have every Chieftains concert. The video seems fuzzy and audio is only OK. Nancy Griffith comes alive in the finale but Roger Daltrey seems to struggle to fit in though his singing energy seems to be able to transcend his commercial rock 'n roll reputation at times. The song "Behind Blue Eyes", though haunting and thought provoking, needs to be removed from this offering. On a more positive note, Jean Butler's few step dancing appearances are the garnishing touch that make me happy to add this DVD to my collection. As well, the Chieftains are at their own best when in live performance. I only wish it was a full 2 hours or longer with more Jean and Nancy. You will have a difficult time finding more polished musicians than the Chieftains. They also know how to make their concerts a really good time for the audience. Add this DVD with some forgiveness.
Superlatives are not just not sufficient, save for one thing October 25, 2001
7 out of 11 found this review helpful
This is a rather excellent concert filmed in 1991. The vibrant energy of the playing as only the Chieftains can put across, the unbelievable skill displayed by a young Jean Butler Irish dancing how it should be done rather than flamenco as made 'popular' by Riverdance and other material. The one appalling aspect of this DVD has to be the ludicrously odious Roger Daltrey. A man less talented as a singer I have never come across. The song, Raglan Road, a beautiful poem put to music, is strained out through the flat London based blaring of his voice. He then compounds the error by singing another song which I have banished from my mind, then Any Old Iron. It is quite appalling. One good thing for DVD, you can skip happily to the next track. In summary, this is an excellent DVD marred by truly unwise guest 'stars'.
|
|
|
