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Dom Robinson reviews
Dream a DreamFilmed at the Dormition Abbey, Jerusalem
- 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 GalleryDirector:
- Kriss Russman
Producer:
- Anthony Geffen
If you’re feeling Christmassy and enjoy classical music this DVD could be for you.
Singing Welsh wonder Charlotte Church travels to the Holy Land insearch of the first Christmas, taking a tour round Nazareth and Bethlehem tovisit the birthplace of Jesus and to fulfil her dream.
Amongst this are songs recorded at the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem withthe Chamber Cantus Choir and the Ra’anana Symphonette Orchestra, a tracklisting for which is below, where Charlotte sings while surrounded by theorchestra. Traditional Christmas songs are included, such as: The First Noel,When a Child is Born, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night andO Come All Ye Faithful, although I’d prefer to have the Boney M versionof Mary’s Boy Child. The classic Ave Maria is here too asis the title track of her new album, Dream a Dream, to the tune ofFaure‘s Pavane.
I have to say at this point that I’m not religious at all, but am quitepartial to a bit of classical music and wonder when Digital Radio sets becomethe norm will we be able to hear the music in Dolby Digital 5.1 as we can onthis DVD?
One thing we learn on her journey is that apparently Mary gave birth to Jesuswhen she was just 15 years old. Then again, it’s been rumoured that hisdate 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 andso is cropped to 4:3 for this release, since the BBC are showing it overthe Xmas period in widescreen. Hence, I shall be marking the score down.Quality-wise, what is there is excellent from the dark interiors of theabbey 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 clearDolby Digital 5.1, Charlotte’s vocals taking centre stage and the orchestrasurrounding you effortlessly. A standard PCM Stereo option is also available.
Extras :Not a great deal to shout about here. It’s mainly albums that Ms. Church hasreleased and the Discography provides a track listing for each,along with that for herVoice of an Angelvideo/DVD release.
Four pages of brief info make up the Biography section and there arejust five pictures in the Photo Gallery.
There are no subtitles to be found on the disc and the menus have some subtleanimation and music over them.
Overall, the picture (bar the cropping) and sound are superb, but once again a Sony DVD lacksmuch in the way of extras and for such a short disc, I think a budget priceof around £14.99 or less should be introduced.
For a chance to win a copy of this DVD, check out thecompetition pagebetween now and Friday December 15th.
PICTURE QUALITY
SOUND QUALITY
EXTRAS
OVERALL
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.