Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3301 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-10-30
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Soundtrack, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 128 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
In 1998 a concert at the Royal Albert Hall celebrated Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th birthday and featured more than two hours of hits from a body of work spanning almost three decades. In this keepsake of a memorable night, star after star steps on to a massive, Eurovision-style set to revisit golden moments in their long association with Britain's most successful composer of musicals. Elaine Paige in big frocks and an even bigger voice delivers "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and "Memory" with her usual power; Michael Ball and Donny Osmond stretch the last vestiges of boyish charm to the very limits but still sound great; and Boyzone gets the youth vote. Then there are Kiri Te Kanawa, Bonnie Tyler, Tina Arena, and, of course, another encore for brother Julian Lloyd Webber and those Variations on the cello. But the stars are Sir Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Brightman in an outstanding selection from The Phantom of the Opera (probably his best work), Antonio Banderas (who really can sing), and Glenn Close, a stupendous, moving Norma Desmond in songs from Sunset Boulevard. All in all, a deserved celebration for someone who has given so many people a great deal of pleasure, and a treat for musicals fans of all ages. --Piers Ford

Customer Reviews

A great sampling of Webber's music
Although I usually prefer classical music or pre-1950s popular music, I do enjoy the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. This is a very good sampling from his musicals. My only complaint is that some of the singing is not as good as it should be. Except for the opening number which was poorly sung, it sounded OK until I heard Sarah Brightman and Kiri Te Kanawa towards the end of the concert. Then I realized how much better this concert would have been if it had all been sung by singers of their skills.

Andrew Lloyd Webber- The Royal Albert Hall Celebration
The Andrew Lloyd Webber- The Royal Albert Hall Celebration was just wonderful. I highly recommend this if you did not get to see some of these performers on Broadway. The music and performers are just great and you will be so entertained you will think you are there at Albert Hall.

Be Prepared!!!
I bought this DVD in April to watch with my parents when I came to visit on break from college. We're all Andrew Lloyd Webber fans but had never seen this concert before, so I knew we'd enjoy it.

I was prepared to love the DVD; I was not prepared to spend $300 in the 2.5 months following the purchase of the DVD buying up all the Michael Ball items I could get my hands on--including joining his fan club.

He steals the show, and you absolutely fall in love with him from his first song. Words cannot describe...so I will not even try.

As for the other performances, Elaine Paige was amazing, of course. Antonio's Evita performances were very enjoyable but found him lacking in Phantom. Tina Arena gives a powerful performance, and Donny and Glenn were better than I expected.

Outside of Memory and Ball's performances, my favorite has to be "No Matter What" by Boyzone. They give boy bands a good name.

This DVD will be watched and re-watched and become a household favorite but be prepared to become hopelessly devoted to Michael Ball.