Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #173829 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-10-30
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 429 minutes

Amazon.com
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Spotlight Performance Collection includes Cats, A Royal Albert Hall Celebration, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Jesus Christ Superstar. The 1998 video version of Cats stars a cast assembled from London, Amsterdam, and New York productions, including Ken Page as Old Deuteronomy and Elaine Paige (the original London Grizabella, the Glamour Cat) whose version of "Memory" remains definitive.

A Royal Albert Hall Celebration (1998) features more than two hours of hits from star after star: Elaine Paige delivering "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" and "Memory" with her usual power, Michael Ball and Donny Osmond stretching the last vestiges of boyish charm to the very limits but still sounding great; Sarah Brightman performing an outstanding selection from The Phantom of the Opera; Antonio Banderas; and Glenn Close, stupendous and moving in songs from Sunset Boulevard.

In Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Old Testament tale of Joseph and his coat of many colors gets a splashy, vigorous treatment with an energetic cast, Las Vegas-style glitz, and catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do" and the peppy "Go, Go, Go Joseph." Former teen icon Donny Osmond is perfect in the title role, while Maria Friedman performs well as the narrator.

The 1999 stage revival of Jesus Christ Superstar became the basis for this 2000 video production, which takes the show out of ancient Jerusalem to a mix of modern New York and timeless Rome. As Christ (Glenn Carter) sees his cult of personality overtake his message and struggles with the fears of his sacrifice, he reaches within for faith and forgiveness, giving the show the spiritual dimension it so often lacks. It's an entertaining, thoughtful, and well-sung production, avoiding the tepidity of Norman Jewison's solemn 1973 film.

Customer Reviews

Must-have for ALW fans
My two pence worth:

CATS: not my favorite ALW musical but I found this version enjoyable for its superior cast. God's not fair--to some he gives both singing AND dancing talent. Loads of such double talent in this production.

SUPERSTAR: interesting, updated production, fabulous voices. Shorn of its 60s/70s hippie trappings, it effectively re-engages you in the message of the lyrics.

JOSEPH: at first I thought--Donny Osmond, UGH! YUCK!--but he's surprisingly appealing in this production.

ROYAL ALBERT CELEBRATION: my only peeves (and reason for 4 instead of 5 stars) are 1) the total absence of Michael Crawford (Music of the Night is sung competently but not brilliantly by Antonio Banderas) and 2) a few too many titles from ALW's least successful work, Whistle Down the Wind.

No Documentation
I am very disappointed in the packaging and the lack of documentation. They should have included the track listings and any documentation that has been included in the individual DVD packaging. I was especially disappointed that on the Royal Albert Hall performances where there is no listing of the songs, which show they are from and who is performing them. I was hoping to find a track listing here at Amazon but I have not found one yet.

YAY!!!!
I love this entire collection. When I bought this, I wasn't very excited about Jesus Christ Superstar, because I thought it was the 1973 version. Imagine my delight when this was in fact the updated version of the show. An amazing cast draws you into the story, and finally Judas does not appear simply as a traitor or a psycho, but as someone tormented.
Royal Albert Hall Celebration--Wow! All I can say is I would love to have my 50th Birthday party like that. Hoards of stars appear singing ALW's wonderful compostions.