Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81686 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-10-16
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 70 minutes

Amazon.com
If Christmas is about bringing people together, then Our Favorite Things succeeds admirably by assembling one of the most oddly disparate groups of singers ever to roast a chestnut on an open fire. Placido Domingo and Vanessa Williams singing a Barry Manilow song? Domingo and Tony Bennett together for "I'll Be Home for Christmas"? An appearance (on just three numbers) by young soprano sensation Charlotte Church? It's all here on this 22-song, 70-minute extravaganza (also on CD), taped in December 2000 in Vienna (the subject of a 14-minute bonus video that may be the best part of the disc). Some of it's a bit stilted (Bennett swings, Domingo can't), but there are some genuinely moving moments, like Domingo and Church's "O Holy Night" and the Domingo/Bennett/Williams "Angels We Have Heard on High." And let's face it: hearing such great voices sing these timeless classics, sacred and secular, can't be bad. Superior family fare. --Sam Graham

From the Back Cover
Four stars align in Vienna for an extraordinary Christmas concert starring jazz legend Tony Bennett, singer and actress Vanessa Williams, superstar tenor Placido Domingo, and including a special appearance by teen singing sensation Charlotte Church. Our Favorite Things is a timeless holiday concert the whole family will enjoy. Somewhere in My Memory, Winter Wonderland, Hijo de Dios, Through the Eyes of a Child, I'll Be Home for Christmas, O Holy Night, Silent Night, Because It's Christmas, Jesús de Nazareth, The Christmas Song, My Favorite Things, Joy to the World, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The First Noel, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Hacia Belén va un Burro, It's Christmas All Over the World, White Christmas, I Saw Three Ships, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, One More Year. Recorded live at the Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria, on December 21, 2000.

Customer Reviews

There's lots of echo but where's Charlotte ??????
This DVD is simply a big disappointment. You don't have to read any more.

Sony Classical worked hard to make sure Charlotte Church only sings two songs even though they promote her name heavily with this DVD.

Sony Classical also worked hard to put in as much echo as possible. No doubt because Vanessa Williams and Tony Bennett need all the help they can get. That echo spoils the little singing that Charlotte does and it spoils all of Placido's singing. Maybe Sony Classical thinks that this sound track should be played with heavy echo on $... boom boxes.

What a great missed opportunity for Sony Classical to have Placido Domingo and Charlotte Church sing a few christmas carols together on a DVD without distortion.

There's obviously a lot of reasons why this DVD is now being heavily discounted. Sadly, it's just a big rip off.

Very Enjoyable
I just watched this DVD and can't begin to understand why such poor reviews. Let me preface this by saying that I know nothing about the nuances of music or sound quality. I'm an average Joe would would normally choose watching football over a Christmas concert. I found this presentation to be very enjoyable. Having four talented people from very different backgrounds performing together was an absolute treat. Don't buy into the 1 star reviews by snobby Opera geeks. I believe that most people will find it to be very well done moving.

Deserves Higher Reviews - Great Holiday Music
This VHS video and stereo sound are high quality. Church and Domingo are just terrific. Bennett is off a little, but still gives an excellent performance. You will be able to watch and listen to the video again and again. There are over 20 great holiday songs performed live. So much great music is offered including a children's choir. Vanessa Williams does a solid job.