Review of Charlotte Church in Jerusalem

Introduction

Ever so often, low-rent DVD reviewers have to atone for their many sins against the public by reviewing a Charlotte Church DVD. And since I don’t apologize for my many unpopular pet hates (The Matrix, Gladiator, The Mummy etc) being given this task seems a fitting punishment. Fair enough, suffice to say that my knowledge of all things soprano (um, is she even a soprano?) stretches to my only recently acquired knowledge that a bassoon isn’t a breed of deep-voiced mountain gorilla. However, it has to be said, this is like giving an improvisational jazz record to The Spice Girls for a critical appreciation. So, on the assumption that this review is dead before it even begins, lets charge on into the abyss.

Video

Good non-anamorphic print, a but grainier than one might expect, and heavy-wattage blue spot-lights have the effect of strobing fuzzy blue smears across the screen. Still, the frequent lip-warbling from Miss Church is, well widescreen (which is either a promise or a threat given your tolerance for such things.)

Audio

Thankfully, the Dolby 5.1 is rich and crisp, so you can listen to Ms. Church blow an octave `till your heart`s content. The high standard we would expect from a concert disc is certainly fulfilled. No complaints here.

Features

Pittance. Brief photo gallery, a rather involved discography as well as a comprehensive song selection variety on the chapter search. Its worrying when the most substantial extra feature is a music video for ‘Dream a Dream’, which features the usual unimaginative recording studio setting, shot in B/W and badly degrained video for that ‘gritty’ feel. Many shots of Charlotte looking in turn: boisterous, thoughtful, smiling and laughing. “She’s just an ordinary girl!” they all cry.

Conclusion

An eclectic palette of music at least, many of which even the most unacquainted listener will at least recognize: Verdi, Bizet, Bach, even Andrew Lloyd Webber for Christ’s sake! But this disc is fairly slim pickings even for the dedicated follower: The opening credo (and occasional reprisals) of Charlotte wandering apathetically around the back-streets of Jerusalem sampling the local aura is a cynical attempt to set the scene which fails to capture any of the atmosphere of an ancient culture.

The running time is sparse given the price (a mere 49 minutes) and we are treated to no background on the city, the music and a mere citation of brief historical facts to white-wash the beautiful setting of the concert itself (The Tower of David). More strangely, the input from Ms. Church is minimal, save the occasional garbled aside to camera or pandering sycophantic comment to the audience. She comes off as cold, ineffectual and not even vaguely enthusiastic.

Indeed, we’re left with the distinct impression that the Holy Land should be humbled that a transcendental being like Charlotte Church would bless them with her presence. Such insane ramblings aside, this is pastoral, unfussy stuff for fans of this sort of thing, which, if it hadn’t veered into ‘easy listening’ territory before now, its certainly dived head-first with this blank, passionless feat. Still, it seems hard to believe that this kind of concert footage adds anything to the experience of the music, and as a result, I offer this simple advice: Buy a CD and save some money.