Search - James Last: Live at the Royal Albert Hall on DVD

Not The James Last I Know!

Harry V. Spencer | Greensburg, PA | 05/23/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"A disappointment. Only 55 minutes of music. The first half sounds like heavy metal rock-n-roll. The audio is not the usual. The red spotlight(?)colors everything in a dark shade of red. Jumbo TV screen behind performers is very distracting. Audience participation: Three rows of "cheer leaders" in front of stage. If I had paid $100 for front row seats and all I saw was the back sides of these folks trying to be kids again ... I have all the earlier James Last videos and they were fun to watch over and over. This one I fast forwarded thru the first 11 tracks, too loud, too slow. Orange Blossom Special and the Polkas were up to past standards. Interview with James took up the rest of the 77-minute "running time." His accent made him very hard to understand. This was not a problem with the interviews on the earlier James Last tapes. I don't know if the $10 I paid for "Live At The Royal Albert Hall" was worth it."

Great music from a Gentleman of Music

Jay L. Rudko | Pembroke Pines, FL USA | 09/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Music can clearly transcend all languages. James Last has been a driving force in instrumental music for well over 50 years, and he shows no sign of slowing down. This concert, shot in London's Royal Albert Hall in 2007, proves that his love for music, and his fans, knows no bounds. I attended one of his concerts in Germany about 22 years ago, and the formula remains the same. From rock and roll to classical, from lush strings to biting brass, Hansi does it all. His audiences are multigenerational. I saw grandparents, teenagers, and young children, and everyone in between, all having a terrific time with the music. People dancing in the aisles. Everyone singing along. People of all ages having fun. It was an experience I'll remember. This concert featured a fantastic rendition of "Hero", one of my favorite songs, sung by two members of Hansi's chorus. They do it with true feeling. And "Tequila" gets the audience involved. Hansi has a way with that. This program was also filmed for presentation on PBS stations during their fundraising drives. Sadly, the two PBS stations in my area didn't show it.

The DTS surround sound is terrific. I didn't listen to the Dolby Digital track; I prefer DTS for its "high definition" sound. On this disc, it shines. This concert is fun, entertaining, and a great way to introduce Hansi's music to those who still haven't discovered it."