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Chess in Concert | 
| Director: Hugh Wooldridge
Actors: Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, David Bedella
Studio: Reprise Records
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $12.40
as of 3/11/2010 18:51 WIT details
You Save: $7.58 (38%)
Seller: deep_discount_dvd_cd
Rating:  70 reviews
Format: Color, DVD, Explicit Lyrics, Live, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 145 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: 517636
UPC: 075993999242
EAN: 0075993999242
Theatrical Release Date: June 16, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Genre: Music Video: Concerts
Rating: NR
Release Date: 16-JUN-2009
Media Type: DVD
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 70
 Chess in Concert June 18, 2009
RSM (Pittsburgh, PA)
11 out of 14 found this review helpful
I watched "Chess in Concert" last night as PBS featured it on "Great Performances." I imiagine that I will now have to purchase both the DVD (Since I don't imagine it will ever be turned into a regular feature film) and the CD, which will be the third different version in my collection.
I fell in love with the show when I first heard the original concept album with Murray Head, Elaine Paige and others back in 1984 when it was first released, and it is still the version I listen to most. I saw the original Broadway cast featuring David Carroll and Judy Kuhn in one of its 48 performances at the Imperial Theater in NYC. That production was very underrated and should have run much longer, but it was the same season that NYC got "The Phantom of the Opera" which swept the Tony Awards. When David Carroll sang "Anthem" to end Act I, he had the audience out of their seats cheering and applauding even before the song was finished, something I only saw one other time (Jennifer Holliday's "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from "Dreamgirls"). I also saw a nice production of it by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in the 90s. One can only imagine what it would have been like had Michael Bennett not become ill and having to withdraw from staging it...Trevor Nunn did it instead.
Which brings us to this version of "Chess in Concert." As Tim Rice explains at the beginning, it has been a work-in-progress, and they have tightened up the book quite a bit, keeping the best of the songs on both of the CDs I do have. The plotlines regarding Global TV were not there originally which give the character of Freddy more to do in Act II. However, the Broadway version had a slightly different ending regarding the Soviets' release of Florence's father who supposedly had been imprsoned since the 1956 Hungarian uprising--they gave her an old man who turned out not to be her dad at all. This version leaves it up in the air at the end.
There have now been reprises put in which were not there at first, as well as a couple of new songs I previously did not know. The performances here are quite fine, with Idina Menzel being the standout as Florence. Her character now has the weight of that of Anatoly, which makes the romance between them more plausible. Josh Groban as Anatoly does well in his acting debut, and Adam Pascal is good as well.
And the staging of some of the big numbers ("The Story of Chess," "The Merchandisers," and "Bangkok/One Night in Bangkok") is excellent, given the concert setting, using the choir and dancers effectively.
Anyone who is into this show will want to purchase the DVD for their collection, as well as the audio CD.
A worthy Chess August 6, 2009
Ellen Rosewall (DePere, WI USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been a fan of Chess since I was lucky enough to perform in the chorus of a concert version in the 80s. It's a musical that never caught on as a stage version, but has had life in various concert versions in Europe and the U.S. I'm so glad that Tim Rice, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus never gave up on this piece. As Tim Rice says in the intro, this time they finally got it right. The story is enhanced and tightened for post-Cold war audiences, and the traditional concert version showcases the chorus and orchestra but adds just enough staging, dance and costuming to make a compelling and moving production.
The highlight (and surprise!) of this production is Josh Groban. I've never been a fan of his classic-pop singing, but in this production, he displays a much wider range of acting and even singing ability. The score requires him to use a wide vocal and dramatic range and he makes the most of every second, especially the powerful "Anthem," which brings down the house and deserves to become a musical theater classic. Kerry Ellis is stunning in the relatively small part of Svetlana, and Adam Paschal makes one of the most difficult roles in musical theater look easy. His big number, "Pity the Child," is often called "Pity the Singer" because of its difficulty, yet he pounds it out with ease and dramatic gusto. Although others have found Idina Menzel's performance irritating at times (and I admit, her voice could cut through glass), she acts the role of Florence with complexity and has much more subtlety in her voice than many give her credit for.
Do this show a favor and spend some time with it. It has much more meat than most musical theater and will give you pleasure on every viewing.
I'm a purist, and this was better than the original December 12, 2009
D. Ricci (Texas)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I love Broadway musicals. I love them in their original form. I winced when the changed the lyrics in Oklahoma and deleted songs in The King And I for the sake of movie audiences. Don't mess with the original, that's my creed.
I have to find a new creed. This concert version of Chess messed with the lyrics, added songs, moved songs and changed the plot of one of my favorite musicals of all times. And I'm thrilled. It was a masterful retelling of the original story. Almost every change, every expansion, every redirection helped the story. My one minor quibble was that they sang *Endgame* before the game was over. But that was minor. The filler, the backstory, even the moving *The Story of Chess* to the beginning of the show were all moves that were beneficial to the show.
Chess has always been a bit of a Broadway oddity, with it's unconventional plot and occasional oddly arhthmic song. It is hard to understand unless you read the synopsis carefully. It's dated too, being a product of the Cold War. But those problems were swept away by the masterful rewrites and edits. Yeah, I missed a favorite line or two, but the ones that replaced them were just as good, probably better than the originals.
And no doubt they brought the top talent to this piece. Groban and Menzel nailed every note and sang with emotion and lungpower. Adding a bit more grist for the Soviet wife and inventing the role of the Broadcaster were not just filler. They were sweetners. I knew the musical back to front, but now, I understand it better. If you are a fan of Chess or of Brodway at its best, I recommend this in my most enthusiastic terms. If you can watch it without tears, you are a better man than me.
Outstanding visual and musical performance December 19, 2009
Stacy Thompson (Indiana, Texas and Florida)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Chess has been my favorite musical show for more than 20 years; but, have never seen it perfored. Gained so much more understanding of the complexities of the show by being able to see and hear with words shown as subtitles. Been watching it over and over several times to enjoy even more. Liked this presentation so much that I bought 6 copies to give out as holiday gifts to people that I want to share with.
For 'Chess' lovers December 28, 2009
CWT
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you love the show Chess with its great musical score and wish it would come back to Broadway, this is for you! There are a bunch of new songs as well as the classics from the original show. Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Adam Pascal are fantastic! This is absolute 'must buy' for all the Chess lovers out there!!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 70
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