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| Director: Hugh Wooldridge
Actors: Josh Groban, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, David Bedella
Studio: Reprise Records
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $12.19
as of 7/30/2010 07:19 CDT details
You Save: $7.79 (39%)
Seller: -importcds
Rating:  76 reviews
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Running Time: 145 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: WEAD517636D
UPC: 075993999242
EAN: 0075993999242
Theatrical Release Date: 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 76
 Brilliant! February 10, 2010
C. Gruman-Trinkner (Wisconsin)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
What do you get when you take several of the most gifted singer/actors in the world and have them sing one of the most beautiful scores ever written in concert at the Royal Albert Hall? This wonderful version of Chess in concert. Grobin, Menzel, Pascall and cast are stellar. I use this dvd in class to teach my singer/actors how to stage, how to sell a song, and simply as excellent entertainment. This is a must have for anyone who loves musical theatre.
Chess is simply one of the best! June 12, 2009
Josh's Grobanite (Wisconsin)
18 out of 25 found this review helpful
As a Grobanite, I must admit that I mainly bought this DVD because of Josh Groban's involvement in it, but that is not to say that the other performers don't deserve credit for a fantastic, very well done show! Chess In Concert is nothing short of an amazing production! Everything from the costumes to the props to the amazing cast pulls you into the story and keeps you there until the very last curtain call. As Anatoly Sergievsky, Josh Groban's performance is nothing short of amazing. He owned the role throughout the show, and he made it all his own. Idina Menzel and Kerry Ellis are given a glorious moment to shine during a duet of "I Know Him So Well". Josh Groban's heart-wrenching version of "Anthem" literally brings me to tears. There are simply too many shining moments in this production to list them all here, but this is one DVD that no Grobanite or theatre lover should be without. I wasn't there to see this one personally, but the immense special effects and the sheer power of the performers' voices made me feel like I actually was.
Chess is one of those shows that grabs you from the first moment of Act One, and doesn't let you go until the curtain has fallen at the very end!
I am so glad I bought this DVD, and I know you will be too!
Magnificent, Stunning June 22, 2009
James T. Wheeler (TUCSON, AZ United States)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
The 2008 production of "Chess in Concert" is a masterpiece in my view. Moreover, it contains my favorite score of music ever composed for the stage. For someone like me who loved the original production back in 1984, it's like an old friend coming back to life. No, we don't have the sexy little blonde, Elaine Paige, to hit all the high notes with ease but we have a lot of other things.
Anyone who views the storyline of "Chess" as trivial is simply wrong. I remember back in 1972, when Bobby Fischer beat the Russians and the chess world was sent tumbling. Even a person with no interest in chess could sense how the Soviet mystique was shattered.
16 years later, the USSR collapsed and the West had won the cold war. Bobby Fischer may have flipped out later on and embarrassed himself but he did his part in helping mankind survive. In January, 2008, he died in Reykjavik, Iceland, the place where he won his world title. Rest in peace, Bobby.
Back on "Chess in Concert," Tim Rice says "after 25 years we may finally be getting it right." My wife and I agree. What Sir Tim and his collaborators have given us are 2 ½ hours of one great song after another, joined to a now-coherent story, and beautiful visual effects. It all builds to a stirring conclusion that surpassed all our expectations.
The show has everything--drama, humor, dance, visuals, music, and some of the best lyrics anywhere. If critics continue to say that it's too cerebral that's their problem. I think I know when something's good and this is very good indeed.
Which songs do we love most? Are they the lively ones, like "One Night in Bangkok?" "The Arbiter?" Or, the playful witty pieces like "Merano?" "The Diplomats Lament?" "The Merchandisers?" "A Model of Decorum and Tranquility?"
Then what about the moving ballads? "Where I Want to Be?" "Heaven Help My Heart?" "Anatoly's Anthem?" "I Know Him So Well?" "Someone Else's Story?" "You and I?"
Even the rough-edged numbers like, "Nobody's Side," "Difficult and Dangerous Times," and "Pity the Child" are dramatic and memorable. Pick a favorite or high point? You make the call. I certainly can't. There's so much here that the uninitiated might want to view Act 1 the first night and save Act 2 for another time.
Comparing this cast and performances to those of 25 years ago is not easy. There still is a lot to recommend the 1984 cast and staging. Nevertheless, the new version has Josh Groban; he is a marvel in his role as Anatoly, the defecting Russian. The range and power of Josh's voice are well-suited to his part.
Did Idina Menzel make us forget Elaine Paige? Maybe not. But Idina has a big voice, too, and fine stage presence. To me, she holds her own in the comparison. My wife and I see the role of Florence as key to the whole show. Idina carries it off beautifully.
Well into Act 2, Kerry Ellis appears as Anatoly's estranged wife Svetlana and almost steals the show. Her rendition of "Someone Else's Story" is as moving a song on lost love as we've ever heard. Later on, Kerry sings a duet with Idina in "I Know Him So Well." Would someone help me to my feet?
There are several other cast members worthy of note, including Adam Pascal as Freddie, the American champion; Clarke Peters as Walter, the West's impressario; David Bedella, as Molokov, the Russian head man; and Marti Fellow, as the Arbiter. They all turn in fine performances.
We also have the western diplomats, the marvelous dancers, the 50-piece orchestra, and the 100-person choir. Masterful coordination is done by the director, Hugh Wooldridge and David Firman, the conductor. Yes, Sir Tim, you've got it right.
At 2 hours and 15 minutes into the program, my wife and I were exhausted. (Who knows how the cast was able to keep going?) I couldn't imagine musical theater getting any better. But then the finale came with Josh and Idina singing "You and I" at the top of their lungs while holding hands. Wow, is all I can say.
To our surprise, PBS did a broadcast of "Chess in Concert" the day before the DVD was released. For those who might have recorded the program off TVa question might be why buy the DVD? Answers include widescreen format and the ease of a) adding Subtitles, b) invoking SurroundSound, c) navigating to favorite songs, and d) reading end credits.
Video transfer of this DVD concert is impeccable. Nevertheless, more "making of" interviews and features would be nice. Maybe those will come with a Collector's Edition? If so, we might hear from the Swedish geniuses, Benny Anderson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. Without them there'd be no ABBA music, no "Mamma Mia," and no "Chess in Concert."
Is "Chess in Concert" perfect? No. Why Sir Tim Rice would throw in an "F--- You," from the American to the Russian toward the end was vulgar and out-of-place. But I'm giving this work five (5) stars for all its grand design, innumerable classic songs, choral and instrumental accompaniment, choreography, and stunning visual effects. At twice its current price, this DVD is a real bargain.
Simply amazing! June 19, 2009
C. Aguilar (FL, USA)
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
I saw the Actor's fund production of Chess in Concert in 2003, and this production is a VAST improvement, not only in the production value, but also in the story line. The cast was, for the most part, amazing!! Adam Pascal was born to play Freddy, the arrogant American champion. Josh Groban was superb as Anatoly, the level headed an subdued Russian champion. David Bedella was great as Molokov, and Kerry Ellis was also wonderful as Svetlana. But unfortunately, this is where the good moves as far as casting stop. Marti Pellow was fine as the arbiter, but in comparison to the amazing Raul Esparza (who played the arbiter in the one night Actor's fund performance), Pellow was just ok. I know Idina Menzel is a superstar of the stage and she was phenomenal as Elpheba. However, she did NOTHING in the role of Florence, she was for me, the biggest dissapointment of this production. Her acting was mediocre at best. After watching it, I wished that Kerry Ellis had been given the part of Florence instead. Josh Groban did a better job at acting and he practically has no acting experience. I was even disappointed in Idina's singing. I think "Nobody's Side" is a great song and it should be powerful, but her version of it was just cold, no fire...it just fell flat. Other than that, the music in Chess is always fantastic and it didn't disappoint. The orchestra and the choir were incredible!! The vocal stand outs in my opinion were Josh Groban and Kerry Ellis. The performance of `Anthem' and `Where I want to be' by Groban, literally gave me chills. Kerry's "Someone else's story" was great!!! I think Tim Rice did an amazing job at reworking the book. The show made more sense that it ever has. I think it could be better if a few more lines of dialogue are added to clarify points and make the story line flow better, but it was really, really great!!!!!!! Overall, this was AMAZING!! I've only seen it on PBS, and I will definitely be buying the DVD!!!!!!!
I LOVE THIS CONCERT! July 9, 2009
JDBruin (California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I must admit I'm a Josh Groban fan (okay, okay, yes, I'm a Grobanite). I am also an ABBA fan from waaaaaay back when. I also happen to love Rent and although I have never seen Wicked, I own the soundtrack. I remember One Night in Bangkok being performed by Murray Head back in the 80's blaring on my car radio often. So, I'm pretty primed for this musical. I enjoyed the concert setting and the bare bones approach to the performance. There was no need for extravagant sets, everything you need for the story to be told was right there on the stage with the musicians, the chorus and the star performers. Josh Groban has admitted in many interviews that I have read that he wanted to do musical theater. With this performance, I'd say he succeeded immensely and I will buy tickets to see him in concert as well as on stage in another musical production like Chess. All the star performers and I do mean ALL the star performers were flawless in their singing and acting. I heartily recommend this to anyone who thinks they may enjoy this. I watched it with a friend who never heard of the show and he was blown away by the concert as well.
Showing reviews 6-10 of 76
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