Taste of the Arts, Vol. 2 (2002)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Rating: NR

Anamorphic: Yes

My Advice: Rent it, at the very least.

The second volume of Taste of the Arts includes bits of the finest artistic programs and performances. There are portions of orchestra performances, operatic arias, even snippets of ballet. You'll hear the incomparable Hilary Hahn play Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4, hear Judith Howard sing Poulenc's Stabat Mater, and see the Royal Ballet dance part of Stravinsky's popular The Firebird, among many other performances--twenty-two segments in all. It is also important to note that the final five selections on the disc are all from the Royal Opera House, a justifiably respected center for music and dance. What could be simply a mercantile sampler of the BBC's art wares is actually a delightful compilation of the best of dance and music.

The audio and video quality are as fine as they need to be for such an ambitious DVD. The orchestral performances are especially clear, and viewers will be able to truly appreciate the virtuosity of various sections of the orchestra. Of course, your enjoyment may be limited by the quality of your home theatre system but it won't, at least, be limited by the disc itself. The lighting for the ballet and operatic numbers is also particularly well-done and noteworthy--what works in person for the live performance might not necessarily work for the disc, but these performances are happily enjoyable even at home. While the grandeur and pageantry of an opera, especially, should truly be enjoyed in person, this disc does its level best.

The choice of performances on Taste of the Arts was done skillfully and with an appreciation for audience expectations. Far from pandering to the populist mentality, the disc is, however, aware of what will appeal to general viewers and get them to pay more attention to the arts, as well as what schools are likely to need for their classrooms. Certainly such ballet as A Midsummer Night's Dream and the ubiquitous The Nutcracker will draw audiences, along with Vivaldi's Four Seasons (Summer), but their choice of such musical pieces as Tavener's Fall and Resurrection and Verdi's Falstaff are more ambitious--yet just as valuable and enjoyable. Even viewers who know nothing about opera, classical music, or ballet will be able to appreciate and enjoy the pieces chosen for this disc.

The extras are a bit paltry, however, to say the least. A handy booklet accompanies the disc, telling you from what performance each snippet is taken, as well as how to order the whole thing if you fall in love with a performer or rendition. That's it. The full-length DVDs from which these bits are taken seem to have a few extras each, but this sampler does not--a shame.

All in all, you don't have to be an art snob to love this disk. You'll learn more about the often-scorned media of ballet and opera for certain, but you'll also perhaps see why both artistic modes have so many devoted fans. You'll also be able to revel in the works of some truly fine composers, including Mozart, Vivaldi, and Bach.