The Little Mermaid [Blu-ray]

A modern masterpiece
Dance theater at its best. Beautifully filmed with great sensitivity to the complex and multi-layered choreography. John Neumeier is a force of nature and this ballet is perhaps one of his very best. Very few, if any, choreographers today are able to sustain a 2 hour story-based ballet, while creating a self-contained universe on stage that brings the audience to an overwhelming emotional climax - as it is the case with this great work of art. His commission of a brand new musical score that is able to sustain and enhance the emotional impact of the choreography so organically was a stroke of genius. This is the future of dance theater and without a doubt a modern masterpiece.

Simply amazing!!!! I loved it!!!
Absolutely love this DVD!! I saw this production live in San Francisco War memorial Opera House about a year and half ago, and really enjoyed it. Finally I get to have the DVD. Yay!!! The principal ballerina Yuan Yuan Tan is truly amazing, and role fits her perfectly. It seemed as if the role was created just for her!!!! I really wish to see more of her DVDs as I no longer live in San Francisco, but really want to see her dance. The entire cast was just as wonderful. The camera work was great, and the costumes were colorful and creative. This is definitely a DVD or blue-ray to own. I'm also thinking about buying a Blue-ray as well since sometimes DVDs wear out over years of playing, and the edition could be out of print by then. I would like to keep this production in my library forever.



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Kinshasa Symphony [Blu-ray]

The joy of creating music
Kinshasa Symphony is an amazing film about the challenges of building one of the most complex systems in human cooperation in one of the most chaotic cities in the world - a symphonic orchestra and choir in Kinshasa, DR Congo. It is about Kinshasa and the daily lives of its people, it is about making something work with very little, it is about the joys of rehearsing and performing Beethoven's Ninth and other classical music. Anyone who has ever played in an orchestra or sung in a choir, anyone who has ever been to Africa or is interested in Africa, anyone who has faced challenges with little on hand will greatly enjoy this movie.

Inspiration Beyond Words
This truly remarkable documentary about the Democratic Republic of the Congo's sole symphony orchestra powerfully depicts the collective challenges facing the 16-year-old organization of amateur, mostly self-taught musicians, including: internal and external wars, widespread sexual violence, poverty, disease and famine. The filmmakers balance this overall perspective with a sharp focus on a half-dozen individual musicians whose dedicated efforts to sustain and improve their artistry while struggling to make a living are representative of all 200 members. What the film does best, however, is capture the pure, transforming joy of creating music, no matter the circumstances or setting. To their credit, the filmmakers never preach or try to manipulate the viewer's emotions; they simply let the strength and resilience and ambition of the musicians speak for itself. Their collective story is heartbreaking, eye-opening, surreal, often funny and profoundly uplifting.

Amazing
If you want a blessing this is it. If you want to learn gratitude for what you have this is your lesson. If you want to be amazed by passion and ingenuity and a sense of community come visit people who live and think outside the box and make music of it.

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