Kathleen Ferrier - An Ordinary Diva

Customer Reviews:

Not So Ordinary A Diva ..........2004-08-01

Originally broadcast on BBC Television late last year, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Ferrier's death, this is a long overdue documentary tribute to one of the most loved British singers of the last century. This was a difficult task, since there is no known archive footage of Ferrier, save for a brief Dutch newsreel of her arriving at Amsterdam airport and some even briefer home movie footage from a New York party. Added to which, there is the difficulty of finding anyone still alive who actually knew her and could speak, therefore, with any real authority. Given these difficulties, the film maker has managed with some flair to produce a film that captures, with affection, the essence of Ferrier whilst going some way to exploring her enduring appeal. What it doesn't do quite as well is communicate that 'Britishness' of Ferrier nor the atmosphere of post war Britain, of which she was so much a product (A Granta article from some time ago by Ian Jack did that brilliantly as did a marvellous 1968 BBC Omnibus documentary on Ferrier). Extracts from that earlier film are featured in 'An Ordinary Diva'. One major criticism - the use of Patricia Routledge as the voice of Ferrier. This was completely the wrong choice - Routledge (although superb in other respects) gave the film the wrong feel, taking us at times into Alan Bennett comedy territory. Still, a lovely film and worth having on DVD.

Average customer rating:

Poor sound quality

Bach-Johannes Passion
Kings College Choir Cambridge , Stephen Cleobury , The Brandenburg Consort , John Mark Ainsley , and Catherine Bott
Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All Music DVDs | Music DVDs | Categories | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000063W9Q
Release Date: 2002-09-02

Customer Reviews:

Poor sound quality.......2008-02-25

The poor sound quality meant I was unable to watch this through to the end - it was like the sound was emerging from a deep well!

Average customer rating:

Johann Sebastian Bach: Johannes Passion
Stephen Cleobury
Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

German | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00077BPGE
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Average customer rating:

Johannes Passion - Bach [2002]
Starring: John Mark Ainsley , Stephen Richardson , Catherine Bott , Michael Chance , and Paul Agnew
Manufacturer: Quantum Leap
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

German | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000068Q87
Release Date: 2005-05-09

Bach: Johannes Passion (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Average customer rating:

Bach: Johannes Passion (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Stephen Cleobury
Manufacturer: Brilliant/Koch Audio
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 630907427X
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Average customer rating:

Johann Sebastian Bach: Johannes Passion
Bach , Ainsley , Richardson , Bott , and Bleobury
Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

German | World Cinema | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video

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