Latest releases reviewed

STRAVINSKY: LE ROSSIGNOL
Soloists: Natalie Dessay, Marie McLoughlin, Violetta Urmana. Orchester et Choeurs de l'Opera National de Paris. Conductor: James Conlon
Virgin Classics
*****

Stravinsky composed this fantasy opera to a libretto based on Hans Christian Andersen's Tale of the Nightingale, and it was premiered by Diaghilev in Paris in 1914. This is a delightful DVD in which film-maker Christian Chaudet, marrying technology and art, exploits the potential of the medium of film for realising this fairytale operatic score. Using computer technology and a vocal recording from 1999, his vision calls for the soloists from that recording to act out their parts to computer-generated scenery. This enables an imaginative realisation of the composer's vision, free from any physical constraints, making for a memorable and beautiful film. With singing and acting of the highest order from the original soloists, the result is a visual and aural experience that will linger on in the memory long after viewing and listening. www.virginclassics.com - Colman Morrissey

YELLOWCARD
Lights and Sounds
Parlophone
**

Jacksonville, Florida, must now seem a long way off for Yellowcard, winners of a MTV2 Award and sellers of almost three million records over the past couple of years. The band, riding a large wave caused by the disappearance of Blink 182, come across like nice townies overawed by the success of their records Ocean Avenue and Light and Sounds (this DVD disc is an extra component of the latter). The music is enhanced by what could well be the first extended use of violin in US punk rock (and yes, this is as redundant as it sounds), while the DVD itself is a well filmed but bog standard selection of band-in-studio and making-of footage, videos (Lights and Sound, Down On My Head), band commentary and live tracks (Rough Landing Holly). In other words, nothing new wrapped up in different packaging. www.yellowcardrock.com - Tony Clayton-Lea