The latest releases reviewed.
GORILLAZ Demon Days Live Virgin ****
Recorded last November in the Manchester Opera House, Demon Days Live is a superb concert of the award winning second album by the post-rock Brit anime outfit, Gorillaz. The concert featured band members 2D, Murdoc, Russell and Noodle on screen, several live musicians, a small orchestra and a children's choir on stage below, and special appearances by Neneh Cherry, Bootie Brown, De La Soul, Ike Turner, Roots Manuva, Shaun Ryder and Martina Topley Bird (and notable prerecorded appearances by Dennis Hopper and Ibrahim Ferrer). The Gorillaz' first live appearance is a meta-musical extravaganza, an exhilarating mix of kick-ass rock gig and knowing po-mo installation - the DVD also includes a visuals-only version of the show. Produced and designed by Gorillaz co-creators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, this is a unique, ground-breaking combination of music, film, animation and killer songs, including Dare, Dirty Harry and Kids with Guns. www.gorillaz.com
Jocelyn Clarke
VERDI: DON CARLO Soloists: Rolando Villazon, Robert Lloyd, Amanda Roocroft, Dwane Croft, Jaakko Ryhanen, Giorgio Giuseppini; Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly Opus Arte ****
Don Carlo is one of Verdi's most ambitious operas, lasting some four hours in its uncut version. Based on Schiller's play about the Hapsburg emperors in the 16th century, it deals with serious moral issues, including the conflict between duty and passion. While uneven, it does contain some of Verdi's noblest music. In this production from the Netherlands, the young Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon gives a committed and memorable performance in the title role. The set is worth investigating for his performance alone. Of the other soloists, Robert Lloyd is memorable as Philip, while Riccardo Chailly's reading of the score brings out its melodic beauty and subtle colouring. The staging is somewhat gloomy and one-dimensional, but overall this is a fine performance of a moving and complex work. www.opusarte.co.uk
Colman Morrissey
