Editorial Review:

Description:
An enchanting musical performance, set beneath the stars in the breathtaking Moorish heart of medieval Spain. Captured in concert in September 2006, singer/composer Loreena McKennitt leads viewers through the multi-textured landscapes of her catalog, from traditional Celtic ballads to literary narratives and highlights from her latest recording, An Ancient Muse.



Filmed in rich HDTV, Nights from the Alhambra evokes the otherworldly magic of Granada's palace of dreams, the fiery and inspired performances of a stellar cast of supporting musicians and, of course, the unforgettable voice and songs of Loreena McKennitt herself. The package includes the complete footage on DVD and 2 separate audio CDs that encompass the complete evening.

Amazon.com:
After nearly a decade off the scene, Loreena McKennitt returned to the performance and recording stage in 2006 and 2007. The Canadian singer picked up exactly where she left off, traveling through the Celtic-Middle Eastern fusions she explored on The Book of Secrets with her latest studio album, An Ancient Muse. Now, with momentum behind her, she's released a DVD document of her performance at Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. This is the same performance that has been running on PBS station pledge drives for the last year, but with a double CD included. McKennitt's renditions of songs from An Ancient Muse and her earlier albums are impeccable. As she is something of a perfectionist, there isn't much deviation from the original studio versions, but McKennitt is in fine voice and the band gets to rave it up a few times on tracks like 'The Bonny Swans,' where violinist Hugh Marsh and guitarist Brian Hughes trade increasingly frantic leads. This is an expanded group for McKennitt, with players from England, Greece, and the Middle East playing oud, dumbek, kanoun, hurdy-gurdy, duduk, and other ancient sounds from the British Isles to Turkey. The advantage of this edition of the Alhambra performance over that seen on PBS is that we're spared McKennitt's earnest and precious interstitials, talking about the location and her inspirations while slowly running her hands over Celtic carvings. But if you want it, that version of the performance is also on the DVD, as the commentary track. The CDs wisely drop even the between-song patter, which is fine, but not something to sit through on repeated listenings. Although the performance is beautifully, if conventionally filmed, and it's great to see this virtuoso band playing in communion, it's ultimately McKennitt's songs themselves that brim with visual imagery as she creates her ancient evocations as effectively on the concert stage as she does in the studio. --John Diliberto









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• No Journey's End
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• The Book of Secrets
• Nights from the Alhambra - (Jewel 2 CD + DVD)
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Rating: - * Loreena is great ... This is a great album for my collection. I am not impressed with the recording but overall 2CD and a DVD is great for the price. Please note the CD is the same live performance of the show not the studio recording. Rating: - * Kevin - New Zealand ... Loreena McKennitt played live in NZ about 10 years ago and it was one of the most amazing concerts I have ever been to. This DVD / CD combo is a must for all fans. Wonderful entertainment. Rating: - * Stunning video and superb music ... I am a long-time fan of Loreena, having all of her previous volumes, and even a few songs on speed dial, so it was with great anticipation I awaited this, her first album since her fiancee's death. As with her many previous works, the music is utterly superb and the video was a visual treat. For those of you who are fans, this is a must-have. For those of you who like good Celtic music, this is a must-have. For those of you who love the music of angels, this is an absolute must-have. Take the time and spare the money to get it. You will not be disappointed. Rating: - * Awesome! ... When I first heard the CD's it was readily apparent that the instrumental accompaniment was much richer. But Loreena's voice is just as dazzlingly beautiful and enchanting as ever. However, when I watched the DVD - I was absolutely blown away! The interaction of all on stage is phenomenal. You can see and feel the energy riding the musical currents that were created that night. It is an awesome DVD and any who have only heard the CDs - I emphatically encourage you to get and watch/listen to the DVD. Totally amazing! Rating: - * Fantastic! ... This concert brings together several other performances. It was so good, I had to order another copy to share with my sister and her husband - the variety of instruments was fascinating. Definitely worth the price (twice!)