Mariza – Live In London
Picture: B-
Sound: B- Extras: C Concert: B
Portugal has an incredible singing sensation you may not
have heard about. She does not sing in
English and her music is classical in nature.
She is Mariza and the new Live In London DVD shows off what an
incredible and authentic talent she is.
Looking like Aimee Mann, Madonna, Gwen Stefani and Annie Lennox at once,
Mariza belts out 16 tracks with a passion not seen much in American music today. The voice is an instrument here and why she
has not crossed over yet is a mystery to me.
This program came form the BBC and the concert runs about
90 minutes in length, never wearing its welcome. The camera loves Mariza and she is unique among the many female
divas out there today. The
anamorphically enhanced 16 X 9/1.78 X 1 image was shot on High Definition tape
and looks good. The classical hall
setting of Union Chapel (taped March 22, 2003) is perfect for her music and the
great crowd helped. The sound is here
in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and better 5.1 AC-3, but boy did I wish for
DTS. Only the 2.0 sound is available
for the two stylish Music Videos and interview, where she (subtitled) talks
frankly about her art and her home, working with Bjork and much more.
When I was finished watching this, it struck me that I am
one of the first persons in the U.S. to see someone who could easily break wide
internationally at any time. It is
always a privilege to see a great talent ahead of most people and even if she
is never heard of in the U.S. on a big scale (which would be a pity), she is
bound to be an influence somehow, so you should definitely catch Mariza -
Live In London because she is that good.
I can’t wait for more.
- Nicholas Sheffo
