Anyone with a love of dance music from the 1920s and 1930s performed in authentic style will enjoy this 2006 outdoor concert at the Waldbühne in Berlin, featuring German singer Max Raabe and his Palast Orchestra, which he founded in the 1980s. The group—consisting of 12 instrumentalists—perform 32 numbers (mostly German pop songs from the Weimar Republic era, but also a number of American tunes, such as “Cheek to Cheek”) before a huge appreciative audience. The music is irresistible and the performances impeccable: Raabe's voice, with its slightly nasal tone, sounds as if it were emanating from period radio speakers, while the players—especially the trumpeters and saxophonists—are not only in complete synch, but add an air of high society elegance with their tuxes and tails. There's even a touch of humor as Raabe introduces each number with sly remarks and a theatrically haughty mien. Presented with superb sound (including DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, and PCM stereo options) and excellent camerawork, DVD extras include footage of the group touring in Japan, New York, and Rome. A must for nostalgia buffs, but witty enough to win over general audiences as well, this is highly recommended. Aud: P. (F. Swietek)
Max Raabe & Palast Orchester
(2006) 115 min. DVD: $24.99 (booklet included). EuroArts (dist. by Naxos of America). Volume 23, Issue 2
Max Raabe & Palast Orchester
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: