Musical crossovers by classical and popular artists are not all that unusual, but this concert presents a true mash-up. Recorded live in the summer of 2016 in Budapest, the show features the orchestra and chorus of the Hungarian State Opera conducted by Randall Craig Fleischer, along with solo violinist David Aaron Carpenter, performing in tandem with a rock band led by keyboardist Henry Aronson and solo vocalists Rob Evan, Ximena Borges, Chloe Lowery, Carrie Manolakos, Kimberly Nichole, and Tony Vincent. Rocktopia is divided into six segments—labeled Creation/Birth, Adolescence, Dreams, Amore, Social Responsibility, and The Human Condition. Each features brief excerpts from a classical piece—including the famous opening salvo from Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra and the “Ode to Joy” from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, along with others by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Berlioz, Handel, Tchaikovsky, and Copland—that segue into performances of classic rock songs by The Who (“Baba O'Riley”), Styx (“Come Sail Away”), Elton John (“Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me”), Heart (“Alone”), and more by Aerosmith, U2, Patti Smith, Foreigner, Pink Floyd, and Journey. The emphasis throughout is on the pop rock, with the classical snippets given relatively short shrift, and listeners will be divided as to whether the concept actually represents the “(R)evolution” being advertised. But there is no doubt that the performance is visually spectacular, and the enthusiastic response of the live audience certainly suggests that this sort of musical fusion possesses appeal. Presented in 5.1 surround sound, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette. A strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)
Rocktopia: Live in Concert from Budapest
(2016) 78 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. ISBN: 978-1-62789-907-9. Volume 32, Issue 5
Rocktopia: Live in Concert from Budapest
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