Wynonna: Live in Venice

Moving even further away from her traditional roots, contemporary country superstar Wynonna (who went solo in 1992 after a solid career with her mother as one-half of The Judds) delivers a foot-tappin' nine-song set of gospel, blues, folk, and country tunes in this all-acoustic entry from the acclaimed Music in High Places music travelogue series. Filmed in natural settings in and around Venice, Italy, Wynonna and her band sing "New Day Dawning," "Change the World," "Somebody to Love You," "My Angel Is Here," and "Only Love," among others, with standouts including a rock-the-piazza rendition of "No One Else on Earth" (performed with Zucchero, introduced here as the Italian Michael Bolton), and a moving rendition of "How Great Thou Art," delivered in the Basilica di San Patronio. Interwoven between (and often overriding) the songs are somewhat repetitive interview clips with Wynonna and scenes of her riding in a gondola or strolling across a square. Fortunately, the extras menu allows viewers to just "play the music," access the expanded 32-minutes of interview footage, and watch the short and unexceptional featurettes "Behind the Scenes" and "Getting There." Fans will bemoan the absence of such hits as "Tell Me Why," "She Is His Only Need," and "I Saw the Light," but this Dolby Digital 5.1 sound enhanced disc serves up some mighty fine alternatives. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)