Il Divo, Encore; For Those Who Can't Get Enough

My wife and I went to an Il Divo Concert last week. This was something my wife wanted, she got, but I suppose she still felt she didn't get enough of this good looking and talented foursome. I don't understand it, she has me at home. Anyways, A couple of days later she purchased this DVD that she promptly put in our player.

Three Parts

This DVD gives the viewer footage of five live recorded songs set in the Teatro Romano de Merida in Spain, one hour of interviews of the four men and a third section including two songs with video.

The title for this first section is

Il Divo In Merida

The songs included

Si Tu Me Amas
Isabel
O Holy Night
Heroes
All By Myself (Solo Otra Ves)

These are filmed very well, clear sharp and with artistic flair, especially as compared to the video on their Il Divo Dual Disc CD that includes a DVD side with some live performances.

The camera work in this the Encore DVD is excellent making smooth transitions from distant shots showing the grandeur of the arena to moving in close and personal. Il Divo fans will love these head shots.

The choice of songs here are excellent. They are easy to listen to and well recorded. I happen to love Si Tu Me Amas and their rendition of O Holy Night is glorious. It's also wonderful listening to familiar songs such as All By Myself (Solo Otra Ves) in another language.

Il Divo Revealed

This part of the DVD is a 1 hour documentary that includes interviews with all four members and also their creator, Simon Cowell of American Idol fame. No he didn't create the men but he did put the concept together.

It was very interesting listening to his words. One of his quotes mentions. He likes and appreciates the male voice and that of opera but he would like to find records "I would like to buy, songs I could understand and appreciate instead of some dead German, classical-heavy that I couldn't get my head around."

His method of making his dream happen was

"It's very simple, have four great singers with bags of charisma and charm. It's as simple as that."

Simon also says, "If something is good it works everywhere". That's one of the reasons he wanted an international group and the different languages. He knew a good product would sell well around the world. Simon's one smart turkey. I couldn't believe the reception these guys received when the curtain opened at Radio City Music Hall last week! The gals were screaming and the guys were just as interested.

He continues on throughout the interview discussing each man and what he felt that performer brought to this group. The four singers also give their feelings including some misgivings of the thought of a pop/opera group. It seems they got past that block.

The four men who make up the group are...

David Miller an American from Colorado, born in San Diego, a Tenor.
Sebastien Izambard is from France another Tenor.
A Spaniard,
Carlos Marin is the lone baritone and the last of the group is
Urs Buhler from Sweden another tenor.

Each is given a good amount of time to talk. All this is filmed in both black and white (which looks terrific in the theatre surroundings) and in colour.

More clips of songs are given in this section including another full view of O Holy Night with different camera work and others songs too.

They did piece with Celine Dion and a video clip of them live with her is also on the tapes. It's short and just a tease.

Plus

Regressa A Mi Video and
Mama Video.

Both were well done but I'll save the description so anyone looking for more information and footage of Il Divo will have something to look forward to. I did like that they were filmed in the streets of small town Europe.

Final Thoughts

The best part of this DVD for me was the interviews that were mixed in with many songs and clips of songs. It was very enlightening to listen to Simon Cowell's thoughts of music and this particular group. Any Il Divo fans will just love the "up close and personal" filming and dialog of David, Sabastien, Urs and Carlos. I believe fans will also enjoy listening to their individual thoughts on what would make a good second album (they already recorded it at the time it's discussed) and where the future will take them.

Unless these four guys break up to pursue their own dreams, I believe this group can do well for a very long time. I believe their fans hope so too.


Il Divo [DualDisc] - Il Divo A 13 song album with more live video