Petula Clark - Live at the Paris Olympia (2004)

Live has much pleasure.

To be frank, as for me, only "Downtown" knew her song before, and there is little information in Japan.
But I understand her personality with this DVD well, and it becomes a splendid stage.
Besides, back musician supporting her gives a good performance and draws charm of Petula well.
And here is the pleasure that is not provided with a CD of studio recording. August 9, 2007

Exciting and Entertaining

Another great Petula Clark concert on DVD! Two real treats are Que Fais Tu La Petula? and Needles and Pins (in French), and I don't even know what she is saying! But those songs are great. By the end of the concert you can tell Petula is caught up in the audience's enthusiasm and excitement--she does a lot of ad lib shouting. Don't be intimidated by the fact the concert was filmed in France, as I first was, the French dialog has subtitles, over half the songs are in English, the French songs are great, and the overall excitement of all transcends all languanges. Great job!
December 2, 2004

WELL DONE!

What a Beautiful DVD and cd from Petula's Return to Paris in 2003. With a Catlog of French Hits as long if not longer than her US catlog it is a treat to her some of those hits seldom done. However, there is a good sampling of those famous US songs ("DOWNTOWN", "I KNOW A PLACE", "SUBWAY") as well as material from her movies ("Goodbye MR Chips" and "Finian's Rainbow) and her Stage work for the 90's ("Blood Brothers" and "Sunset Blvd") if you have been a Petula Clark all these years I am not telling you anything you don't know......She is Still on top of her game. Don't Miss This Collection. November 18, 2004

"virtuosity & versatility of a long career ~ Petula Clark",

Silva presents one of the greatest pop vocalists of our time "Petula Clark:Live at the Paris Olympia", her concert recorded at the world famous Olympia in Paris...filmed on DVD featuring many of her pop, rock and musicals from stage and films...her performances reaffirms her virtuosity and versatility as interpretation is the name of the game, Petula is right on with all her cues...truly amazing at the young age of seventy.

Entire two hour concert is a winner...Petula lets her hair down with "LOOK TO THE RAINBOW" (from Finian's Rainbow), as Fred Astaire's co-star playing his daughter in the film, "DON'T SLEEP IN THE SUBWAY", very big hit for her career, "I KNOW A PLACE", the audience is rolling in the aisles from the very beginning, "DOWNTOWN", the audience joins in with the lyrics of the tune that started it all for her rise on the Billboard charts...as an inductee into the "Grammy Hall of Fame" her voice is still in great shape...perfect pitch delivery, she still has what it takes to leave the audience begging for more...just the way we like 'em!

Total: 120 mins ~ Silva 7003 ~ (11/09/2004) November 14, 2004

A Magical Evening Captured on DVD

The Petula Clark Live at the Olympia DVD is thrilling & well-worth the one-year wait since the concert. The sound is spectacular and had me cheering, crying, and applauding right along with the audience. It brought back memories of a truly magical evening.

The camera-work and editing are simply amazing. The creative angles and the close focus on her expressions capture the energy and drama of Petula's performance beautifully. The powerful close-up of her hand on Vivre, along with her physical punctuation at the end of the song-wow! Where the Sign of the Times DVD always seemed to go to long shots at the most dramatic moments, here the camera catches Petula's every nuance.

This DVD succeeds at conveying the energy of Petula's performance, as well as its effect on the audience. I loved the way the backstage segment brought us full circle to the beginning of the concert as Petula walked on stage to a standing ovation. It allowed us to see a piece of the Olympia experience from both the audience and Petula's perspectives.

My only regret is the absence of some of the French material from the concert. I really wish Nous étions tous des enfants, Recommancer a Zero, and SOS Mozart had been included. I hope if a version of the DVD is released for the French market that it might have those pieces and some of the other French numbers which were cut.

The Olympia Concert was an experience I will never forget. If you were there, this DVD will bring back all the excitement of that evening. If you were not there, this DVD allows you to experience Petula, the consummate concert performer, at her very best. November 13, 2004

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