5/5 The Three Tenors Christmas(Christmas Classics-The Yule Edition
  by Janie M. Neal (La Crescenta, CALIFORNIA, US)
I gave this DVD to one of my best friends and she said "that this was one of the best christmas gifts that she had ever gotten!" She really loved the fireplace and had it on for hours at a time:)

5/5 "Yule Log Kitsch + Glorious Christmas Music", What's Not to Love?
  by Julie S.C.Y,
I really enjoy the whole "Yule Log on Christmas Day" idea accompanied by Christmas music. But (1) the television stations do not always show it and (2) Christmas music is of uneven quality, at best. Sometimes you have many songs that you would not choose yourself. And, (3) last year my local station did the Yule log combined with a radio station--meaning there were commercials throughout.

So the first thing this dvd offers is the Yule log burning in the fireplace--and it fit widescreen format perfectly.(There are two alternative views).

But, of course, what is so wonderful about this is the music. This is the same repertoire of Christmas songs, same recording, as the "Three Tenors Christmas". Since I just saw it yesterday (PBS pledge drive), I think it is actually improved by not seeing them and just hearing them instead.

Why? First because some of the close-ups are a bit...distracting. Also, because if you have company over it is easy for them to just start WATCHING the concert instead of just listening to the music. It is nice background for Christmas morning gift-opening--or for Christmas morning clean-up (I'm on my second hearing already).

Also, some of the problems with the concert itself (notably, Pavarotti's struggles with lyrics at times) are much less noticeable--even just charming--here. The tenors blend seamlessly this way--there are no distractions of performance to disturb the vocal pleasures.

And the music is the same 21 songs as in the dvd, just in a different order (beinning here with Carol of the Drum/O Holy Night--a lovely start). It ends, like the dvd, with the spirited rendition of Feliz Navidad. (I really enjoy the blending of English - French - Spanish - Italian - German lyrics on so many songs--and how they work around Pavarotti's lack of French and German--and struggles with English--so that it's really not a problem and does not in any way distract from his assured tone and delivery. (Domingo, of course, is fluent and sings beautifully in all five, while Carreras brings both delicacy and fervor to whatever he is called on to perform.)

I think this is the best Yule Log edition and would make a wonderful Christmas gift. Hopefully, it will not be quickly discontinued as some others have. It the perfect Christmas/Christmas eve treat. Highly recommended.