This release is by far my favorite of Björk's "Live DVD Series," not only because it is the only one with the option of DD 5.1, but because of the beautiful photography, great sound fidelity, and above all, the music itself. Björk herself mentions in the documentary Miniscule, part of which is included on this DVD, that some of these live performances on the Vespertine tour surpassed even those on the studio album. Director David Barnard really soared above and beyond with his coverage of the concert in one of the world's most famous and beautiful of venues.
Vespertine follows Björk’s award-winning role in the 2000 film Dancer in the Dark, in which she plays a tragically pained woman who escapes her tortuous life through her music. Vespertine definitely reflects this in its euphoric and dreamlike soundscapes of microbeats and sound sampling. Performed live at the Royal Opera House, Vespertine lends itself well to the idyllic location.
The Dolby Digital 5.1 mix (engineered by Tom Lazarus and Valgeir Sigurdsson) of the concert appropriately separates the wide spectrum of sounds presented throughout the live performance. The mix isn’t without flaws as there is a subtle hiss through some of the concert, and occasional background noise one might expect from a live recording such as mics being readjusted mid-performance. Overall, the sound is a remarkable leap from the flat and indiscriminately loud stereo option.