Blu-Ray Live Concert Review: Adele--Live At Royal Albert Hall 2011

[Bob Rapoport]

Concert:
Video:
Audio:
Final Score:
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There are concert films you watch for spectacle… and then there are the rare few you watch because they touch something tender inside you. Adele – Live at the Royal Albert Hall is one of those rare ones. It’s a show my wife and I return to often. Every time Adele steps onstage with those expressive eyes, those lashes, and that natural warmth, she reminds you what real musical connection feels like.

This isn’t just a performance — it’s a conversation. Adele doesn’t “perform at” her audience; she sings with them. She laughs, banters, shares stories, and opens her heart in a way that makes a large hall feel like a living room. When the entire audience joins her on “Someone Like You,” you feel the emotional weight of every word. I’ll admit it: that one brings tears every single time.

Two of the biggest highlights for my wife and me are her stunning covers:

• The Cure’s “Lovesong,” transformed from dark romanticism into something beautifully intimate
• Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” delivered with such emotional honesty it ranks among the greatest torch-song moments captured on video

These performances alone justify owning this disc. But the full concert is a journey — heartfelt, funny, raw, and deeply human.

The Artist at a Turning Point​

Filmed in 2011, Adele was already a rising star, but this show captures her before superstardom hardened into myth. She is still loose, unfiltered, and wonderfully real. She shares awkward stories, swears like someone you know, and performs like someone you’ll never forget.

In historical context, this film is a time capsule of Adele’s early brilliance — a reminder that authenticity still wins hearts more than any production trick ever could.

Video Quality​

Shot with multiple cameras in one of the most visually striking concert halls in the world, the Blu-ray presentation is excellent. The lighting design plays beautifully with the Royal Albert Hall’s gilded arches and deep shadows.

• Skin tones look natural
• Close-ups have real detail — especially Adele’s expressive face
• The stage lighting is warm and cinematic
• Wide shots capture the scale of the room without losing clarity

This is a concert that feels alive, not processed.

Audio Quality – DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1​

This is where the disc truly shines.

The 5.1 mix is intimate without being small, dynamic without being aggressive, and emotional without being overwrought. Adele’s voice is captured with startling nuance — breath, texture, and emotional weight all intact.

Highlights of the mix:

• Center channel clarity is outstanding
• Backing vocals envelop the room without smearing
• The band is mixed with precision: piano, bass, and drums all occupy distinct, natural spaces
• Audience participation is captured beautifully but never overwhelms

This is one of the most emotionally honest surround mixes I’ve heard in years.

For audiophiles, there’s plenty to appreciate — transient detail, natural decay, and excellent spatial cues. For their significant others (who may be less impressed by bitrates and imaging), there’s Adele. And that’s enough.

Track List

• "Hometown Glory"
• "I'll Be Waiting"
• "Don't You Remember"
• "Turning Tables"
• "Set Fire to the Rain"
• "If It Hadn't Been for Love" (The Steeldrivers cover)
• "My Same"
• "Take It All"
• "Rumour Has It"
• "Right as Rain"
• "One and Only"
• "Lovesong" (The Cure cover)
• "Chasing Pavements"
• "I Can't Make You Love Me" (Bonnie Raitt cover)
• "Make You Feel My Love" (Bob Dylan cover)
• "Someone Like You"
• "Rolling in the Deep"

Band, Stage, and Atmosphere​

The band is tasteful, supportive, and locked-in. This concert is not about virtuoso displays — it’s about elevating Adele’s voice and storytelling.

The arrangement choices are clever:

• Sparse when needed (“Someone Like You,” “Turning Tables”)
• Full and driving when appropriate (“Rolling in the Deep”)
• Tender and patient (“Make You Feel My Love”)

The Royal Albert Hall audience becomes an active participant — singing, swaying, crying, cheering. Adele’s connection to them is immediate and sincere.

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Emotional Highlights​

There are several, but three stand above the rest:

1. “Someone Like You”​

The emotional apex. Raw, direct, heart-opening. Impossible not to feel it.

2. “I Can’t Make You Love Me”​

Her Bonnie Raitt cover is devastating. A masterclass in restraint and emotional truth.

3. “Lovesong”​

A reimagining that reveals Adele’s ability to reinvent familiar material into something luminous and personal.

These three performances alone make the disc indispensable.

Why This Blu-ray Belongs in Your Library​

While most audiophiles are men, and might gravitate toward rock and blues titles, this concert is one of those universally affecting performances that brings couples together. The emotional impact is undeniable, and the production quality is first-rate.

If your goal is to celebrate what high-fidelity sound can do — how it can make you feel — then this title sits proudly alongside Havana Moon, Concert for George, and your favorite musical landmarks.

This show is a reminder that great audio and video are not just about accuracy — they’re about connection.

And Adele connects.

Final Verdict​

Adele – Live at the Royal Albert Hall is a must-own Blu-ray concert.
It showcases one of the most emotionally compelling artists of our time at her early peak, captured with purity, honesty, and heart.

Whether you’re an audiophile seeking reference-quality sound or simply someone who loves great music and meaningful performance, this Blu-ray will enrich your home library and your life.

Very highly recommended.

Specifications and Features:

The Blu-ray release offers high-definition audio and video, as well as a bonus feature.

• Video:
  
  • Resolution: 1080p/24 or 1080i (varies by release)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.33:1 or 2.35:1 Widescreen
  • Video Codec: MPEG-4 AVC
• Audio:
  
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Lossless
  • LPCM 2.0 Stereo Uncompressed
• Discs: Two-disc set (1 Blu-ray Disc, 1 Audio CD)
• Region: Region A (North America) for many releases, though region-free versions also exist
• Runtime: Approximately 108 minutes for the main concert film
• Special Feature:
  
  • "You, Me and Albert" - A behind-the-scenes documentary (approx. 9 minutes)

"Someone Like You" and "Rolling In The Deep" are the shows finale:

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[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. Will have to check this one out.

 

[Bob Rapoport]

Thanks for the review. Will have to check this one out.

"Lovesong" by The Cure, reimagined.

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[Asere]

Thank you for the review! I may pick this one up. I am curious to see how it sounds plus we love Adele.