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DVD : Valery Gergiev Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev, Schnittke & Stravinsky


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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0014381377927
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: Image Entertainment
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Image Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: July 22, 2003
Running Time: 99 minutes
Sales Rank: 103693
Studio: Image Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2000


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Editorial Review:

Description:
One of music's most sought-after conductors guides you through an outstanding concert of works. Internationally acclaimed as an inspired interpreter of Russian music, Valery Gergiev draws exceptional performances from the orchestra to produce a colorful, vibrant and virtuoso evening of music. Acclaimed Classical Works by Prokofiev (Symphonie Classique, Op. 25), Schnittke (Viola Concerto) and Stravinsky (Firebird). Filmed Live at the 2000 Salzburg Festival

Amazon.com:
All classical-music buffs should find much to appreciate in this captivating record of Valery Gergiev conducting the Viennese Philharmonic Orchestra in an all-Russian night of music at the 2000 Salzburg Festival. The production quality of the disc overall is first rate: from the moment the conductor greets his expectant audience until the last note is sounded, the symphony and its conductor are portrayed, visually, aurally, and stylistically at a standard of quality rarely seen. To begin Gergiev leads the VPO through a precise if somewhat lackluster performance of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, which serves here as a stretching session compared to the substantially heavier fare to follow. Universally acclaimed violist Yuri Bashmet leads an intrepid and inspired treatment of Schnittke's Viola Concerto, which the composer penned especially for him. The centerpiece of the concert, though, is undoubtedly Stravinsky's Firebird, in which the orchestra and conductor are at the height of their powers, filling each moment with an intensity and excitement that reverberates through to its finish. The viewer owns the best seat in the house simply by virtue of strategic camera work and visual direction that captures individual members of the orchestra at key moments, finding the oboists before their featured melody, then panning to a cellist before he saws away a descending phrase. Included as special features are insightful interviews with Giergiev and Bashmet, which provide additional background into the inspirations behind the concert. --Karl Wachter



Customer Reviews
Average Rating:  out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - classical revelation
this recording is a classical revelation. Not only the recording hall in the capitol of Austria and of classical music at least some parts is portrayed, but also the music and the images are right. I am more eager to hear a version of symphonie 5 than 1 of Prokofiev, but one cannot have it all in this life. Gergiev should be in love with the camera. I live in Rotterdam, where he is chief-conductor, and I have seen that guy working not in Rtd but in St Petersburg. I do not have to say he is good and ... Read More



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Top Notch DVD, but for different reasons
I must say that this DVD is the crown jewel of my collection as well, but I think that the other reviewers on this site are pretty far off in their assessments.

For starters, a number of the opinions expressed here simply write off the Prokofiev performance. Perhaps this is a testament to how truly excellent the playing is. This piece may be the most deceptively difficult in the repertoire -- well played, it sounds like a facile piece of Mozart. This couldn't be further from the reality, ... Read More



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Awesome Performance of Schnittke!
I have to admit, I bought this DVD for the Schnittke, being a viola player myself. A performance of his work is pretty hard to come by and a DVD of this particular work makes it even better. After seeing this DVD, all I could say is WOW!

Yuri Bashmet is without a doubt an amazing violist and seeing him playing a work that was written for him and also meant a great deal for him is truly special. I was moved by his performance and after seeing this performance it has given me even more appreciation ... Read More



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Outstanding concert, beautifully filmed
Taped at the 2000 Salzburg Festival, this wonderful all-Russian concert shows conductor Valery Gergiev at his most magnetic, here with the Vienna Philharmonic. The whole program is excellent, but the prize is the Schnittke "Viola Concerto" (1985), performed with great intensity by its dedicatee, Yuri Bashmet.

The concerto uses Bashmet's name (B-flat, A, E-flat, C, B-natural, E-natural) as its starting point for forty minutes of music, filled with unusual effects and ending with a quiet, death ... Read More



Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Awesome performance of Schnittke!
Like the previous reviewer, I also bought this DVD for the Schnittke, being an amateur violist myself. I also agree, a performance of his work is pretty hard to come by and a DVD of this particular work makes it even better. After seeing this DVD, all I could say is WOW!

Yuri Bashmet is without a doubt an amazing violist and seeing him playing a work that was written for him and also meant a great deal for him is truly special. I was moved by his performance and after watching this it has given ... Read More




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