Is is just me, or are the releases of classical DVDs becoming much more abundant? A well known book/music/cafe chain - rhymes with "quarters" - has had a sale on DVDs, buy 2 get 1 free. I have been stocking up, thanks in large part from a generous gift card. I now have a large stack of various DVDs to enjoy over the next few weeks... or months.
I have started in on the "Barenboim on Beethoven" set I received - containing live performances of all of the piano sonatas as well as 6 master classes (taped in Chicago). I bought the set for the sonatas, but find myself drawn to the masterclasses. I am not a musician, but I have learned a tremendous amount just watching 2 of the classes. I have listened to the "Waldstein" too many times to mention, and just when I thought I couldn't get more out of it... you get the picture. I have always enjoyed Barenboim's Beethoven (Piano or Symphonic), and I would say this is required viewing for any pianist or music lover. Oh yeah, his piano recitals (taped in Berlin) aren't too shabby either!
I am also making my way through some Mahler symphonies conducted by Bernstein - specifically 1, 2, 3 and 9. These were taped in the early 70's - and the DVDs are Deutsche Grammophon releases. I don't think you can go wrong with Bernstein conducting Mahler - so far, I have made my way through the 2nd, and it is very enjoyable. These are live performances, not staged like the Karajan videos. Nothing against Karajan - I have a ton of his recordings, but it seems pointless to me to watch a classical video - or any music video for that matter, unless it is a live performance. NO LIP SINC-ING... OR BOW SINC-ING...
The other DVDs I have to look forward to are a couple of Glenn Gould compilations, a Rafael Kubelik retrospective 2 DVD set, Barenboim conducting and playing the Beethoven concertos, Bernstein and Brahms (Symphonies), Abbado and the Mahler 6th... and a few more. It is nice to finally see a lot of these classic (filmed) recordings now availble on DVD, as well as new performances.
Posted in
