Recommendations of concerts on DVD

[dave b]

I know it is a subjective question. I have a couple of concerts on DVD. Vienna Philharmonic performing at their annual outdoor concert. Looking for more recommendations of what you consider to be good or outstanding concerts on DVD. Thanks in advance.


Just as an aside, I am amazed at the classical music knowledge of quite a few members on this forum, over the years. I listen, I collect CDs, I try to learn more about classical music----The best way I've found is simply to listen to it on the radio, and see what my likes and dislikes may be and perhaps buy a CD of a piece I heard, gradually building up my collection.


My background is not in music, it's in criminal law in the inner-city courts of one of the ten most populated metro areas, so my exposure to classical music consists of listening to it on the radio to and from the various courthouses.

Another thing I do is to read a little about the lives and works of the various composers. This gives me more of a feel for who these composers are.

I am very interested in learning more-----In no other forum on the Internet have I felt more out of my element than here. I have a lot to learn. Any suggestions as to how to delve more deeply into the world of classical music, I would appreciate any suggestions.

[Drasko]

There has been lots of concerts released on DVD, especially over last few years. I've never been really taken by the format (much more by opera or ballet on DVD) but there definitely is bunch of good ones available. Off top of my head:

- Karajan/La Scala Verdi Requiem
- A few with Carlos Kleiber: Beethoven 4 & 7, Brahms 2, Brahms 4
- Abbado Mahler 9 from Lucerne
- Boulez VPO Bruckner 8 from St.Florian
- Karajan rehearsal and performance of Schumann 4 & Beethoven 5
- Abbado Europe Concert from Palermo with Dvorak 9
- Gergiev Kirov Tchaikovsky 4-6 from Paris
- Dohnanyi VPO Bartok
- Michelangeli Lugano Recital: Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert 
- Pogorelich has few DVDs recorded in some lush settings (no audience, don't know if you'd consider that 'a concert' but it's exceptional piano playing)
- Zimerman playing Schubert and Chopin (again no audience)
- EMI Classical Archives series have some fantastic DVDs, but I don't know if you're into black & white mono videos, if yes then Arrau playing Beethoven op.111, Samson Francois playing Ravel & Grieg, Poulenc playing Poulenc. Also Michelangeli playing Chopin, Debussy, Beethoven (3 Opus Arte DVDs)
- from your avatar I'd guess you like Strauss' waltzes, of Vienna New Year Concerts best are 1987 Karajan, and especially Kleiber in 1989 & 1992, and of more recent Pretre's 2008 is my favorite

I'm probably forgetting a huge lot.

[dave b]

Thank you---very much---and actually, the avatar was just an afterthought based on nothing more than the fact that I came across it once doing a Google search for travel info about Vienna.......It's a unique kind of statue, I think.
I will check out those DVDs--much appreciated.

[eyeresist]

- Boulez VPO Bruckner 8 from St.Florian

Corrected.

Welcome, Dave. I'm afraid I can't help with this question, as I've found that the visual aspect of DVDs tends to distract from the music.

As you are in inner-city criminal law, I'm guessing you're not interested in anything super-angsty?

[Wanderer]

Some more recommendations:

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A superb concert with one of the finest recorded renditions of the Symphonie fantastique, performed and filmed in Hagia Eirene in Constantinople.


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And if you're into opera:

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PS: Whenever there's a choice, I'd recommend the Blu-ray version over the DVD.

And welcome to the forum! 

[Drasko]

Corrected.

Thanks, yep, that was a typo, Bruckner 8 not 9.

few DVDs I forgot last night:

- Grigory Sokolov Paris recital: Beethoven, Prokofiev, Komitas
- Horowitz in Moscow
- Hagen Quartet playing Schubert & Ravel

[Papy Oli]

Not a concert as such but a recital for the Italian RAI channel - awesome none the less :

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[dave b]

Thank you to all----eyeresist, I know what you mean about angst.


I was on the forum back in 2008, I don't know why my post count only shows two or three.
http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,6833.msg160341.html#msg160341

This thread turned out to be a good one, see link.

[jwinter]

Bohm's Vienna Mozart is a long time fave.  I also highly recommend Abbado's BPO Beethoven set from Rome, and the chance to see Giulini rehearsing and performing Bruckner 9...

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[dave b]

Those look good, thank you.

[Wanderer]

I also highly recommend Abbado's BPO Beethoven set from Rome...

Seconded.

[mc ukrneal]

If you are interested in Beethoven sonatas, this one:
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It's not technically perfect, and in this sense a CD version may be better. But it clear throughout that Barenboim understands this music and gets deep into it (and every time I hear it, I get new insights). There are also 4 masterclass epiodes, which are of high quality (and with excellent soloists). It's very well done.

Here's a good Schumann concert:
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Playing is excellent (as is sound).

[bigshot]

There's a box set of various Bernstein concerts on Koch that I enjoyed. I saw a couple of Tilson Thomas's Keeping Score series and I thought they were good too.

[Jem]

The complete Mahler symphonies with Bernstein, directed by Humphrey Burton. Magic.

[Johnll]

If you are willing to accept the lower audio/visual quality of streaming in exchange for a lot of quantity and low cost,  I recommend these sites. This link (http://video.pbs.org/video/1295288125 ) is to PBS and directly to Michael Tilsons Thomas's "Keeping Score" on Copland. If you scroll down you will find other episodes. I particularly recommend the one on Charles Ives.
This is apparently a French site (http://www.medici.tv/#/home/) and has a very large catalog of concerts, ballets, operas, and educational films. Most of it is high quality and the great majority of it is in English.  I have never attended a ballet or opera. I enjoyed Prokofiev's Cinderella,  Shostakovich's Macbeth,  and Strauss's Salome.  Some of the operas do not have subtitles. They have some 200 concerts.  It is a great way to learn the orchestra and to see how different conductors behave.  I consider it to be a valuable part of my musical education. Those who are already sophisticated might be better off with selected DVDs.
The current concerts are free if you register. Access to their entire catalog is ~ $ 10/month for midi quality and a few dollars more for higher quality.

[jwinter]

 Quote from: mc ukrneal on July 04, 2012, 04:05:43 AM

If you are interested in Beethoven sonatas, this one:

It's not technically perfect, and in this sense a CD version may be better. But it clear throughout that Barenboim understands this music and gets deep into it (and every time I hear it, I get new insights). There are also 4 masterclass epiodes, which are of high quality (and with excellent soloists). It's very well done.
 
I may need to put this one on Santa's list.   

I'm assuming the masterclasses are in German, and that there are subtitles in English, etc.?   About how much commentary is included?  Does he discuss each sonata?

[mc ukrneal]

I'm assuming the masterclasses are in German, and that there are subtitles in English, etc.?   About how much commentary is included?  Does he discuss each sonata?

No - all in English. He spends about an hour with each soloist (includes Biss and Lang Lang) and gives a lot of commentary, both on the small details and the big picture. I think they are among the best masterclasses I have ever seen. He gives meaningful comments and rather than imposing his view all the time, he asks lots of questions. Here is a sample with Lang Lang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42BItJ-vpSA.  I think they are all on youtube if you search them out. He spends the hour on the one sonata each soloist has prepared (they start the session playing a portion of the selected sonata). At the end of each he takes some questions from the audience.

EDIT: There are six masterclasses. The soloists are Biss, Lang Lang, Bax, Wosner, Kadouch, and Abboud Ashkar.

EDIT: And just to give you an idea of how they differ, here is part of the one from Biss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHgfuf-Nn-Q

[jwinter]

Thanks very much!  I will definitely check them out on youtube...