Mahler Symphony No. 6 "Tragic”. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmonker in 1987 and 2018. This is a commemorative release celebrating Sir Simon Rattle’s final performance as chief conductor for the Berliner Philharmoniker. Title includes two recordings of Mahler Symphony No. 6: an early recording from 1987 and Rattle’s final concert from 2018. The package also includes a CD version for each recording and a bonus documentary. Released 2018. Grade: NA
Read MoreBeethoven Symphonies 1-9 (or Complete Beethoven Symphonies) box set. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in all nine Beethoven symphonies. Other performers featured in Symphony No. 9 are Annette Dasch (Soprano), Eva Vogel (Mezzo-Soprano), Christian Elsner (Tenor), Dimitry Ivashchenko (Bass), and the Rundfunkchor Berlin (Simon Halsey, Chorus Master). Grade: C+ (average for the 9 symphonies, based on specific grades for 6 titles and other general observations)
Read MoreSibelius Symphonies 1-7 (or Complete Sibelius Symphonies) box set. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in all seven Sibelius symphonies. This review applies only to the Blu-ray video and not to the CDs or Blu-ray audio disc included in the box. Grade: C (average for the 7 symphonies).
Read MoreSchumann Symphonies 1-4 or (Complete Schumann Symphonies) box set. In 2013, Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in all four Schumann symphonies. Released in 2014, all the symphonies, a bonus interview, and audio tracks recorded at 96kHz/24-bit are on a Blu-ray disc with 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Also in the package are two CDs, a download code for other audio files, and a digital concert ticket. Grade: NA
Read MoreBach St. John Passion oratorio. Ritualised (directed) 2014 by Peter Sellers at the Philharmonie in Berlin. Stars tenor Mark Padmore (Evangelist), baritone Christian Gerhaher (Pilatus/Petrus), baritone Roderick Williams (Jesus), soprano Camilla Tilling, mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kozena, tenor Topi Lehtipuu (Arias), and bass Thomas Quasthoff. Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Rundfunkchor Berlin (Chorus Master Simon Halsey). Music has runtime of 135 minutes and there is a 52-minute bonus extra with Peter Sellers in conversation with Simon Rattle. Directed for video by Daniel Finkerhagel and Alexander Lück. Released 2014, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Package also has 2 DVDs, an extensive booklet, and a 7-day digital concert voucher. Grade: NA
Read MoreClaudio Abbado conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker for the last time. Recorded live at the Berlin Philharmonie on 18, 19, and 21 May 2013. Two works are featured:
Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (excerpts). Soloists are Deborah York (soprano), Stella Doufexis (mezzo-soprano). Chorus is comprised of women of the Chors des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Chorus).
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique
Released 2016, the main feature for us is the Blu-ray video of the entire concert. The concert can also be played as a Blu-ray audio music recording. All Blu-ray music was recorded with 48kHz/24-bit sound sampling, and the disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound output (literature from publisher incorrectly states that sound is 5.0). In addition to the Blu-ray disc, there is a CD of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and a separate CD of the Symphonie fantastique. There is also a bonus documentary video. All this is included in an extravagant box set with a 56-page booklet of program notes and an article with numerous photographs honoring Claudio Abbado. Purchase of the box includes a 7-day ticket for the Berliner Philharmoniker’s video streaming service (“Digital Concert Hall”), and a download code for 48kHz/24 audio files of the performance (which the Berlin folks call "high resolution" files). Video Directors are listed as Daniel Finkernagal and Alexander Lück. No DVD version of this title is available. Could this be a sign that the age of DVD is about over?
Grade: B- for the Mendelssohn and B for the Belioz
Read MoreMozart Die Zauberflöte opera to a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. Directed 2013 by Robert Carsen at the Baden-Baden Easter Festival. Stars Pavol Breslik (Tamino), Kate Royal (Pamina), Dimitry Ivashchenko (Sarastro), Ana Durlovski (Queen of the Night), Michael Nagy (Papageno), Regula Mühlemann (Papagena), Annick Massis (1st Lady), Magdalena Kožená (2nd Lady), Nathalie Stutzmann (3rd Lady), José van Dam (Speaker), James Elliott (Monostatos), Andreas Schager (1st Priest), Jonathan Lemalu (Second Priest), Benjamin Hulett (1st Armoured Man), David Jerusalem (2nd Armoured Man), and David Rother, Cedric Schmitt, and Joshua Augustin, all soloists of the Aurelius Sängerknaben Calw (Three Boys). Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Rundfunkchor Berlin (Chorus Master Simon Halsey). Set design by Michael Levine; costume design by Petra Reinhardt; lighting design by Robert Carsen and Peter van Praet; visuals by Martin Eidenberger; dramatury by Ian Burton. Directed for TV by Olivier Simonnet. Sung in German. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA
Read MoreBach St. Matthew Passion oratorio. Ritualised (directed) 2010 by Peter Sellers at the Philharmonie in Berlin. Stars tenor Mark Padmore (Evangelist or John the Baptist), bass Christian Gerhaher (Jesus), soprano Camilla Tilling, contralto Magdalena Kozena, tenor Topi Lehtipuu, and bass Thomas Quasthoff (recitatives and arias), Jörg Schneider (Judas), Sören von Billerbeck (Peter), Axel Scheidig (Pontius Pilate), Christine Lichtenberg (1st Witness), Holgar Marks (2nd Witness), David Stingl (1st High Priest), Thomas Pfützner (2nd High Priest), Isabelle Voßkühler (1st Maiden), Christina Bischoff )(2nd Maiden), and Barbara Kind (Wife of Pontius Pilate). Sir Simon Rattle conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Rundfunkchor Berlin (Chorus Master Simon Halsey), and the Knaben des Staats und Domchors Berlin (Chorus Master Kai-Kwe Jirka). Music has runtime of 195 minutes and there is a 51-minute bonus extra with Peter Sellers in conversation with Simon Halsey. Directed for TV by Daniel Finkerhagel and Alexander Lück. Released 2012, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Luxury package also has 2 DVDs and other extra features. Grade: NA
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