Mahler: Origins and Legacy documentary and concert package, part of the "Keeping Score" series. Michael Tilson Thomas directs the San Francisco Symphony. Produced by Michael Bronson; directed for TV by Gary Halvorson. This is a two-disc set. Released in 2011, music was recorded at 48 kHz/24-bit, and discs have 5.1 surround or 7.1 Dolby TrueHD surround sound. Grade: A for the documentary Origins and Legacy and D for Symphony No. 1

Stravinsky Rite of Spring and music from The Firebird by Stravinsky. Michael Tilson Thomas directs the San Francisco Symphony in a recent performance of  Stravinsky classics as part of the "Keeping Score" outreach program of the San Francisco Symphony. In addition, Thomas narrates an educational program about Stravinsky and Rite of Spring. The concert is in HD; the documentary is in SD. The concert was directed by Gary Halvorson. Otherwise, title was directed and produced by David Kennard, Joan Saffa, and Michael Bronson. Released 2013, disc has 5.1 Dolby TrueHD sound. You should not be especially impressed with the claim that has "up-sampled 96kHz24 bit sound." See our discussion of this gimmick at our review of San Francisco Symphony at 100. Grade: NA

Charles Ives Holidays Symphony. Michael Tilson Thomas directs the San Francisco Symphony in a recent performance of the Holidays Symphony as part of its "Keeping Score" outreach program. In addition, Thomas narrates an educational program about Ives and the Holidays Symphony. Directed for TV by Gary Halvorson. Released 2009, disc has 7.1 Dolby TrueHD sound. Grade: NA

Shostakovich Symphony No. 5. Michael Tilson Thomas directs the San Francisco Symphony in a  performance of the Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 as part of it's "Keeping Score" outreach program.  Thomas also narrates a substantial documentary about Shostakovich.  Finally, there are other bonus features about the San Francisco Symphony and its recording facilities. Directed for TV by Gary Halvorson. Released  2009, disc is in high-definition video (a bit of SD  in the bonus features)  and has 5.1 Dolby TrueHD sound. Grade: NA

Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique. Michael Tilson Thomas directs the San Francisco Symphony in a  performance of Symphonie Fantastique as part of the "Keeping Score" outreach program of the San Francisco Symphony. In addition, Thomas narrates a 55-minute Public Television educational program about Berlioz and the Symphonie fantastique. The TV recording was directed by Gary Halvorson. Released 2009, disc has Dolby TrueHD 7.1 sound. Grade: NA

Thomas is as good a speaker and teacher as he is a conductor. The documentary has all the production values you could hope for like gorgeous shots of Paris and other locations in France and Italy, excellent writing based on careful research, and expert movie making. Thomas tells about the life of Berlioz, and he makes the Symphonie fantastique come alive as he explains the themes and aspects of the music in relation to the dramatic loves of young Hector. So we would give the documentary an A+.