HDVD Arts

This website is about high-definition video recordings of opera, ballet, classical music, plays, fine-art documentaries, painting, and sculpture. We call these recordings "HDVDs." Below this welcome are hundreds of stories about HDVDs. But first check out the Index of Titles/Alphalist to the left, which is the best thing about this site.

With the help of confrere William Alexander Huang, we have set out standards for grading HDVDs of symphonic orchestra recordings. We just applied those standards to a re-review and re-grading of the three New Year's Concert discs we now have. (Check the Alphalist for the new grades, etc.)

At long last, we now have two HDVDs about fine-art paintings; both dealing with the art and life of Vincent van Gogh. The better title is called simply Vincent Van Gogh. It offers 2 and 1/2 hours of wonderful images of paintings and drawings with expert discussion from art historians at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

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Entries in Medici Classics (1)

Friday

Dec022011

Jerome Rose Plays Brahms

Jerome Rose Plays Brahms concert. Rose plays the following Brahms pieces:

1. Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5

2. Klavierstücke, Op. 76

3. Zwei Rhapsodien, Op. 79

4. Fantasien, Op. 116

5. Drei Intermezzi, Op. 117

6. Klavierstücke, Op. 118

7. Klavierstücke, Op. 119

There is also a short bonus discussion by Rose of the Brahms piano output. Recorded 2011 at Yamaha Artist Services in New York (Yamaha CFX grand) before a live audience of about 20. Produced by Julie Kedersha; video by Asaf Blasburg; audio by Josuph Patrych. Stereo sound only. Grade: Help!

The video is warm and adequate, but the picture is not particularly sharp. The audio is clean and realistic. We normally frown on stereo sound only. But we relent here because we doubt that surround sound would contribute much to this academic program in a small venue aimed at piano professionals and serious music lovers. Rose in his bonus comes across as the kind of man you would like to have around for advice about most anything. We need a piano expert to help us with comments about Rose's interpretations.

Henry McFadyen Jr.

Entries in Medici Classics (1)

Jerome Rose Plays Brahms