Concert

Bruckner Symphony No. 5

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Bruckner Symphony No. 5 performed 2021 by conductor Christian Thieleman and the Wiener Philharmoniker. Program includes Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5, plus, for confirmed Bruckner fanatics, two early Bruckner symphonies that are not included normally in the “complete” symphonies 1 through 9:

  • Symphony in F minor (aka Study Symphony or Symphony No. 00)

  • Symphony in D minor (aka Die Nullte or Symphony No. 0)

It appears this is the first time Symphonies “00” and “0” have been recorded in Blu-ray. PR also includes “extensive bonus material.” Directed for TV by Benedict Mirow. Released 2022, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D+

Our “D” grade doesn’t mean something is of low quality. It just means we don’t suggest you buy this unless you know what you are doing and have a good reason to want it.

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Bach Brandenburg Concertos 1-6

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Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concertos 1-6. Claudio Abbado conducts the Orchestra Mozart in 2007, using some period instruments, at the Teatro Municipale Romolo Valli in Reggio Emilia. Directed for TV by Andreas Morell; photography directed by Andreas Naumann; produced by Paul Smaczny and Maria Stodtmeier. Disc has 5.1 PCM sound. Grade: A

This was released in 2008 by medici arts. It was re-released in 2022 by EuroArts. I believe the music on the two releases is identical. If you have the slightest interest in instrumental music, you will be thrilled by this disc. A combination of seasoned veterans and beautiful young protégés go after these 6 concertos like foxes after a hare. And seeing this performance of these (so often-heard) pieces was a revelation. I had no idea how small the forces were that Bach had or how different the ensembles were for each number. These pieces were for Bach a bit like a jazz jam session— for whatever forces were available, Bach would just whip up a masterpiece . . .

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Nuit Erik Satie

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Nuit Erik Satie (Erik Satie Night) concert by pianist Nicolas Horvath. Performed October 6, 2018 at the Boulez Hall of the Philharmonie de Paris. Filmed for TV in contemplative black and white by Thierry Villeneuve. Released 2022, disc has PCM stereo sound. Grade: A+

It’s October in Paris. The tourists are gone. The days are getting shorter, grayer, and colder. Even the people of the City of Love need a little aphrodisiac. They need a Nuit Blanche at the Boulez Hall where they can hear all of Erik Satie’s, droll, philosophical, and strangely romantic piano miniatures. For up to 8 hours total.

Yes, Horvath played all of Satie’s solo piano music. The show was organized so you could get a ticket for just an hour to hear your favorite piece. Or you could stay all night. More than 14,000 people dropped by. It became a kind of civilized indoor Woodstock. But here nobody was protesting anything—just trying to get a few vibes going.

Let’s see how they did . . .

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Baltikum

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Baltikum concert. Marcus Creed conducts the SWR Vokalensemble. Here is the program:

  • Veljo Tormis: Kaks laulu Ernst Enno sõnadele

  • Rytis Mažulis: Canon solus

  • Pēteris Vasks : Litene

  • Andris Dzenītis: Four Madrigals by e.e. cummings

  • Justė Janulytė: Plonge

  • Arvo Pärt: Dopo la Vittoria

  • Arvo Pärt: Ja ma kuulsin hääle…

See the back cover art for more details about the pieces sung. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

The correct full name in English for the performers would be “ SWR Stuttgart Vocal Ensemble”. SWR stands for Southwest Radio, one of the most important sources in Germany for classical music broadcast and recordings. Under Marcus Creed, this ensemble has an international reputation, especially for a cappella performance of new, rare, or virtuoso choral works. This is the first HDVD published of a cappella singing—

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Semele

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Handel Semele opera to libretto by William Congreve. Directed 2019 by Thomas Guthrie at the Alexandra Palace Theatre in London. This is a staged concert performance of the opera before a live audience. Stars Louise Alder (Semele), Hugo Hymas (Jupiter), Lucile Richardot (Juno/Ino), Carlos Vistoli (Athamas), Gianluca Buratto (Cadmus/Somnus), Emily Owne (Iris), Angela Hicks (Cupid), Peter Davoren (Apollo), Angharad Rowlands (Augur), and Christopeher Webb (High Priest). John Eliot Gardiner conducts the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists. Directed for TV by Felix Breisach. Sung in English. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio. Grade: NA

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Der Messias

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Der Messias oratorio concert. This is the Handel Messiah (1741) arranged by Mozart (K. 572 from 1789) with the Jennens English compilation of biblical texts translated into German by Christoph Daniel Ebeling and Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock. Directed during Mozartwoche 2020 by Robert Wilson at the Haus für Mozart in Salzburg. Stars Elena Tsallagova (Soprano), Wiebke Lehmkhul (Alto), Richard Croft (Tenor), José Coca Loza (Bass), Alexis Fousekis (Dancer), Max Harris (Old Man), and Leopoldine Richards (A Child). Marc Minkowski conducts Les Musiciens du Louvre and the Philharmonia Chor Wien (Chorus Master Walter Zeh). Set and lighting design by Robert Wilson; costume design by Carlos Soto; co-stage designer was Nicola Panzer; co-set designer was Stephanie Engeln; co-lighting designer was John Torres; video design by Tomasz Jeziorski; make-up design by Manuela Halligan; dramatic advisor was Konrad Kuhn. Directed for TV by Tiziano Mancini. Sung in German. Released 2020, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: A+

Introduction

The main theme of this review is an examination of the Robert Wilson “anti-Freud” concept of the unconscious mind. This review also reports on what appears to be the only modern recording available new from a trusted label of Handel’s Messiah as arranged by none other that Wolfgang Mozart (K. 572)!

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L'incoronazione di Poppea

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Monteverdi L'incoronazione di Poppea opera to a libretto by Giovanni Francesco Busenello. Directed by John Eliot Gardiner Elsa Rooke at the Teatro La Fenice in Venice. Stars Hana Blažíková (Poppea/Fortuna), Kangmin Justin Kim (Nerone), Marianna PIzzolato (Ottavia), Gianluca Buratto (Seneca), Carlo Vistoli (Ottone), Anna Dennis (Drusilla/Virtú/Pallade), and Lucile Richardot (Arnalta/Venere). John Eliot Gardiner conducts the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir. Lighting design by Rick Fisher; costume design by Patricia Hofstede and Isabella de Sabata. Sung in Italian. Released 2022, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: D

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Brahms Double Concerto

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Brahms Double Concerto for Violin and Cello concert. Performed 2016 at the Semperoper Dresden. Christian Thielemann conducts the Staatskapelle Dresden. Features violinist Lisa Batiashvili and cellist Gautier Capuçon. Here is the program:

  • Brahms Double Concerto for Violin & Cello

  • Erwin Schulhoff— Zingaresca movement from Duo for Violin and Cello

  • Tchaikovsky Romeo & Juliet ‘Fantasy Overture’ (Third Version)

  • Liszt Les Préludes (Symphonic Poem No. 3)

Directed for TV by Beatrix Conrad. Released 2021, disc has 5.0 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

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A Romantic Take

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A Romantic Take concert with pianist Martha Argerich and violinist Guy Braunstein. Performed 2020 at the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin. Here is the program:

  • Schumann Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor

  • Prokofiev Sonata for Violin and Piano in D Major

  • Franck Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major

  • Kreisler Liebesleid

  • Kreisler Schön Rosmarin

Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

Here’s a trailer from EuroArts:

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Interstellar for Grand Pipe Organ

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Interstellar for Grand Pipe Organ. Music by Hans Zimmer (written originally for the soundtrack of the motion picture Interstellar) arranged by Antonino Buschiazzo. Performed by Antonino on July 27, 2021 at the organ of St. Paul’s church in Strasbourg, France. Video file shot by Mathilde Burille and Michael Bártek; sound by and Valérie Bajcsa and Ivan Bajcsa. Produced by Michael Bártek. Performance can be viewed on YouTube on PC in 2K resolution—screenshots below are 2K. These pictures are pretty enough. But the full impact of the video can only be seen on a 4K TV display connected to the Internet. Performance lasts 26 minutes. Grade A+

First we see Antonino heading to the church . . .

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Beethoven and His Contemporaries, Vol. 1

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Beethoven and His Contemporaries, Vol 1 concert. Performed 2020 at the Schlosstheater Schwetzingen. Bernhard Forck conducts the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. Directed for TV by Alexander Radulescu; produced for TV by Harald Letfus and Thomas Martin Salb. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

The program follows:

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Symphony in F major

  • Beethoven, Symphony No 2

  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Symphony in G major

  • Beethoven, Symphony No. 1

  • Wranitzky, Grande symphonie caractéristique pour la paix avec la République française

  • Mozart, Bastien und Bastienne

  • Beethoven, Symphony No. 3

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Beethoven and His Contemporaries, Vol. 2

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Beethoven and His Contemporaries, Vol 2 concert. Performed 2020 at the Schlosstheater Schwetzingen. Bernhard Forck conducts the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. Directed for TV by Alexander Radulescu; produced for TV by Harald Letfus. Released 2021, disc has 5.1 dts-HD Master Audio sound. Grade: NA

The program follows:

  • Luigi Cherubni, Lodoïska - Overture

  • Étienne Nicolas Méhul, Symphony No. 1

  • Beethoven Symphony No. 5

  • Ignaz Hozlbauer, Symphony in E flat major

  • Justin Heinrich Knecht, Symphony in G major: Le Portait musical de la Nature, ou Grand Simphonie.

  • Beethoven Symphony no. 6

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