Beethoven - Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano / Barenboim, Ma, Perlman

Starring:Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman
Studio: Angel Records
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to assemble a better group of musicians to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Choral Fantasy. Daniel Barenboim has been so busy conducting the world's top orchestras and opera companies that there is a danger of forgetting what an excellent pianist he is. He conducts both of these works from the keyboard, as Beethoven would have expected, engaging in chamber music-like dialogue in the concerto and creating a sense of impromptu in the Fantasy's long piano solo, which Beethoven wrote for himself and partly improvised at the first performance. Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma are sensitive, alert, and technically superb partners.

Amazon.com

It would be difficult, perhaps impossible, to assemble a better group of musicians to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto and Choral Fantasy. Daniel Barenboim has been so busy conducting the world's top orchestras and opera companies that there is a danger of forgetting what an excellent pianist he is. He conducts both of these works from the keyboard, as Beethoven would have expected, engaging in chamber music-like dialogue in the concerto and creating a sense of impromptu in the Fantasy's long piano solo, which Beethoven wrote for himself and partly improvised at the first performance. Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma are sensitive, alert, and technically superb partners.

Customer Reviews:

Superb music and recording........2007-06-06

I am familiar with both pieces of music and own them. With talent like Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma and Daniel Barenboim as pianist and conductor you can't fail to have a superb performance. I watched the video on my second time listening and even in that they shine. I listened both of those two times with headphones and now I can't wait for my pair of AKG K-701 headphones to arrive today or tomorrow. They will be followed in about 10 days by my Headroom DAC headphone amp and power supply. It will be almost like sex. My stereo is now warmed up and so I am off to listen and I am especially looking forward to the beautiful vocal performances in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy.

Barenboim in excelsis.......2007-05-16

I first heard Daniel Barenboim when I was a teenager. The performance was of Mozart's d minor piano concerto, with the Orchestre National de Paris. I had heard other versions of the d minor concerto previously -- Uchida's, probably -- but this one was different. The words that come to mind are "virile," "masculine", almost "clangorous" or "metallic", like the sounds of an army invading, shields and armor rattling. Then I went through a major Glenn Gould phase in college, and kind of forgot about Barenboim.

This DVD, however, was all I needed to remind me. While the disc, as a whole, is masterful -- tremendous program played by tremendous players -- there is one moment, later in the "Choral Fantasia" which made it worth the price of purchase. It is the variation where Beethoven has the piano converse with the wind choir.

Barenboim, conducting as well as playing, suddenly begins lifting his hands really high from the keyboard, in between beats. At first, I am puzzled by what looks like some over-acting at the keyboard. Then it hits me; he's showing the wind-players his hands to let them see where his rhythmic accents are falling.

When I think about the difficulty implicit in this -- playing a Beethoven solo piano passage, and simultaneously cueing players on the other side of the auditorium to lock into the parts of the rhythm not played by the piano -- my mind boggles.

Barenboim is a genius on the order of the old nineteenth century virtuosi like Rubinstein, Liszt, or Henselt.

Breathtaking.......2007-05-15

This is the best version of Beethoven's Triple Concerto I have seen and heard. The soloists are virtuosos and masters of their instruments. Magnificent.

Freude, freude!.......2007-02-07

A beautifully performed and exquisitely videoed performance of the Triple and Choral Fantasy. Orchestral and choral fans alike will be awed by the sheer beauty of this music. And what better orchestra to perform these masterpieces than the Berlin Philharmonic?

Great music, performers.......2006-04-02

This is a wonderful, high-energy performance of two of Beethoven's rarer compositions. Barenboim, Ma and Perleman are superb as soloists. The vocalists and chorus are really fine. Thanks to previous reviewers who convinced me to buy this.

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