Valery Gergiev Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev, Schnittke & Stravinsky

Starring:Valery Gergiev, Yuri Bashmet
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
All classical-music buffs should find much to appreciate in this captivating record of Valery Gergiev conducting the Viennese Philharmonic Orchestra in an all-Russian night of music at the 2000 Salzburg Festival. The production quality of the disc overall is first rate: from the moment the conductor greets his expectant audience until the last note is sounded, the symphony and its conductor are portrayed, visually, aurally, and stylistically at a standard of quality rarely seen. To begin Gergiev leads the VPO through a precise if somewhat lackluster performance of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, which serves here as a stretching session compared to the substantially heavier fare to follow. Universally acclaimed violist Yuri Bashmet leads an intrepid and inspired treatment of Schnittke's Viola Concerto, which the composer penned especially for him. The centerpiece of the concert, though, is undoubtedly Stravinsky's Firebird, in which the orchestra and conductor are at the height of their powers, filling each moment with an intensity and excitement that reverberates through to its finish. The viewer owns the best seat in the house simply by virtue of strategic camera work and visual direction that captures individual members of the orchestra at key moments, finding the oboists before their featured melody, then panning to a cellist before he saws away a descending phrase. Included as special features are insightful interviews with Giergiev and Bashmet, which provide additional background into the inspirations behind the concert. --Karl Wachter
Description
One of music's most sought-after conductors guides you through an outstanding concert of works. Internationally acclaimed as an inspired interpreter of Russian music, Valery Gergiev draws exceptional performances from the orchestra to produce a colorful, vibrant and virtuoso evening of music. Acclaimed Classical Works by Prokofiev (Symphonie Classique, Op. 25), Schnittke (Viola Concerto) and Stravinsky (Firebird). Filmed Live at the 2000 Salzburg Festival

Valery Gergiev Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev, Schnittke & Stravinsky
Average customer rating:

classical revelation

Top Notch DVD, but for different reasons

Awesome Performance of Schnittke!

Outstanding concert, beautifully filmed

To Prior reviewer GARDNERST

Valery Gergiev Conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev, Schnittke & Stravinsky
Starring: Valery Gergiev , and Yuri Bashmet
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009Q4WI
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Amazon.com

All classical-music buffs should find much to appreciate in this captivating record of Valery Gergiev conducting the Viennese Philharmonic Orchestra in an all-Russian night of music at the 2000 Salzburg Festival. The production quality of the disc overall is first rate: from the moment the conductor greets his expectant audience until the last note is sounded, the symphony and its conductor are portrayed, visually, aurally, and stylistically at a standard of quality rarely seen. To begin Gergiev leads the VPO through a precise if somewhat lackluster performance of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, which serves here as a stretching session compared to the substantially heavier fare to follow. Universally acclaimed violist Yuri Bashmet leads an intrepid and inspired treatment of Schnittke's Viola Concerto, which the composer penned especially for him. The centerpiece of the concert, though, is undoubtedly Stravinsky's Firebird, in which the orchestra and conductor are at the height of their powers, filling each moment with an intensity and excitement that reverberates through to its finish. The viewer owns the best seat in the house simply by virtue of strategic camera work and visual direction that captures individual members of the orchestra at key moments, finding the oboists before their featured melody, then panning to a cellist before he saws away a descending phrase. Included as special features are insightful interviews with Giergiev and Bashmet, which provide additional background into the inspirations behind the concert. --Karl Wachter

Description

One of music's most sought-after conductors guides you through an outstanding concert of works. Internationally acclaimed as an inspired interpreter of Russian music, Valery Gergiev draws exceptional performances from the orchestra to produce a colorful, vibrant and virtuoso evening of music. Acclaimed Classical Works by Prokofiev (Symphonie Classique, Op. 25), Schnittke (Viola Concerto) and Stravinsky (Firebird). Filmed Live at the 2000 Salzburg Festival

Customer Reviews:

classical revelation .......2006-01-21

this recording is a classical revelation. Not only the recording hall in the capitol of Austria and of classical music at least some parts is portrayed, but also the music and the images are right. I am more eager to hear a version of symphonie 5 than 1 of Prokofiev, but one cannot have it all in this life. Gergiev should be in love with the camera. I live in Rotterdam, where he is chief-conductor, and I have seen that guy working not in Rtd but in St Petersburg. I do not have to say he is good and excellent, have I? Four stars because of the repertoire symphony one.

Top Notch DVD, but for different reasons.......2004-09-01

I must say that this DVD is the crown jewel of my collection as well, but I think that the other reviewers on this site are pretty far off in their assessments.

For starters, a number of the opinions expressed here simply write off the Prokofiev performance. Perhaps this is a testament to how truly excellent the playing is. This piece may be the most deceptively difficult in the repertoire -- well played, it sounds like a facile piece of Mozart. This couldn't be further from the reality, however; the piece is intensely difficult. On this DVD, it serves as a real showcase for the VPO's talent. The woodwind playing is astonishingly crisp, the string sections operate with a machine-like unity, and the overall ensemble is unparalleled.

As for the opening tempo, I think I have a very logical explanation. To be sure, the first movement is taken a little on the slow side, but this is undoubtedly to balance the rip-roaring zippy fourth movement. This last movement is taken at a pace I've never heard and, somehow, it is the cleanest performance I have ever come across. Make no mistake: this is a very carefully rehearsed and well polished performance.

Here, I must take issue with the praise that other reviewers have lavished upon the Schnittke performance. I count myself among this composer's greatest fans (his name is tattooed in Cyrillic across my upper back), which is why I find Bashmet's "interpretation" lacking. He clearly feels very justified in taking a number of liberties with the score. He inserts several tempo changes in the second movement where none are indicated. For someone who knows the piece well, this really destroys the momentum. Bashmet's playing is impassioned to be sure, but often lacks precision. As for the VPO and Gergiev, it is a very difficult thing to judge. I'm not sure that the miking is properly done, and certain levels are often distorted to match what the picture on screen is. Anyone interested in this piece is encouraged to pick up Kim Kashkashian's recording on ECM. While still not 100% tight, it is a far more accurate rendition of what is surely one of Schnittke's finest pieces.

I can hardly disagree with anyone's account of the "Firebird" performance, however. This piece is surely a Gergiev specialty, and the orchestra's men really give him their finest efforts. The whole piece is well paced, though the final section in 7/4 time is taken just a tad faster than ordinarily heard.

As for Gergiev's conducting in general, I think this DVD really proves that a conductor can have a very non-standard technique and still be the real deal. The orchestra simply would not sound like this were it not for Gergiev's sharp ear and excellent command of these scores. There is an inner logic to his gestures -- just watch these performances enough, and you're sure to crack the code, just as the VPO's musicians have.

Awesome Performance of Schnittke!.......2004-06-04

I have to admit, I bought this DVD for the Schnittke, being a viola player myself. A performance of his work is pretty hard to come by and a DVD of this particular work makes it even better. After seeing this DVD, all I could say is WOW!

Yuri Bashmet is without a doubt an amazing violist and seeing him playing a work that was written for him and also meant a great deal for him is truly special. I was moved by his performance and after seeing this performance it has given me even more appreciation for this piece.

In my personal opinion, no other violist plays the Schnittke as well as Bashmet does. He plays this work with every ounce of emotion, feeling, and intensity in his body that makes the work sound very powerful, compelling and moving. Bashmet owns this piece! His lengthy interview also gave tremendous insight to his relationship with the composer and this great piece of music.

The performances of the other pieces are quite good, in particular the Firebird. The camera work is also first rate with superb angles and impeccable timing. Truly a highly recommendable DVD.

Outstanding concert, beautifully filmed.......2004-03-24

Taped at the 2000 Salzburg Festival, this wonderful all-Russian concert shows conductor Valery Gergiev at his most magnetic, here with the Vienna Philharmonic. The whole program is excellent, but the prize is the Schnittke "Viola Concerto" (1985), performed with great intensity by its dedicatee, Yuri Bashmet.

The concerto uses Bashmet's name (B-flat, A, E-flat, C, B-natural, E-natural) as its starting point for forty minutes of music, filled with unusual effects and ending with a quiet, death-haunted passage that shows the violist at his absolute best. The music is strikingly conceived and just as strikingly performed, with the Vienna musicians seeming to relish the challenge of a relatively unfamiliar work.

The Prokofiev begins swiftly, and has a nice momentum throughout. (Although how the musicians follow Gergiev's fluttering hand movements is a mystery.) The Stravinsky will probably be the favorite of many viewers, with Gergiev in white-hot form and the orchestra doing a sensational job with the work's brilliant colors.

Brian Large has filmed all this with clarity and lots of attention to details, including the sweat dripping onto Bashmet's viola at the end of the Schnittke, and Gergiev's positively evil-looking gaze in passages of "The Firebird." Sound and picture quality are superb.

This is probably one of the best filmed classical concerts on the market at the moment, perhaps a model of how these should be done.

To Prior reviewer GARDNERST.......2004-03-10

Please contact me, I would like to discuss with you about this and other DVDs. I am also into collecting classical DVDs.

Thanks. Skymakers@hotmail.com

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