Product Details

• Actors: Klaus Mertens, Kuhnau, York, Isidro, Bartosz
• Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: French (PCM)
• Subtitles: German, English, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Euroarts
• DVD Release Date: May 17, 2005
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006HB984
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,490 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Period Performances, January 8, 2011

By 

Gerhard P. Knapp "gpk" (Forest Grove, OR, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach - Magnificat / Ton Koopman, Deborah York, Orlanda Velez Isidro, Bogna Bartosz, Jorg Durmuller,Klaus Mertens, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Leipzig (DVD)

This generous DVD has the Bach Magnificat (in its lesser-known earlier E flat major version, BWV 243a, employing recorders and E flat trumpets), Bach's slightly bland cantata Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn, BWV 10, and Johann Kuhnau's Magnificat in C major. Kuhnau was Bach's predecessor as Thomaskantor in Leipzig, and his setting of the Magnificat is quite impressive, alternating ceremonial choral passages, fully scored with trumpets and drums, with more intimate, melodic solo pieces. This is definitely worth repeated listening. The concert was filmed during the Leipzig Bachfest 2003, in the St. Thomas Church. Chorus and orchestra are placed in the choir over the altar, fairly high above the heads of most of the audience. This may seem strange at first glance, but it most likely re-enacts performance practice at the composers' time. The setting does not impair at all the recording's very good acoustics, but one might wonder about the experience of the audience, who could not really see the proceedings and may have had a strange sound picture in the resonant church. The camera work is quite outstanding. Also a concession to "authenticity" are the interpolations of German hymns between the movements of the Magnificat, both Kuhnau's and Bach's. Thus Bach's oratorio has 16 "movements", as opposed to the commonly heard Latin version of 12, Kuhnau's has 4 interpolations. For those who prefer the traditional liturgy unadorned by Protestant hymns, it is easy to skip between numbers. Koopman and his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra of course use period instruments. This is a group of outstanding professionals, the Choir included, who excel in every respect. Tempi are exceedingly brisk, but every nuance is observed, every note gets its due value, and the interpretations are first-rate. Moreover, the conductor and his forces are visibly inspired by the locale and the occasion: this is a joyful production to treasure.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars magnificent performance!, December 12, 2007

By 

Henri Drolsbach - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach - Magnificat / Ton Koopman, Deborah York, Orlanda Velez Isidro, Bogna Bartosz, Jorg Durmuller,Klaus Mertens, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Leipzig (DVD)

This performance give me the shivers. Although the pace is somewhat fast, it is, for me, a beautiful experience. I particularly love Bogna Bartosz, the alt as well as the tenor, Jörg Dürmüller. Well, everybody is performing at an extremly high level. Please listen to this heavenly music!

4.0 out of 5 stars Bach Magnificat/ Ton Koopman, November 21, 2009

By 

James Rawie "ToccataTahoe" (Lake Tahoe) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bach - Magnificat / Ton Koopman, Deborah York, Orlanda Velez Isidro, Bogna Bartosz, Jorg Durmuller,Klaus Mertens, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Leipzig (DVD)

Koopman's conducting style may turn you off, but that is not what this disc is about. Period instruments performing the lesser known version of Bach's Magnificat, stunning dvd recording, nice camera work, quality singing and NORMAL soloists, ie no screamers here, all provide for a very nice experience of watching this performance. It is FAR NICER for us than the audience, which is far removed from the performers area. This is how Bach might actually have performed in the ThomasKirche in Leipzig. The price is reasonable, and the extras in this disc make it all a bargain. Koopmans recording on dvd of several of Bach's cantatas is similarly well done, and worth the watch/listen. James Rawie