Product Details

• Actors: Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lambert Orkis
• Format: Classical, Color, DTS Surround Sound, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, German, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Deutsche Grammophon
• DVD Release Date: July 16, 2002
• Run Time: 336 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000056JSU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,361 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flawless, August 6, 2002

By 

Robert G. VanStryland (Denton, TX USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven - Complete Violin Sonatas (Anne-Sophie Mutter) (DVD)

Mutter and Orkis were recorded on stage playing all ten of Beethoven's sonatas for piano and violin, which are presented in order from first to last. The performances are all wonderful. Although Orkis is not as famous as Mutter, it is evident that he collaborates on at least an equal basis (in the earlier sonatas, the piano is the leading instrument; in the later ones, the violinist becomes an equal partner). Mutter is second to no one as an executant and these performances are free of significant technical flaws. Picture and sound quality are first-rate. I can't think of any reason you wouldn't want these DVDs. NOTE: another DVD, entitled "A Life with Beethoven," contains the same performances of the "Spring" and "Kreutzer" sonatas and the same documentary found in "Beethoven's Complete Violin Sonatas." If you get this one, you don't need the other.

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Technique and Virtuosity taking the spotlight away from the music, April 12, 2006

By 

Nabih B. Bulos (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Beethoven - Complete Violin Sonatas (Anne-Sophie Mutter) (DVD)

As someone who has worked with Lambert Orkis, I can say with some authority that he is unequivocally a genius in the art of accompaniment, and a true wizard at the piano. I have rarely felt such rapport with a pianist, the sort of rapport that effortlessly creates the atmosphere that I would try very hard (and often vainly) to create with a lesser pianist. Without a doubt, I have never felt such masterful support in whatever sonata is at hand. Accordingly, it is no surprise that Orkis's playing is impeccable in these sonatas, and truly a wonderful complement to any violinist who knows his/her stuff.
The violinist, in this case, is Anne-Sophie Mutter, who hardly needs an introduction and whose provenance in proven, especially in her earlier years.
Which is why, I suppose, this DVD is so surprising...
The fact of the matter is that Anne-Sophie Mutter, although a fabulous violinist, seems to be using effects just for effects' sake. A phenomenal technician, with an almost supernatural ability to "turn on a dime" with her pianist (going from a furious feel to one of calm within the space of a measure, an invaluable ability in Beethoven's music), here she over-does effects that simply have no place in the music (indeed, they are not even written in), and more importantly, are there only to highlight her abilities as a violinist and not the glory of the Beethoven sonatas. Her overuse of colors, turns, and other truly unnecessary effects in Beethoven's music amount to an insult of the music, as if it is not able to stand on its own merits. Of course, no one is arguing for a performance without feeling, but for someone with ASM's credentials to turn in a performance of this sort (especially when all the elements are there for a truly phenomenal music-making experience) is almost tragic.
With that said, this DVD remains a valuable resource for violinists. Anne-Sophie Mutter is without a doubt one of the world's most virtuosic colorists. Even though she uses it to bad effect here, she remains a force to be reckoned with, and therefore deserving to be heard and observed, if only to learn from her technique.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moments of great delicacy coupled with her usual bravura performances, January 22, 2011

By 

Cynthia S. Haggard "Cynthia Sally Haggard" (Washington DC USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven - Complete Violin Sonatas (Anne-Sophie Mutter) (DVD)

Though it is true that Anne Sophie Mutter can get a loud sound out of her violin, she is also capable of playing with great delicacy. Witness her performance of some of the passages of the Beethoven Sonata No. 8, Op. 30 No. 3. The opening movement is one of great contrasts and subtlety, and Mutter does not miss any of the nuances. The slow movement requires some very quiet and restful playing, and Mutter is able to provided the sotto-voce veiled tone that is needed to evoke the mood of poignant contemplation. The third movement is a rollicking moto perpetuo in Beethoven's grand style, and here, Mutter plays just as her reputation suggests, with what my violin teacher used to call a "terrific sound", i.e. a sound that can easily cut through the intricate rhythmic complexities of a concert grand piano.
Deutsche Grammaphon has packaged Mutter's performance of the 10 Beethoven sonatas on a DVD. At first this took me aback as I thought I had purchased a CD. However, I soon found that if I set the DVD player on my iMac to open a small window, I could work on my computer while listening (and occasionally glancing) at the performance. Note to Mac users: If you just insert the disc, you will be in Full Screen view. To get out of it, eject the disc, to get the small window to pop up, then put it back in again. Alternatively, you can open the DVD player and set it to the small window BEFORE putting the disc in. I do not find the DVD distracting at all, as I can easily hide the window behind other windows I have open, and in the meantime I can enjoy listening to this heavenly music.