14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful in every regard, November 25, 2002
This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 / Mozart: Fantasia and Sonatas (DVD)
Friedrich Gulda is probably best know for his sensitive Mozart renditions, having dedicated great parts of his life's work to "the divine master" as he calls him. But on this superbly produced DVD the Beethoven Emperor concerto is the real stunner - a wonderful recording in which Gulda conducts as well as he plays. He is in total harmony and synch with a superb Munich Philharmonic, and the spirit of the whole performance is very moving. The audio and video of the great production are outstanding, another quality production from the House of Panasonic. These are the kinds of productions one buys a DVD player for!
The second part of the DVD has Gulda playing Mozart sonatas and those are pretty much the icing on the cake of an absolutely outstanding disc! Buy it for your collection and never regret it.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Friedrich Gulda plays Beethoven and Mozart, June 21, 2005
This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 / Mozart: Fantasia and Sonatas (DVD)
A very good DVD
I'd been looking for a DVD of Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto when I came across this disc that featured two independent recordings; Beethoven's Emperor Concerto in 1989 with the Munich Philharmonic, and then 3 Mozart piano sonatas in 1995.(also recorded in Munich).
I must admit I was unfamiliar with the name Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000) until this time. Initially, I was somewhat surprised by his causal attire when he arrived on stage; the concert appeared to have very laid-back atmosphere. However, Mr. Gulda proved to be a pianist extraordinaire, as was evident by his interpretation and skill with both the Beethoven and the Mozart. The playing is enthusiastic and passionate throughout, and despite looking decidedly older and more frail in the 1995 recordings, I liked the Mozart sonata in D major K 576 best of all the works on this disc.
The only negative is that the recording has picked up some of Mr. Gulda's humming and mutterings that occurred while he was playing. This was not particularly distracting to me but I mention it for the sake of completeness.
There is only scant information on the disc case and there is no booklet with this DVD but the disc has extra material on it giving some biography info on Mr. Gulda and a brief history of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. There is also an option to have some on screen musical analysis done while you're watching this recording.
All in all, a fine DVD to add to one's library of classical music.
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16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the reason one purchases a dvd player, April 24, 2000
This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 / Mozart: Fantasia and Sonatas (DVD)
imho mr guilda is a real entertainer and an artist. i have never witnessed one of his performances before. there is little doubt in my mind you will love the way he throws himself into the music. he plays extravagantly but i did not think his ego was too much on display-he simply makes you respond to the music the way he pours out the way he feels. what an entertainer! i loved it. it would be impossible not to play beethoven no. 5 again.
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