Product Details

• Actors: Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: EMI Classics
• DVD Release Date: February 11, 2003
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000087F5C
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,577 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Beethoven - Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano / Barenboim, Ma, Perlman" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Triple Concerto...magnificent in audio, video & emotion, May 18, 2005

By 

R. Nicholson - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Beethoven - Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano / Barenboim, Ma, Perlman (DVD)

A fabulous DVD!

This disc was recorded in 1995 and features Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Daniel Barenboim (on piano and orchestra conductor) with the Berlin Philharmonic.

I became interested in this music because I'd heard the Choral Fantasy while listening to CBC radio 2 (Canada). When I looked up the Choral Fantasy on Amazon.com I found that it was available on DVD and it also contained Beethoven's Triple Concerto. It was a pleasant surprise to find both these magnificent works on one disc.

There were many things I liked about this disc...to mention a few.

-while the Choral Fantasy is awesome on its own (with Daniel Barenboim giving a virtuoso performance), it is the Triple Concerto that is the spectacular focal point on this disc. Its infectious melody is performed with such pace and intensity that I sensed that all participants were totally absorbed in giving what could only be described, at least to me, as a performance of a lifetime.

-this disc is the perfect example of why classical music such as this should be on DVD as well as CD. The video of this performance does so much to enhance the enjoyment of the music; the camera work and film editing for the entire disc make this DVD a superior product. There were close ups of fingers and instruments, as well as shots of individuals and some panoramic views of the orchestra. The camera switching was done with impeccable timing and with great effect; for instance, there is one point in the 3rd movement of the Triple Concerto that you could see the perspiration glistening on Yo-Yo Ma's brow as rivulets of sweat ran down his cheek. Just great camera work!

-the emotional impact of the music on Ma , Perlman and Barenboim during this performance cannot be overstated; the intensity and concentration on the faces, as well as the animated body language of the principals could be clearly seen and appreciated.

-and finally, it appeared that all three featured performers, as well as the orchestra and chorus were elated with the way this performance continued to progress during the evening; a sense of joyous accomplishment seemed to permeate the orchestral stage... What a thrill it must have been to have witnessed live.

Highlight of the disc:
So many to consider, but I think my favorite part of this entire disc is Yo-Yo Ma's beginning of the beautiful Largo (2nd movement); He is totally absorbed in his work, every note played with the utmost tenderness and feeling. Stirring to watch.

All in all, a 5 star performance in audio, video and most importantly emotional content. It's just hard to imagine finding a better Triple Concerto or Choral Fantasy anywhere.

P.S. The only thing I found odd about this performance was the delayed audience response at the end of the Triple Concerto. (one of the other reviewers mentioned this as well) I got the feeling from the way the audience finally responded, that they weren't quite sure it was over (that no one wanted to be the first to clap or cheer); the only other explanations would be that they didn't like it (unlikely) or were so enraptured with the music they simply forget when it was finished.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic concerto, April 23, 2003

By 

M. TON - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven - Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano / Barenboim, Ma, Perlman (DVD)

This is a fantastic performance by some of the best performers in our era. The beauty of this piece is that the trio need to work tremendously well together. They haven't disappointed. Adding that Berlin Phil gives first class performance as usual, it is simply quite amazing.

It is live recording so you can see the artist at work in the most brilliant fashion. One might not be there live, but surely the DVD quality is close in re-living in the actual concert hall.

In the CD review, people complain about audience clapping. There are no real problems there, except the audience are a bit slow to applause. Don't know why. To me, the performance deserves a standing ovation and a passionate praise.

The Chorus Fantasy is a pretty unusually piece, I should think. The Choir has to wait about 15 mins before they can sing their first chore. I buy the DVD because of the Tripo, never-or-less, I am sure I will enjoy it when I watch it more.

I think this is the best music DVD I have bought so far. I have bought in a HK shop as a cut price DVD for about US$ 18. I surely think it is an absolute bargain.

I have also bought the early 80's CD version of Yo-Yo Ma, A-S Mutter and Zeltser with Von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonic. It is also worth buying in terms of pure music enjoyment.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Barenboim in excelsis, May 15, 2007

By 

Joseph Barbarie (new haven, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven - Choral Fantasy and Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano / Barenboim, Ma, Perlman (DVD)

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.