Customer Reviews

European Concert From Istanbul

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This DVD is of a live 2001 concert that was one in a series the Berlin Philharmonic has been doing, one concert per year in a European city of historic importance. It took place in the historic Church of St. Irene in Istanbul before a rapt cosmopolitan audience. It features the orchestra under the marvelous Latvian conductor, Mariss Jansons, who first burst onto the international scene perhaps twenty-five years ago with his recording of the complete Tchaikovsky symphonies with the Oslo Philharmonic. He has since been the conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony and just recently became chief conductor of the Bayerische Rundfunks Orchester in Munich. I well recall hearing him conduct music of Sibelius with the Royal Concertgebouw at the Barbican in London--one of my all-time great concert-going experiences.

The program consists of the 'Surprise' Symphony of Haydn (Symphony No. 94 in G major), the Mozart Flute Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 312 featuring the current poster-boy of flutists, Emmanuel Pahud, and a sizzling Berlioz 'Symphonie Fantastique.' The Philharmonic is in top form and this is a very satisfying concert indeed. Pahud, who not only has movie-star good looks but has a huge tone and sophisticated musicality, plays the Mozart dazzlingly. The Haydn features some of the most impressive pianissimi one could ever hear from an orchestra. And the 'surprise' in the second movement does indeed surprise because of the dynamic contrast.

But the star of the show is Berlioz's symphony. The Philharmonic had been reduced to chamber size for the two earlier pieces, but here the whole compliment of this large orchestra is crammed into the raised area at the front of this ancient church. There was no room for the two harpists and so they are placed in front of the orchestra at audience level and practically in the laps of the first row of concertgoers; they are actually behind the conductor. This works well when one considers the prominent role they play in the symphony, particularly the 'Un Bal' movement, but it looks a little strange in the last movement in which they don't play at all and have to just sit there idly while more or less still in the spotlight. No matter. This performance is simply stunning. Jansons conducts an extremely subtle performance and the Berliners give him everything he wants. The 'Marche aux supplice' and 'Songe d'une nuit de Sabbat' are incredibly exciting. One interesting touch is that the oboe that echoes the marvelous English horn solo in the 'Scene aux champs' is stationed in a rear balcony which appears to be as much as 100 yards away. Talk about antiphonal effects!

The camerawork is creative. There is a good deal of focus on the musical instruments and their players with a minimum of attention paid to the conductor himself. I appreciated this particularly remembering how the old Karajan/BPO videos tended to focus so much on the conductor as to make them seem a vanity project. Sound is superb stereo.

There is no booklet included with the DVD, no great loss and perhaps it was simply overlooked in DVD that I received. I certainly didn't miss it. There are two extras - a short backstage feature that shows musicians and technicians as they prepare for the concert and a very nicely done 20 minute feature about Istanbul itself with an emphasis on musical activity in that beautiful city. One gets to see and hear a colorfully-costumed Janissary band playing the kind of music that took Europe by a storm in the 18th century (think of Mozart's 'Rondo alla turca), advanced string students at one of the three local European-style conservatoires playing a bit of the Debussy Quartet, and an ensemble of traditional instruments playing Turkish music. We also get a look inside Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, among other sights.

TT=104 mins for the concert, and 30 minutes for the 'extras'

Scott Morrison

It's very hard to improve upon Scott Morrison's review.
Let me just add a few of my own observations:

Morrison is "right on" about Berlioz' Symphonie fantastique being the star of the symphonic show. The positioning of the harps right up in front, helps their being heard better (and more dramatically) than in usual performances.

The scary scene of the witches' sabbath, painted so wonderfully in sound by Berlioz, is enhanced by a bolder use of the percussion section. This is especially fitting, as it was the Turks whose music brought to Europe cymbals and a greater emphasis on drums. Berlioz and the BPO have returned the favor with this performance in Istanbul.

Speaking of Istanbul, there is an extra included on this dvd--a tour of Istanbul. I thought I wouldn't like it--that it would be filler--but it takes you through the Great Bazaar. There are plenty of brightly-painted and guilded mosque-like buildings. They even include a mesmerizing scene of whirling dervishes--something few of us ever get to see in action.

PS: Emmanuel Pahud is dazzling in the Mozart Flute Concerto.

A popular but very good program here: one Haydn (symphony), one Mozart (flute concerto), and Symphonie Fantastique. Videography is good, but sound strangely deficient, especially in Berlioz: sometimes first violins disappear -- and in fairly strategic places too -- and all you can hear is texture. Funny, 'cause videography in those moments is fine: they show the first violins. Don't know how this is possible, but there you have it. In general I didn't particularly like this Symphonie Fantastique: I think they brought in extra forces for that piece, yet still it lacked the large, lush, "Karajanian" sound which suits this Romantic piece so well; it was also somewhat choppy, stop-and-go rather than flowing (especially this is grating in the second movement, Le Bal, which as you know, is a waltz, and as such must be played with a sort of undulating ceaseless drive). Plus the disbalance I've mentioned above -- therefore four stars, not five. Otherwise this is a fine video. Extras hold one sizeable documentary about Istanbul -- not particularly informative, more like a tourist promotion flick, but still good for what it is, and a "Making of" which is definitely too sketchy, but again, other things being equal, better to have it than not.

Bottom line: Not a must-have, but pleasant; as far as owning it, I'd recommend to rent it first. Will make a good gift (that's how I got mine).

I was reluctant to purchase this DVD, almost lost this gem. Due to a previous review I understood that the continuous presence of the harps and harpists grab the viewers' attention and obstruct viewing the orchestra. If you hesitated to buy this DVD, and for the same reasons, there is no cause to worry about since the harpists don't stick out and do not grab the viewers' attention unless they perform. On top of that, while not played ,the golden harps are mainly seen in a zoom-out panoramic view of the church hall, and actually add to the church decoration and to the festivity of this event.
The camera's work is effective; solo instruments are in close-up frame at their precise playing time ;except in one case as stated below . One can see in detail the fingering and positions of the left hand string players, including variety and uncommon bowing techniques with the right hand as: various angles and intensities of string(s) attack, plucking (pizzicato), hitting the string with the woody part of the bow, bouncing the bow, muting strings et cet. All these variety techniques produce different sound colors, which is a captivating tour of zooming -in to the production of the sounds of music.
The performance of the Berlin Philharmonic is engaging. The 4th movement "March to the Scaffold" sounds very realistic. One can visualize the event in details as if watching a movie. The sound of the two horns before the execution and more powerfully expressed in the 5th movement is ominous and bloodcurdling. In the 5th movement "Dream of a Shabbat Night" one feels deride and unearthly wired atmosphere played in a high register pitch by woodwinds, mainly by the clarinets contrasting the muted violins strings.
There are some drawbacks: the default sound is in "stereo mode" which has an irritating background noise, the sound is also distorted when the orchestra is playing its climax sections. On the other hand "Dolby mode" sound is immaculate; it should have been the default sound to ease users' DVD manipulations. Another drawback is at the end of the 3rd movement "In the Country Side". Four timpani depicting a massive thunderstorm, which is one of the climaxes of "Symphonie Fantastique", yet for some reason, the camera concentrates on the ceiling and on a top window; implying lightning. That implication may have a lifting dramatization of artistic photographic effects, but I would prefer to see the actual musical instruments produce this massive sound at the culminating point of the 3rd movement.

In spite of these drawbacks seeing and hearing this performance on DVD is an elevating experience.

Scott Morrison got it right, this is a superb DVD. Well worth owning. If you have never heard a Haydn symphony in a live concert, this is the next best thing and the interpretation is simply perfect. Enjoy.

The Special Features, 'A Portrait of Istanbul' and the 'Behind the Scenes' setting up of the St. Irene Church for the concert was interesting. These 'Features' added greatly to the enjoyment of the performances for this viewer/listener.
The acoustics were intriguing and the venue fascinating.
As for Mariss Jansons, his customary energetic directions from the podium were delightful.

I purchased this for an online music appreciation class & didn't think I'd enjoy it much but I ended up really loving it. It helped me appreciate music more. It was shot really well.