Product Details

• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English, French, Spanish
• 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: Arthaus Musik
• DVD Release Date: August 1, 2000
• Run Time: 62 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00004UEE7
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,312 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The packaging labels this disc Mozart Requiem, but the actual program on the DVD bears the title "Herbert Von Karajan Memorial Concert," a document of a concert given on July 16, 1999 in Salzburg Cathedral to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of the conductor. Mozart's unfinished Requiem, as completed by Süssmayr, is obviously the main work. We are told that other works were performed in the concert, but not what they were, the only additional pieces included here being two short arias for soprano, "Betrachte dies mien Herz un Frage Mich," KV42 and "Laudate Dominum," KV339, beautifully sung by Rachel Harnisch. In the Requiem, Claudio Abbado summons a deeply atmospheric performance from the Berlin Philharmonic and Swedish Radio Choir, and equally expressive singing from his finely matched soloists. Bass Bryn Terfel is powerfully communicative, soprano Karita Mattila hauntingly resigned. If not as fiery as if Karajan himself were conducting, this is still a memorable and rewarding tribute.

The DVD has a wonderfully three-dimensional Dolby-Digital 5.1 sound mix that brings the Salzburg Cathedral ambience alive, and a stunningly detailed and clear anamorphically enhanced picture. Documentation is minimal; no texts, subtitles, or information about either Von Karajan or Rachel Harnisch is given. There is only one special feature, which is not documented on the disc: by default the disc offers a standard multi-camera view, but at a press of the Angle button it switches to a second set of cameras focused entirely on Abbado. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

From the Back Cover

On July 16, 1999, the tenth anniversary of the death of Herbert von Karajan, a memorial concert was held in the Salzburg Cathedral. The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Claudio Abbado, performed Mozart's Requiem in D minor, KV 626, among other works. Background reports illuminate Karajan's life and work, demythologize the legends surrounding the Requiem, and portray Salzburg and its cathedral.

Rachel Harnish - Soprano
Karita Mattila - Soprano
Sara Mingardo - Mezzo Soprano
Michael Schade - Tenor
Bryn Terfel - Bass Baritone

Swedish Radio Choir, Berliner Philharmoniker

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very nice performance, January 24, 2001

By 

Tina Morris "schultheiss" (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Karajan Memorial Concert - Mozart: Requiem / Claudio Abbado (DVD)

Should some people get misled and actually think that this is a Karajan performance, they will still not be disappointed in what Claudio Abbado has to offer. The concert was held on the tenth anniversay of Herbert von Karajan's death in the Salzburg cathedral. Abbado leads a superb performance of the Mozart Requiem, and among the soloists especially Bryn Terfel shines. The Mozart Requiem is probably my alltime favorite requiem, and Abbado gives a very sensitive, yet dynamic, forceful and very memorable interpretation. If you are into comparative listening, this is a version you should not miss. The sound and video quality of this DVD are outstanding, and as we follow the concert, the camera wanders around in the cathedral and offers some wonderful detail views of the beautiful art that the church has to offer. The performance is shot in widescreen format and uses it to its best. The video is part of a series offered by Arthaus and the Berlin Philharmonic, and the overall very high production quality make us want to see a lot more like this in the future

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Von Karajan does NOT conduct here! It is a memorial concert, August 6, 2000

By 

Dan Sherman (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Karajan Memorial Concert - Mozart: Requiem / Claudio Abbado (DVD)

Although this is fine performance of the Mozart Requiem, please note that it a memorial performance from 1999 to von Karajan conducted on the 10th anniversary of his death. The Berlin Philharmonic is conducted by Claudio Abbado and the performance takes place in Salzburg Cathedral. It is straightforward production of the Requiem with the camera on the performers most of the tiime, with a few cut-away shots to the cathederal. There are also two other small pieces on the program (two arias for soprano).

Performances are very good here and the event is (as befits it its setting) very solemn. The sound and picture quality are excellent and progran notes are good (though they do not provide text of the pieces!). There are no extra DVD features at all such as sutitles.

This is a good "Requiem" to have. I do feel that it behooves Amazon to provide a bit more information about music DVDs -- It would, for example, be good to know that this is NOT a von Karajan performance. Even a picture of the DVD would help!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than expected, August 31, 2000

By 

Robert Heyward "Rob Heyward" (Dayton, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Karajan Memorial Concert - Mozart: Requiem / Claudio Abbado (DVD)

A very good recent performance (recorded on July 16, 1999) of perhaps my favorite Mozart composition. The performance takes place in the beautiful Salzburg Cathedral. The video is clear, covers everything well, and comes in 16:9 format. Although captions are not available, the sound is very good and can be heard in either PCM stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1. In general, the production was very high quality.

In addition to the Requiem, there is also an Aria for Soprano (Betrachte Dies Mein..KV42). I appreciate and enjoy Mozart's powerful Requiem more now that I have this DVD.