Product Details

• Actors: Andre Previn, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: August 26, 1997
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1561270687
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #338,197 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1984 BBC series, of which this is the first installment (later episodes trace the symphonic genre through to Shostakovich), was intended to provide new listeners of classical music with a bit of historical background along with the music. The remarkably facile Andre Previn ably performs double duty as host and conductor, introducing the compositions in the easygoing, unprepossessing manner that has made him so popular a performer, composer, and personality. His brief statements are adequate for what they are, albeit of no greater depth or insight than a particularly well-written album liner note. If the inspiration for this series was the many fine, informative programs Leonard Bernstein hosted for television over the years, it must be admitted that when it comes to educating an audience, Previn is no Bernstein; but the simplicity of the lectures are superbly compensated by the glorious music making, which of course is the whole point.

Following a brief rundown of the state of music making in the early 18th century, illustrated with simple drawings and a charmingly tacky paper-cutout diorama, Previn leads the Royal Philharmonic in a delicate, unrushed performance of Haydn's Symphony No. 87; the Adagio is especially fine--Previn is sensitive to the hushed tenderness of this lovely movement. A more autobiographical introduction prefaces Mozart's dramatic Symphony No. 39, quite appropriate given the relative excitement in the two great composers' lives. Again, the musical performance is worth any wait. The opening movement's buildup to the Allegro is driving but unforced; the Andante's elegant flow and tempestuous upheavals are both perfectly realized. Forget the spoken intros--everything Previn has to say about these masterpieces is eloquently expressed in their playing. --Bruce Reid

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for Music Appreciation classes, January 25, 2005

By 

Scott R. Harding (St. Johns, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Story of the Symphony Vol. 1 - Haydn Symphony No. 87 and Mozart Symphony No. 39 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I use lots of video to try to "liven up" class lectures on Music Appreciation. I like the Previn series quite a lot, and this tape especially. Sometimes Previn's speech is directed at a younger audience than I'm teaching, but all in all his explanations of the instruments and the time period are good. Lots of close-ups let students see (and hear!) the individual instruments and how they are played. The performances of the two symphonies are excellent. These are pretty good tapes, at a much better price than "educational" tapes produced in small quantities.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely music - Commentary could use clearer enunciation, May 16, 2001

By 

Raymond Tremblay - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sounds Magnificent (The Story of the Symphony) - Haydn Symphony No. 87 and Mozart Symphony No. 39 / Previn, RPO (DVD)

Beautiful music beautifully performed. Mr. Previn's commentaries give us just the right amount of information needed and seem to me perfectly appropriate for this kind of medium. My only complaint is that, to my ears at least, the final syllable of MANY of his words remains INAUDIBLE. The more you get interested in a sentence you are hearing, the more it becomes frustrating to miss the meaning of the whole thing just because of one lousy little syllable here and there. I would suggest providing Mr. Previn with a separate microphone just for his talks.

5.0 out of 5 stars Eloquent in every sense, April 7, 2005

By 

R. Evans (Montgomery AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Story of the Symphony Vol. 1 - Haydn Symphony No. 87 and Mozart Symphony No. 39 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Andre Previn is the ideal host for a series such as this, and this program on Haydn and Mozart is especially effective. Previn speaks clearly and quietly, but also with great eloquence, conviction, and authority. He seems to be speaking entirely spontaneously; it's possible, of course, that he has rehearsed every word or is reading from a teleprompter, but, if that is true, then he is a very good actor. His words prefacing the Mozart symphony are especially moving; one senses that Previn is a very decent and good man who truly loves the music he is introducing. His conducting, like his personality, is understated and subtle; he is not (like some conductors) a histrionic showman who needs all attention focused on himself. The music is played beautifully and gracefully (in all the senses of that word), and the camera work is excellent. The images are not as crisp as would be possible if this series were being filmed today, but they are clear enough. The sound is quite good on VHS and (for all I know) might be even better on DVD. Like the other programs in this series, this one satisfied me immensely, and I highly recommend it to others.