Product Details

• Actors: Georges Pretre, Wiener Philharmoniker, Ballett der Wiener Staatsoper, Ballett der Wiener Volksoper, Lang Lang
• Directors: Brian Large
• Format: Anamorphic, Classical, Color, DVD, HiFi Sound, NTSC, Surround Sound, Widescreen
• Language: German
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Decca
• DVD Release Date: February 12, 2008
• Run Time: 129 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000XH2GR0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,574 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "New Year's Concert 2008 / Pretre, Wien Phil." visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The New Year's Concert in Vienna has been a glorious tradition for over six decades. A best-selling classical event, the concert has a unique global appeal. It has been broadcast on TV and radio to over 50 countries, and is viewed by tens of millions of people all over the world. The 2008 New Year's Day Concert will be conducted by the eminent conductor Georges Prêtre, the first French conductor to receive this honor. The concert program for January 1, 2008 will be the customary collection of Strauss delights, but this time with a French theme. Receiving its first performance at a New Year's Concert, Napoleon March op. 156 by Johann Strauss II will open the program. The traditional encores of Blue Danube Waltz and Radetzky March will be joined by the Sport Polka as a nod to the European Football Championship to be held in Vienna in 2008. The Summer Olympics in Beijing is also being saluted by the orchestra with an early work of the elder Johann Strauss, his exotically colored Chinese Gallop.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Some first time inclusions, August 27, 2008

By 

John Austin "[e-mail]" (Kangaroo Ground, Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New Year's Concert 2008 / Pretre, Wien Phil. (DVD)

With a world-wide TV and radio audience guaranteed and a tradition going back nearly 80 years, the Vienna Philharmonic New Year concerts can now afford to present several first time inclusions selected from the works of the over-worked and over-stressed Strauss Family. Six items in the 2008 program make their first appearance. Two are by Strauss The Father including a waltz with a short introduction that becomes very loud. These two items acknowledge French inspiration, as does Johann The Son's "Orpheus Quadrille", entirely based (not merely providing "echoes" as the booklet writer asserts) on melodies from Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld".

Another first time inclusion is the veteran French conductor Georges Prêtre whose selection of tempi changes within the waltzes and polkas are nicely judged even if they remove the music far away from its dance origins.

Those who wish to have the concert in DVD format can access some ballet sequences - distinctly more modern in style than usually provided, but timed to fit the music perfectly.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid New Year's Concert From Pretre & Vienna Philharmonic, April 29, 2008

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Year's Concert 2008 / Pretre, Wien Phil. (DVD)

Distinguished French operatic conductor Georges Pretre was definitely an odd choice to lead this year's concert at Vienna's venerable Musikverein, but he demonstrates a warm affinity for the Viennese waltz tradition in this rather well-played concert. With the possible exception of the Blue Danube Waltz, I thought Pretre was absolutely superb in conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), though perhaps it was more the Wiener Philharmoniker, not Pretre himself, who understood quite well the rich musical textures of J. Strauss II's scores. Nonetheless, this has to rank among the better New Year's Concerts in recent memory, even though I regard as more memorable both of Harnoncourt's concerts conducted earlier in this decade, as well as Mehta's exceptional 2007 concert. And yet, as I have noted before, Pretre demonstrates that he is a fine interpreter of the Strauss family's music, which is represented here by works composed not only by Johann Strauss II, but also several pieces - including the traditional encore "Radetzky March" - by his father Johann Strauss I and by his brother Josef Strauss. This annual New Year's treat also features excellent dancing from members of the Vienna State Opera Ballet, culminating in a fine "duet" that concludes within the Musikverein. Fans of the annual New Year's Concert will surely appreciate this latest addition from the Wiener Philharmoniker.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vienna + Pretre = magic, January 4, 2008

By 

Gregory See (Rockcliffe Park, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Year's Concert 2008 / Pretre, Wien Phil. (DVD)

The Vienna Philharmonic is one of those great orchestras of the world that are so powerful and competent that it is a rare maestro who can take the podium and command a unique performance. This is one of those instances.

With Maestro Pretre's AMAZING economy of movement and a face radiating peace and joy, never have I heard such a silken sound emanate from the orchestra. The performance was seamless, melodic perfection.

Definitely one to enjoy and savour repeatedly.