Product Details

• Actors: Hakan Hardenberger, Christian Lindberg
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (PCM Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: November 23, 1999
• Run Time: 54 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000214F8
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,009 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On the back of this package, Håkan Hardenberger is described as "the world's greatest trumpeter," a claim that his performance does a lot to justify. Christian Lindberg gets a slightly more modest description as a "sensational virtuoso trombonist," and has no trouble living up to it. The "Night at the Opera" in the title turns out to be a concert at the Royal Academy of Arts in London devoted to transcriptions for trumpet, trombone, and piano, mostly from opera but also including a bit of ballet (a suite from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet), a transcription from Orlando di Lasso, who lived before opera was invented, Rossini's hilarious "Duet for Two Cats," and (on piano) Liszt's tribute to a sonnet of Petrarch.

Operatic material includes the overtures to Verdi's La Forza del Destino and Rossini's The Barber of Seville, a suite from Carmen, a brilliant transcription of the "Papageno... Papagena" duet from The Magic Flute, and a set of variations on a theme from Bellini's Norma. The performances are phenomenal, the musical material instantly and deeply appealing. The music would be enjoyable (and cheaper) in a CD without the video element, but the visuals add significantly to the value of this production. Brass players will be interested in seeing how these experts handle their instruments; others will pick up a sense of atmosphere from the striking surroundings, with paintings in the background and a highly reactive audience. --Joe McLellan

Product Description
A dazzling and witty concert of music with the world's greatest trumpeter, Hakan Hardenberger, the sensational virtuoso trombonist Christian Lindberg and pianist Love Derwinger playing transcribed instrumental versions of opera favorites. The musicians have themselves made some of the transcriptions; the program also includes two pieces from Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" and Liszt's "Sonetto 104 del Petrarca," originally written as a song for a tenor voice and played here as a piano solo. The musicians' brilliant playing and sense of fun make this a unique musical event. Set list: Overture from The Force of Destiny (Verdi), Variations on a Theme from Norma (Bellini/Arban), Suite from Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev), Papageno...Papagena from The Magic Flute (Mozart), Suite from Carmen (Bizet), Sonnet 104: Petrarch (Liszt), Duet for Two Cats (Rossini), Song Without Words (Di Lasso), Overture from The Barber of Seville (Rossini). 54 minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No singing, but top brass performers!, September 1, 2000

By	Kenneth Fung (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This is a must have for any brass enthusiasts, Hardenberger and Lindberg are among the world's finest trumpet and trombone players! The performance is absolutely first rate, nice tone and wonderful showcase of technique! The transcriptions of opera arias are quite successful too. Perhaps the title is a bit misleading so I think amazon should clearly label this DVD as a brass, not vocal, performance.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solo brass playing at its finest., January 11, 2000

By	Kevin A Marino (Palm Desert, California) - See all my reviews

This DVD is a real gem. Hardenberger and Lindberg give an excellent performance which showcases their fine technique and ability to control their instruments. Perhaps most importantly, they are able to convey their fine musicianship without the aid of the human voice. This is not an easy task when one considers that they are borrowing literature from the world of opera. Also, the setting of the art gallery in which the performance takes place is quite stunning. Bravo!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't shoot the messenger!, March 31, 2000

By	Jay (Europe & USA in equal parts) - See all my reviews

Read the program description BEFORE you purchase this product to avoid being disappointed with the content. OK, there is no singing on this program. But what you do have here are the best trumpet and trombone players before the public today. The performances are exceptional, and the program works well - it's enjoyable and tastefully done. It definitely deserves high marks. If you think you would be interested in a program of operatic transcriptions for brass, then this program is a joy.