Product Details

• Actors: George Szell, Erica Morini
• Format: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Video Artists Int'l
• DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: B00006LPGT
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #96,881 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Featuring original footage of performances originally broadcast in 1961, this program of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by 20th-century heavyweight maestro George Szell is a pleasure to watch in more ways than one. Acting as a kind of time capsule, the program, consisting mostly of popular pieces by Beethoven, Berlioz, Mussorgsky, and Mozart, reminds us of an era when classical concerts were beamed into homes as regular Sunday-evening fare. Guest cellist Erica Morini commands a searing and stately performance through the Mozart Violin Concerto, but the star of the night here, of course, is Szell himself, and this release gives enthusiasts the opportunity at last to experience the conducting legend in as intimate a setting as is currently available. While the clarity of the picture often falls victim to the technology of the time--in some segments the black-and-white video could be described as flat-out blurry--the sound overall is surprisingly good. Rest assured, however, that any shortcomings in the quality of the 40-year old videotape is more than compensated by the chance to watch Szell in the twilight of his career conducting with such passion and virtuosity. --Karl Wachter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morini Alone is Worth the Ticket Already, August 29, 2004

By	BLee "bpslee" (HK) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Recommended for :

(i) the nice and rather easly listening repertoire;

(ii) it gives us a much better idea of how Szell conducts;

(iii) we could readily compare Szell with his successor Sir George Solti, and

(iv) most importantly of all, we have Morini, one of the greatest violinists of the century (from the Viennese School) playing Mozart-- her footage alone is worth the ticket already, especially for those who have a ear or taste for the more refine and assuring sort of music and suffice to say that among all violinists of the past, Hilary Hann would particualarly love to see Morinin at work!

The sound is indeed quite good and the picture is more than acceptable.