Product Details

• Actors: Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Mitsuko Uchida, Zubin Mehta
• Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• 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: Nutech Digital
• DVD Release Date: July 13, 2004
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001Z4PCI
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,279 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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

  #4 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Performer > Mehta, Zubin
  #100 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > Symphonies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MITSUKO and ZUBIN: A Great DOUBLE Pleasure !!, April 29, 2005

By	RBSProds "rbsprods" (Deep in the heart of Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Five WONDERFUL Stars! This DVD is a visual and aural double pleasure: the authoritative Zubin Mehta and the fabulous Israel Philharmonic Orchestra meet the awesome pianism of Mitsuko Uchida in a bravura concert recorded in Tel Aviv in 2002. The performances are beautifully recorded, and filmed from an impressive number of angles, including a spectacular shot that retreats from above the violin section in a huge arc around the piano to a full shot of the orchestra.


The main 'Pieces de 'Resistance' begin with a beautifully rendered Beethoven "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No 4, op 58 in G major"; a performance of nuance, clarity, and great beauty. And then listen to (and watch) her performance of the unlisted encore of Mozart's "Sonata in C, K 545, second movement". WOW, it's so beautiful and her touch is gorgeous. Her encyclopedic knowledge and mastery of the great classical composers over her career makes her entirely deserving of her worldwide acclaim for these many years.

The 'Pieces D' Resistance' for the remainder of the DVD, are Mehta and the Philharmonic's poignant rendition of Schubert's "Rosamunde D 797 Overture 1a", and Philharmonic soloists Dudu Carmel (oboe) and Zinovi Kaplan (violin) on the inspired "Bach Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Strings No 9", which is greatly enjoyed by an enthusiastic Mehta.

As a Mitsuko Uchida fan for 20 years, it is great to not only FINALLY see her perform on DVD, but to see her with the great Zubin Mehta as both are literally swept away by the music when one or the other is dominating the proceedings. On a scale of one to five. Five Wonderful Stars!! Buy it NOW and enjoy!! It's wonderful and worth every penny!! Highly Recommended!!!!!. Five ENCHANTING Stars!! (DVD)

4 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great, or just Good?, November 23, 2005

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

Uchida enjoys such a big name worldwide. Having really heard her here for the first time, one wonders how she could compare with Zimerman who played it with so much conviction (Vienna Philahrmonic/ Bernstein: DG); even the less with Arrau who possesses a such rich and sonorous tone plus a full sense of structure (Pianists of the Golden Age). One shouldn't really compare her with Backhaus (with Knappertbusch )e.g. the dialogues between the orchestra with the pianist as the poet: Note that however stormy the orchestra might sound: the Backhaus remained the poet and the centre of attention instead of being overwhelmed altogether...

People say No.4 is the most difficult of all Beethoven's Concerti and it is just a little too ambitious for a pianist like Uchida to choose this one. With Uchida, the structure isn't terribly clear. Perhaps this is justified, for this concerto is fundamentally lyrical, more introspective than heroic. Yet her tone is so bright when it is meant to be introspective and on other occasion it sounded as though she is screaming. Are those the heroic moments? What about the dialogues between the piano and the orchestra, particularly that in the second movement?

Well, the audience can listen for themselves if they like the solo part which opens the concerto, and how they like the balance between the piano and the orchestra albeit Mehta was so accommodative so much so that we almost have a muted orchestra...

Her Mozart (K.545, second movement) is rather nice. But don't expect the simplicity and beauty of Geiseking's, nor the lyricism of Horszowski's rendition. Having heard her, I wonder if she is any better than Dang Thai Son ( first Asian Chopin International Competition gold medalist )? Or, is she anywhere as great as M Long, Annie Fischer, Clara Haskil, Guiomar Novaes, Nikolayeva, Maria Tipo... etc just to name a few other contemporary woman pianists albeit for one reason or the other, none of the latters had been chosen as great pianist of the century by Philips? One explanation would be, gripped tight in the rein of Commercialism, the Japanese market was and is just too great to ignore.

Lastly, one should also take note that too much close-ups of Uchida's facial expressions may not add anything to the enjoyment of the music; and the way she bows (lower than her waist i.e. well beyond 90 degree) is neither here nor there. But one should also point out that the oboiest as well as the violinist in Bach are marvelous, and Mehta and the ochestra has obviously done a very good job. They are to be recommended for their wonderful performance.