Product Details

• Actors: Kathleen Battle, Thomas Allen, Frank Lopardo, Paul Groves, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
• Directors: Seiji Ozawa
• Format: DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Color, 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: Philips
• DVD Release Date: June 15, 2004
• Run Time: 134 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0001Z65PS
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,705 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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

  #1 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Composer > Beethoven, Ludwig van
  #3 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Historical Period > Classical (c.1770-1830)
  #4 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > Symphonies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Choral, Great Orchestra and the GREAT Ozawa.. WOW, January 18, 2006

By	J. Levin (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For my nearly 80 years of age,I have a rather large DVD collection and even a larger VHS collection that goes back more than 40 years.

I am not a too emotional person, but this particular DVD had me crying real tears of aesthetic emotion, as I listen and viewed both,Carmina Burana and Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 of this particular DVD.

I have no musical background and I guess I wouldn't know what might be considered a great interpretation of a perfect musical
rendition. But I have over my many years, have attended and heard and seen many of the "Greats" of Classical musical performance. This paricular DVD is by far the most inspiring and most (emotional) moving (musical) experience of all my life. OZAWA is near my age now and is no longer conducting. Because of THIS particular DVD, I have since ordered as many DVD recordings of OZAWA's conducting, as I can afford.

Of all the (thousands) DVD's and VHS that I own, THIS particular DVD is my most treasured visual and audio experience.

J. Levin

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss getting this one!, July 17, 2004

By	Milda Ruffo (Mount Royal, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Getting both Carmina Burana and Beethoven's Choral Symphony on one DVD is already a bargain, but wait until you see and hear the performances. They are amazing! Seiji Osawa is a treat to watch. He is such an expressive conductor. The excellent choir in Carmina Burana sings from memory and their voices blend beautifully, even their expressions show that they are having fun singing it. The soloists are great and they also sing with much feeling. I could hardly believe that there was another large piece on the same DVD and I must say it is an exciting 9th! Again Seiji Osawa chooses great tempi and I loved this very different work as much as the first. It was very interesting to hear such different orchestras and choirs, which don't normally come here, and to enjoy their music. The sound is really very good as are the images if played on a decent player. I recommend this DVD very highly.

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ozawa, Allen, Battle perform magic in Orff/Beethoven combo, June 21, 2005

By	R. Nicholson - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

A wonderful DVD! I think both Orff and Beethoven would have been pleased with Ozawa's interpretation of these works.

This DVD presents Seiji Ozawa conducting both Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" in 1989 in Berlin (with the Berliner Philarmoniker and the Shin-Yu Chorus of Japan) and also Beethoven's 9th Symphony in 2001? in Tokyo (with the Saito Kinen Orchestra and the Tokyo Opera Singers). In addition, the Orff work has guess soloist Kathleen Battle, Frank Lepardo (tenor), and Thomas Allen (baritone). The soloist for the Beethoven work are Anne Schwanewilms,(soprano), Barbara Dever (alto), Paul Groves (tenor) and Franz Hawlata (bass).

A fabulous performance of Orff's work. Ozawa's animated conducting style is able to get the best out of this orchestra and chorus. Allen's baritone voice is well suited for this work; while Kathleen Battle gives a smooth, emotional performance. Her voice is just so pure, her singing almost effortless, that she simply stands apart in this cast of great singers. (While watching this performance I began to wonder how much time must have been spent in rehearsals in preparing this huge Japanese chorus to sing in Italian. Whatever difficulties (if any), Ozawa pulls off this Herculean task with considerable aplomb).

The 9th Symphony by Beethoven is every bit as good as the Orff. With the difference of 11-12 years between these two recordings Ozawa has become decidedly grayer, and with a look of seasoned mastery about him. However, with age, his conducting skills seem even better. He controls his orchestra/chorus with a raise of a finger here, a look of an eye or a nod of a head there; but he's always in charge and with impeccable timing.

The camera work and editing was first rate in both performances; moving and switching to the next instrument/singer(s) was done with accuracy and great effect. There is a wonderful balance in this video with respect to the amount of time showing the orchestra/chorus verses Ozawa. (I think back to some of the Von Karajan "legacy" DVD's and how much time seemed to be taken up showing the conductor rather that the orchestra). The audio is also top notch.

Highlight of the disc:

So many to choose from, but I'd have to pick Kathleen Battle's rendition of "Dulcissime" from "Carmina Burana" (cut 24 on the disc): 49 seconds of the purest voice and sweetest sounds you'll probably ever hear in your lifetime. (As an aside, notice the violin player just off Battle's right elbow during this aria; I think he was entranced with this performance)

All in all, two great pieces of music that are performed as well as I could ever has hoped for. But make no mistake about it, this DVD is as much about Ozawa as it is the music being played; a legacy, if you will, profiling his talents and skills as a conductor that have accumulated over a long career. Highly recommended.