Search - Celibidache Conducts Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 on DVD


Celibidache Conducts Bruckner: Symphony No. 9
Celibidache Conducts Bruckner Symphony No 9
Actor: Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino Della RAI
Genres: Music Video & Concerts, Musicals & Performing Arts
NR     2007     1hr 2min


     
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Actor: Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino Della RAI
Genres: Music Video & Concerts, Musicals & Performing Arts
Sub-Genres: Music Video & Concerts, Classical
Studio: BBC / Opus Arte
Format: DVD - Color
DVD Release Date: 05/29/2007
Original Release Date: 01/01/2007
Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2007
Release Year: 2007
Run Time: 1hr 2min
Screens: Color
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 1
Edition: Classical
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Languages: English
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Movie Reviews

Greatness!
das kecke Beserl | Wien | 04/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"A fine early account of Celibidache's evolution as this centuries finest Brucknerian. I profoundly hope his final vision of the 9th is released on DVD one day in its entirety. It is one of the most spiritual and exhilarating performances ever."
An Overwhelming Experience
J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 05/29/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have had little exposure to the recordings of Celibidache. I've never heard the only two recordings he willingly made in a studio, nor have I heard very many of the flood of recordings -- mostly from radio broadcasts -- that entered full spate after his death. (He had famously said that he didn't trust recordings to convey the acoustic experience of a performance as experienced in the hall, and he was exceedingly concerned about fitting a performance to the acoustic of the particular hall in which it took place.) But we have been assaulted with the legend of Celi and I must admit that one could be a bit put off by that, as many speak of him as if he were godlike. Further, I recently saw a DVD that showed him rehearsing an orchestra and I was startled and offended by his condescending manner toward the orchestral musicians.

However ...

However I have found this DVD of a 1967 performance of Bruckner's Ninth Symphony -- with a second-tier orchestra, filmed in black-and-white, and with less than wonderful mono sound -- to be an uplifting experience. And that's not just because that is often the effect of ANY halfway decent performance of this symphony. This performance is something special. It's hard to put my finger on why it is. Tempi are broad -- paradoxically so in the second movement Scherzo -- and within that lingering approach one hears the most amazing but natural-sounding adjustments of pulse and phrasing. One can sense that the orchestra of Radio Turin is playing above itself. There are the occasional raucous, even out-of-tune chords from the brass and some lack of ensemble among the strings, but generally the blending and suavity of tone is quite something to hear. As for the wrenching Adagio finale one can hardly find words to describe it: it simply must be heard to be appreciated. I was not surprised to find that tears were coursing down my face at its conclusion, and while I admit that I am perhaps more emotional about musical experiences than some, I am willing to wager that others will have the same experience as I. This is towering and yet human Bruckner.

Another reviewer has mentioned a hope that more modern Celi DVDs of the Bruckner Ninth will surface and I join him in that hope. I have no knowledge of the existence of other such films, however, and bow to his implied knowledge in that area.

One note: OpusArte have, on their box cover, conveyed the technical aspects of this DVD in tiny print, very difficult to read, and I can easily imagine someone buying this DVD not realizing that it was made forty years ago. To repeat, then: this is a black-and-white film (not color as indicated here at Amazon) made in 1967. Sound is LPCM mono that has been remastered onto two tracks, running time is 62 minutes. It is in 'all-regions' format, meaning that it can be played worldwide.

Scott Morrison"
Bruckner & Celibidache: A Marvellous Combination
Nicholas Casley | Plymouth, Devon, UK | 12/05/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)

"The notes to this DVD state that Celibidache enjoyed good relationships with radio orchestras because it allowed him greater time for rehearsals. The performance captured on this DVD is Celibidache's 1969 performance with the RAI's Turin Symphony Orchestra.

In this performance, he takes only 62 minutes to construct Bruckner's great aural edifice and not the 77 minutes that he took later - and which can be experienced on CD (see my review elsewhere on Amazon). Nevertheless, it is interesting to see the man in action, but a shame that the audience started to applaud before he laid down his arms at the end. The obligatory ovation follows, but do we also hear `boos'?

The sound is two-track mono. It's not brilliant and can sound fragile in upper registers, but it's very clear all the same and should not put you off buying this DVD.

The picture is black and white and in 4:3 dimensions. The camerawork can be haphazard on occasions.

He conducts with no score, and the notes that accompany the disc tell us that he rarely used the score in rehearsals either. Indeed, the booklet is of immense value in providing background information about Celibidache's history as well as about Bruckner's 9th. Written by Misha Donat, the articles together cover 8½ closely-spaced pages and can be heartily recommended.

Alas, this DVD has no extras.

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