Search - Karajan Memorial Concert - Mozart: Requiem / Claudio Abbado on DVD

Von Karajan does NOT conduct here! It is a memorial concert

Dan Sherman | Alexandria, VA USA | 08/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although this is fine performance of the Mozart Requiem, please note that it a memorial performance from 1999 to von Karajan conducted on the 10th anniversary of his death. The Berlin Philharmonic is conducted by Claudio Abbado and the performance takes place in Salzburg Cathedral. It is straightforward production of the Requiem with the camera on the performers most of the tiime, with a few cut-away shots to the cathederal. There are also two other small pieces on the program (two arias for soprano).Performances are very good here and the event is (as befits it its setting) very solemn. The sound and picture quality are excellent and progran notes are good (though they do not provide text of the pieces!). There are no extra DVD features at all such as sutitles.This is a good "Requiem" to have. I do feel that it behooves Amazon to provide a bit more information about music DVDs -- It would, for example, be good to know that this is NOT a von Karajan performance. Even a picture of the DVD would help!"

Very nice performance

Tina Morris | Rockville, MD USA | 01/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Should some people get misled and actually think that this is a Karajan performance, they will still not be disappointed in what Claudio Abbado has to offer. The concert was held on the tenth anniversay of Herbert von Karajan's death in the Salzburg cathedral. Abbado leads a superb performance of the Mozart Requiem, and among the soloists especially Bryn Terfel shines. The Mozart Requiem is probably my alltime favorite requiem, and Abbado gives a very sensitive, yet dynamic, forceful and very memorable interpretation. If you are into comparative listening, this is a version you should not miss. The sound and video quality of this DVD are outstanding, and as we follow the concert, the camera wanders around in the cathedral and offers some wonderful detail views of the beautiful art that the church has to offer. The performance is shot in widescreen format and uses it to its best. The video is part of a series offered by Arthaus and the Berlin Philharmonic, and the overall very high production quality make us want to see a lot more like this in the future"

Sacred treasure

H. Rodriguez | Phoenix, Arizona United States | 05/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It seems I waited a life time for this master piece to be released on dvd with 5.1 channels of pure digital sound.
Requiem K-626 was Mozart's last work, which he was comissioned to compose by a count whose wife had died.
While Mozart did not complete the orchestration of the last five movements, he however had already written the score and passages for these movements before he died on December 5th of 1791. Later, two family friends (Eybler and Submayr)completed the orchestartion for Lacrimosa, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Die and Communio.
The sound is perfect as the two rear channel speakers deliver a discrete surround effect. The front and center channel speakers carry most of the load. The picture quality is terrific with the correct number of cameras and angles which depict the beautiful cathedral of Salsburg.
The performance of the two sopranos and the mezzo are overwhelmingly beautiful. The role of the tenor is more significant than the bass baritone, but both are necessary to achieve what other versions have not.
I don't know about you, but when I listen to Lacrimosa (latin word that means: teary eyes), I get precisely that!!
I highly recommend it!!!!!!!"

Better than expected

Robert Heyward | Dayton, OH United States | 08/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A very good recent performance (recorded on July 16, 1999) of perhaps my favorite Mozart composition. The performance takes place in the beautiful Salzburg Cathedral. The video is clear, covers everything well, and comes in 16:9 format. Although captions are not available, the sound is very good and can be heard in either PCM stereo or Dolby Digital 5.1. In general, the production was very high quality. In addition to the Requiem, there is also an Aria for Soprano (Betrachte Dies Mein..KV42). I appreciate and enjoy Mozart's powerful Requiem more now that I have this DVD."