Search - Bernstein Conducts Brahms [All Regions] on DVD

Bernstein is great, but the sound...

M. Brownfield | Crescent Springs, KY USA | 09/30/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As with the Unitel videos mostly released on DGG, Bernstein conducts wondeful, emotive performances of these Brahms symphonies. The performances pulls one into them and they are wonderful played by the IPO.

The video quality is OK appears to have originated from videotape with noticeable flare on bright images. The sound is a dissapointment to me. It sounds small, closed in with glassy strings even on the DTS track. If you are buying this for the performances go ahead and be confident in your choice. If sound is important, then hope the Unitel has a version of these symphonies with the VPO that they will release in the future."

Brahms with a Dollop of Schmaltz - Great if You Like That S

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 10/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was prepared to write a longer review when I came to this site and found the review by M. Brownfield already in place. He says much the same I would have said except I didn't find the sound quite as objectionable as he did. This is Bernstein/IPO Brahms so you must be prepared for a bit of schmaltz, not laid on with a trowel but there nonetheless. There are those who prefer the sound of the Israel Philharmonic -- rich, vibratoed, even heavy at times -- to the leaner sound we are getting these days from other orchestras. And if that's your dish, and Bernstein's style fits with it after all, then this might be the DVD of the Brahms Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 for you.

All that said, I enjoyed it but don't know that I'll be reaching for it very often.

The videography is fine. It tends to focus either on Bernstein or on two-shots of players. Humphrey Burton, the director, knows what he's doing and the videography is 'musical' if I can be allowed to call it that. There is nothing distracting about it. The live concert was filmed in the Great Concert Hall in Jerusalem in 1973 and was originally released on VHS the following year by Unitel. It is released here by Euroarts. Sound is not current state of the art and is available in LPCM Stereo and Dolby 5.1. It is also listed as being in DTS 5.1, which I did not use, but it is hard to imagine that it would have improved the sound all that much.

Scott Morrison"