Mahler’s colossal orchestral and choral classical music piece gets a towering performance on Blu-ray Disc from Lucerne Festival and Riccardo Chailly.
Petit: Notre-Dame de Paris [Teatro alla Scala] Blu-ray Review
A reprise of Roland Petit’s balletic version of Victor Hugo’s Hunchback of Notre Dame gets an amazing performance
Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 [Barenboim/Staatskapelle Berlin] Blu-ray Review
Barenboim and his Berlin ensemble continue their successful series of Bruckner’s Mature Symphonies with an excellent rendering of Symphony No. 5.
Peter Gabriel: New Blood — Live in London (TheaterByte Blu-ray 3D Review)
Peter Gabriel’s New Blood — Live in London concert shows Gabriel’s music is unexpectedly well suited to full orchestration and the 3D production is one of the best I’ve seen for a live concert to date.
Martha Argerich & Mischa Maisky [Neeme Järvi] Blu-ray Review
An all-star program features virtuosi, pianist Martha Argerich, and cellist Mischa Maisky with the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra. The centerpiece is the world premiere of Rodion Shchedrin’s double concerto “A Romantic Offering” with the composer in attendance. Outstanding video and audio recording make this a memorable event.
Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7 [Jurowski/Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment] Blu-ray Review
This all-Beethoven program from the Paris Art Deco Theatre of the Champs-Elysees features period instruments and reduced forces. While maestro Vladimir Jurowski tries to stir up enthusiasm for this approach, most Beethoven-lovers will find these performances, sonically undernourished.
Mahler: Symphony 7 [Abbado/Lucerne Festival] Blu-ray Review
Claudio Abbado continues his Mahler wizardry with this luminescent performance of a less often heard Symphony No. 7, “Song of the Night.” In every respect, a top flight video which captures the essence of this enigmatic work.
Mahler: Symphony No. 8 [Wit/Warsaw Philharmonic] Blu-ray Audio Review
Antoni Wit and his Warsaw forces give a stellar performance of Mahler’s imposing Symphony No. 8, “Symphony of a Thousand.” Aided by HD surround sound, this disc should be considered essential listening for veteran and novice Mahler fans.
Discovering Beethoven: Symphonies Nos 1, 2 & 3 [Thielemann/Wiener Phil.] Blu-ray Review
Thielemann and the Wiener Philharmoniker are perhaps the greatest interpreters of Beethoven around today and they gather on this first release of what is a complete series for a superb performance his early symphonies, including the breakthrough Eroica (No. 3)
John Corigliano: Circus Maximus Blu-ray Audio Disc Review
John Corigliano’s Circus Maximus and Gazebo Dances are given their premiere recording by Jerry Junkin and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble. Circus Maximus, the major work, is given spectacular high-resolution sound while the surround sound is used judiciously to great effect.
