Freiburger Barockorchester - Brandeburg Concertos (2000) [DVD9 NTSC]


# Format: AC-3, Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
# Language: Italian (Dolby Digital 5.1)
# Subtitles: French, English
# Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
# Number of discs: 1
# Studio: Euroarts
# DVD Release Date: April 18, 2006
# Run Time: 95 minutes



Unlike Karl Richter's recent DGG DVD Brandenburg Concertos, which are a hybrid mixture of old and new, these Brandenburgs are the latest generation period-style performances. They were filmed at the Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Cothen, 23-26 March 2000. Bach served as Music Director (Kapellmeister) at the court of the Prince of Anhalt-Cothen from 1717-1723. He wrote the Brandenburgs between 1717-1721: dedicating them to the Margrave Christian Ludwig of Brandenburg. They were probably performed in this very Hall of Mirrors, giving this DVD a nice touch of historical continuity. The Palace is beautiful, the sound reverberant and well-focussed. This was an inspired choice for filming these concertos. No matter how often I listen to the Brandenburgs, there is always some new discovery to be made, some fresh insight into Bach's genius to be gained.

These are superb performances: fresh and fleet, filled with poetry yet hard-edged and crystalline in their purity of sound. The recording is so clear that even the innermost voices leap out at you if you focus your attention on them. The Freiburger Barockorchester wear their polyphony lightly, concentrating on Bach's amazing melodic gifts and his lyrical rather than his analytic side. Bach absorbed all of 18th Century Western European music, including Opera. The Freiburger Barockorchester, from all appearances a 3rd generation period instruments ensemble, are not afraid to approach some of the concertos with the arioso quality of opera while giving others a propulsiveness that is very close to "swing" in its rhythmic drive. All of the musicians are excellent. Friedemann Immer, who plays the fiendishly difficult high trumpet part in the 2nd Brandenburg, must be singled out for praise. These are wonderful performances of some of the finest instrumental music ever composed.

The picture format is NTSC filmed in true 16:9 anamorphic widescreen. The picture is crystal clear. Sound formats are PCM stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Both formats are clear and lifelike with the Dolby Digital 5.1 providing a wider and deeper soundfield with nice ambiance from the rear speakers. It makes it slightly easier to hear Bach's stunning polyphony. The Region Code is 0 worldwide. The disc format is DVD 9. There are the usual menus in the usual translated languages. Several very cute, very inventive short films are available as extras that are well worth seeing. Bonuses total 14 minutes. The concertos total 95 minutes.

Superb, fresh performances on period instruments of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos filmed in the Palace they were first performed. Strongly recommended.


PLEASE GIVE AT LEAST WHAT YOU HAVE TAKEN
STAY IN SEED PLEASE

.: Other Files :.

log+cue+m3u+cover