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Schumann at Pier2 is not a usual concert film; it shows the four Symphonies of Robert Schumann from a new perspective, filmed at Pier2, a former dockyard in the harbour of Bremen where pop and rock concerts usually take place. Stars of the film are the conductor Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and they aim to present these works to a young audience.

Included in this set is also a 98-minute film with Paavo Järvi. This documentary explains the whole idea behind the project and contains footage from rehearsals, comments from Paavo Järvi about the symphonies and the interpretation, biographical information about Robert Schumann as well as musicians demonstrating salient passages and explaining their interpretation.

Sound Format: Blu-ray: DTS-HD MA 5.01 PCM 2.0

Running Time: 125 mins (Symphonies: 146 mins,

Documentary: 98 mins, Making of 18 mins)

Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean

AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE

Set Design Rolf Glittenberg & Costume Design Heidi Hackl.

On 25th June 1850, Robert Schumann’s only opera, Genoveva, received its first performance at Leipzig State Theatre. It was a much-awaited event, as Schumann, widely regarded as the leading German instrumental composer, had set his mind to the urgent task of creating a national opera. However, despite the efforts of the composer’s supporters to maintain interest in the work, the opera was soon forgotten. When conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt first came across Genoveva some 15 years ago (he subsequently recorded a CD of it in 1996), he voiced the opinion that “Genoveva is a work of art for which one should be prepared to go to the barricades”. Harnoncourt sees the main reason why Genoveva has not been recognised as a brilliant composition and perhaps the most significant opera written during the second half of the 19th century, as having much to do with the false expectations attached to the work. “You mustn’t look for dramatic events in this opera. What it offers us is a glimpse into the soul. Schumann was not interested in creating something naturalistic – he wanted to write a type of opera in which the music had a greater say.”

“Never before so vivid! Robert Schumann was only too familiar with passionate yearning, cold possessiveness and madness. In Zurich his underestimated opera Genoveva has undergone a brilliant revival.” Die Zeit

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, dts-HD Master Audio 7.1

Picture Format: 16:9

Resolution: 1080i FULL HD

Blu-ray Disc: 25 GB (Single Layer)

Subtitle Languages: GB, DE, FR, ES, IT, JP

Running Time: 146 mins

SK: 6

Martha Argerich has long been hailed as one of the greatest and most uniquely imaginative pianists.

This legendary Argentinean musician is surrounded by an aura of mystery: some find her too uncompromising, others generous and beautiful, yet to all she is without doubt incredibly talented.

When Argerich and Chailly performed the Schumann Piano Concerto it created a musical sensation! The connection between Argerich and Chailly underlines the whole work, and heartfelt applause sparks a charming encore: ‘‘Vom fremden Ländern und Menschen’’.

The perfect Blu-ray release for the Schumann Birthday Anniversary in 2010.

“Argerich, simply and assuredly, is one of the most magisterial talents in the history of piano playing." The Gramophone Magazine

Picture format BD: 1080i Full HD - 16:9

Sounds formats BD: PCM 2.0, PCM 5.1

Region code: All

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 93 mins

Audience: all

Between 1844 and 1859 Robert Schumann lived in Dresden where he composed a third of his complete work. Today‘s concert marks the 200th anniversary of Robert Schumann‘s birth and offers a welcome opportunity for Daniel Harding and the Staatskapelle Dresden to introduce three of the most impressive but now too rarely performed works from his Dresden period (Overture to Genoveva, Requiem für Mignon and Nachtlied).

Particular highlights - which will come as a surprise even to connoisseurs of his works - are a first performance and a world premiere of rediscovered and reconstructed symphonic movements dating from the composer‘s legendary „symphony year“ of 1841.

Moreover, the Rhenish Symphony, composed by Schumann after leaving Dresden and widely influenced by his impressions of the Cologne Cathedral, blends in perfectly with the sacral architecture of the Frauenkirche.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, dts-HD

Master Audio 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

Resolution: 1080i FULL HD

Running Time: 77 mins

Blu-ray Disc: 25 GB (Single Layer)

FSK: 0

Directed by Gérald Caillat and Pierre-Martin Juban

Spira Mirabilis is an extraordinary new project drawing together some of Europe’s finest young players.

It offers a radical new approach to classical music. Mostly in their 20s and 30s they study, practice and perform together symphonic repertoire without the guide of a conductor.

This Blu-ray disc includes the documentary “La Spira” which portraits the musicians and their intense work sessions and scenes from collective life and documents their way of creating a special attitude and breaking down the traditional barriers between performer and audience.

Extra: Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 Spring performed by the musicians of Spira Mirabilis filmed by Pierre-Martin Juban and Gérald Caillat at the Teatro Luciano Pavarotti in Modena on December 7, 2010

Picture format Blu-ray Disc:1080i Full HD, 16 :9

Sound formats Blu-ray Disc: PCM Stereo

Region code: All (worldwide)

Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian

Booklet notes: English, French, German, Italian

Runnning time: 88 mins documentary, 43 mins concert

German FSK: 0

Devised and directed for the stage by John Caird.

Recorded at the Royal Opera House, London, December 2007

Twin Spirits is a unique and intimate, live theatrical performance by a chamber ensemble of actors, singers and musicians, portraying the deep and ultimately tragic love between the composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara Wieck. In this intensely moving performance of words, song and music, the Schumanns’ long separation, so formative an influence on their lives, is reflected in the division of the ensemble into male and female groups. Robert’s letters to Clara are read by Sting and his songs sung by Simon Keenlyside, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Iain Burnside and Sergej Krylov. Clara’s letters to Robert are read by Trudie Styler and her songs sung by Rebecca Evans, with accompaniments and instrumental music played by Natalie Clein and Natasha Paremski. The narrator, Derek Jacobi, links together the letters and lyrics to complete the essential outline of the story. Conceived and directed by John Caird, Twin Spirits was first performed in June 2005 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London and has since been experienced only at private performances for charity by small audiences of all ages and interests, leaving them deeply touched and inspired.

Picture 1080i High Definition / 16:9 Sound 2.0 & 5.0 PCM

Video codec AVC/MPEG-4 Disc size BD50 Subtitles EN/FR/DE/ES/IT + EN (songs only) Menu language EN

Region code All regions Running time 206 mins Dimensions W135 H170 D12 (mm)