DVD Videos

This 2012 recording of the most influential and wide spread oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach features the Hungarian conductor Iván Fischer, a visionary in his field, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. The double choir is the essential musical aspect on which Iván Fischer’s interpretation of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is based. Only by consistently seizing on that duality will all the complementary layers stand out as they should. He describes this essential fundamental aspect as follows: “You can’t do the St. Matthew in an unreligious way. The only approach is from a deep, universally religious feeling.”

The internationally renowned tenor Mark Padmore is brilliant as the Evangelist, Peter Harvey gives a moving interpretation of Christ. Together with Ingeborg Danz, Renate Arends, Maria Espada, Barbara Kozelj, Peter Gijsbertsen and Henk Neven and the Netherlands Radio Choir they carry the audience through an affecting performance of this masterwork.

PCM Stereo, DD 5.0

Running Time: 174 mins

Subtitle Languages: DE (Original Language), GB, FR, ES, JP

Directed by Louise Narboni

The St. Matthew Passion is the third part of ‘The Soli Deo Gloria Collection’ conducted by the American John Nelson who is well known for his interpretations of Romantic works.

This monumental piece, composed by J.S. Bach, recounts the dramatic story of the capture and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, it presents a profound, dramatic, lyrical and contemplative work.

The concert features the excellent Orchestre de Chambre de Paris, as well as two internationally acclaimed choirs: the Schola Cantorum of Oxford (one of the oldest choirs in the UK) and the Maîtrise de Paris with origins back in the 12th century.

Directed by Louise Narboni and filmed twice with 7 HDTV cameras in the Basilica Cathedral Saint-Denis – a unique, monumental masterpiece of Gothic art.

The DVD also includes the Documentary “John Nelson’s Saint Matthew Passion - The Journey” by Louise Narboni as a Bonus - showing intense rehearsals and interviews with John Nelson.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sound formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.0, DTS 5.0

Region code: 0

Languages: English

Subtitles: German, French, English

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 177 mins + 52 mins (BONUS)

Choreography: Heinz Spoerli

Set design: Peter Schmidt

The starting point and destination of Heinz Spoerli's new ballet is the 'Magnificat' by Johann Sebastian Bach.

From the beginning of the 'Allemande' movement of the Partita in A minor for solo flute, through the joy of 'Brandenburg Concerto' No. 3, this is the question of faith, which sparked Heinz Spoerli's interest in this piece.

Heinz Spoerli intensifies the emotions here, by inserting two moving arias from the cantatas "Wo soll ich fliehen hin" and "Ich habe genug".

This is an important aspect for Heinz Spoerli in his discourse with the text of the 'Magnificat', in which his deep respect for all religions, or rather every faith, is not about the worship of a certain creator-figure, but more about the conditions and prerequisites of this for the expression of a profound devoutness, which also involves rejection, exlusion, uncertainty and separation.

The Orchestra La Scintilla is conducted by Marc Minkowski. In 1996 it was founded as independent ensemble by specialist musicians of the Zurich Opera Orchestra and soon obtained an excellent reputation. The spark that ignited the enthusiasm for new 'old music' gave its name to the ensemble: "La Scintilla" – The Spark. Performances with eminent authorities in the field such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, William Christie, Mark Minkowski, Reinhard Goebel and Giuliano Carmignola were so successful that the Opera House Zürich has this ensemble perform all baroque operas and nearly all operas of the classical period.

"La Scintilla" gives concerts with well-known soloists, instrumentalists and singers and has toured North America and Europe with Cecilia Bartoli.

Narration in English with optional German and French subtitles

All regions; running time 2 hours and 39 minutes

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra - a cultural icon of Israel and one of the greatest classical ensembles in the world - celebrated its 75th Birthday on December 26th, 2011 together with three outstanding soloists of the younger generation – Julian Rachlin, Evgeny Kissin and Vadim Repin. The concert took place in the spectacular Hangar 11 at the harbor in Tel Aviv. Zubin Mehta conducted a spectacular programme of Saint-Saëns, Bach, Chopin, Chausson and Beethoven.

The film ‘Coming Home’ by János Darvas portrays the orchestra and tells of its moving history, which is both a reflection of the history of Israel and the fate of the Jews in the 20th Century. With texts from memoirs, with material from radio interviews, home movies and photos from the orchestra’s archives, as well as from private collections, the film will not only tells the story of the orchestra, but draws parallels to the fates of many individuals. Historical footage brings the 75-year history of the orchestra to life in concerts with Arturo Toscanini, Arthur Rubinstein, Leonard Bernstein, Isaac Stern, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim and Itzhak Perlman. Interviews with orchestra members from the early years weave through talks with musicians that joined later, and with current orchestra members. Moreover, Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Itzhak Perlman and Pinkas Zukerman have their say. We also get the opportunity to watch the Israel Philharmonic in rehearsals, concerts and tours.

Part of the EuroArts Israel Philharmonic Anniversary Campaign with two more must have releases:

- 75 years anniversary concert & documentary “Coming Home” (Cat. No. DVD 2059098 + Cat. No. BD 2059094)

- Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Anniversary Edition - 5 DVDs Box Set incl. Classic Archive: Arthur Rubinstein plays Chopin (Cat. No. 3079638), Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: 70th-Anniversary Concert (Cat. No. 2055878), Bernstein conducts Brahms (Cat. No. 2072048) + New Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: 60th-Anniversary, Concert, 1996 & Joint Concert, 1990.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sound formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Region code: 0

Subtitles: English

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 148 mins (95 mins Concert + 53 mins Documentary)

Music by JS Bach

The renowned St. Thomas Boys Choir of Leipzig, which boasts J. S. Bach as a former cantor, celebrates its 800th anniversary with an extraordinary interpretation of the St. Matthew Passion. The Guardian praised how “the harmonic lines interwove with a transcendence that can only be achieved through living, eating and working together”.

This Accentus Music production is the only audio-visual release of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, performed by the choir for which it was written, in St. Thomas Church, Leipzig, where the composer worked and is buried.

Picture Format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sound Formats DVD: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, PCM Stereo

Region Code: 0 (worldwide)

Running Time: 163:58 min

Disc Format: DVD-9 (2 DVD)

Subtitles: German, English, French, Korean

Directed by Bruno Monsaingeon

A new release from the series of Metropolitan Munich programs.

Classified as EuroArts "Recorded Excellence", with high historical value and special pricing.

This selection of some of Bach’s most perennially popular keyboard music admirably demonstrates the many varied facets of the composer’s fertile imagination.

These performances exemplify perfectly the thoughtful and persuasive approach that András Schiff adopts when playing Bach.

Deep pathos is contrasted with witty humour, serenity is paired with fleetness of foot, and all these emotions prove that this brilliantly expressive musician is as ‘unique and unequalled’ today as he was when his first biographer, J.N. Forkel, wrote so eloquently about him more than two centuries ago.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 4:3

Sound format DVD: PCM Stereo

Region code: 0

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Runnning time: 54 mins