DVD Videos

The Places

The ancient city of Seville, capital of Andalucía, was an Iberian settlement, of importance during the period of Roman domination and, after the Moorish conquest of the 8th century, part of the Caliphate of Córdoba. It retained importance under other Moorish rulers until its reconquest by Fernando III in 1248. It enjoyed the height of prosperity after the discovery of America in 1492.

The Music

Music for the tour includes two of the suites drawn from the French composer Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen, first staged in Paris in 1875 and drawing on Spanish traditions for its plot and setting and for its transformation of traditional Spanish dances. There are also Spanish Dances by the composer Enrique Granados.

Video Format • NTSC / Colour / 4:3

Audio Format • DTS 5.1 / Dolby Digital 5.1 / PCM Stereo 2.0

Region Coding • No Region Coding

The internationally renowned pianist Joaquín Achúcarro has been described as ‘the consummate artist’ and ‘the leading pianist from Spain’; he has won plaudits and prizes around the world.

In 2000 he was named ‘Artist for Peace’ by UNESCO in recognition of his extraordinary artistic achievements.

This DVD presents an evocative recital of Spanish-inspired music, given by Achúcarro in Madrid, and a triumphant performance of Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain with the Berliner Philharmoniker and Sir Simon Rattle, recorded in Berlin.

Including a note by Joaquín Achúcarro written for this release.

“I have only heard this sound from Rubinstein” Zubin Mehta

“There is something special with Achucarro. Very few musicians can extract this kind of sound from the piano” Sir Simon Rattle

Picture format: NTSC - 16:9

Sounds formats: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Region code: 0

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 27 mins (Berlin) + 75 mins (Madrid)

FSK: 0

Spanish composers are represented here by Granados and Albéniz, whose successful careers extended into the 20th century. Music by other composers reflects various connections with Spain. Seville is the setting for Mozart's operas The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni, and for Rossini's Figaro opera, The Barber of Seville. Bizet's Carmen is centred on Seville, while Verdi's tragic opera The Force of Destiny, set in Spain and based on a Spanish play, ranges over a wider area.

Never before available! This 1966 Paris concert with orchestra produced for French television features the great diva at the peak of her powers, lavishing gorgeous tone and depth of feeling on a group of bel canto arias and scenes.

Mono. Black & White. 43 minutes. Playable in all regions.

Though Marilyn Horne is known mostly for her virtuosic operatic roles, she is a superb recitalist who can scale her powerful voice down to the more intimate requirements of the recital stage. In 1981, she appeared at Milan’s La Scala opera house in a recital consisting of music by Italian, German, Spanish, French and American composers. Horne was in particularly superb form that evening, partnered brilliantly by Martin Katz at the piano. 93 minutes, color, mono.

This program is a visual and musical hymn of praise to what Andrés Segovia describes as "the pride, strength, and reverence of the Spanish soul." That soul is exhibited through the remarkable music of Spanish composers: Issac Albéniz, Manuel de Falla, Enrique Granados, and Federico Moreno Torroba; and a gifted group of painters: El Greco, Goya, and Velásquez. Filmed at Madrid's El Prado featuring performances by Andrés Segovia, Victoria de los Angeles and Alicia de Larrocha.