DVD Videos

An extraordinary programme for an extraordinary night: The Berliner Philharmoniker celebrates the final day of the 20th Century with Grand Finales in the first part and heralds the leap into the 21st Century with an explosion of sparkling music pieces in the 2nd half of the programme. For the Grand Finales, maestro Abbado conducts masterpieces like Beethoven‘s Finale of the 7th symphony, excerpts from Stravinsky‘s „Firebird“ and the final movement of Mahler‘s 5th Symphony. In the famous Finale of Arnold Schoenberg‘s „Gurre Lieder“, the internationally renowned actor Klaus Maria Brandauer plays a leading role.

Sound Format: PCM STEREO, DD 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, PAL

Running Time: 113 mins

FSK: 0

On 08 June 2010, the Wiener Philharmoniker treats its namesake city to a free open-air concert on the grounds of the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace

In keeping with the Summer Night Concert’s popular character, Franz Welser-Möst will conduct the Wiener Philharmoniker in a programme of universal, indeed, one might say, cosmic appeal. Its title: “Moon – Planets – Stars”. This theme will be reflected throughout the concert with Josef Strauss’s waltz Sphärenklänge (Music of the Spheres), “Mars” from Holst’s Planets, selections from John Williams’s score to the Hollywood sci-fi classic Star Wars, Otto Nicolai´s “Moon Chorus” from The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Joseph Lanner’s waltz Abendsterne (Evening Stars), a fantastic piece here receiving its first recording by the Wiener Philharmoniker. Liszt’s bravura, but also highly poetic, Second Piano Concerto represents the only “down-to-earth” piece in the concert, with Yefim Bronfman the soloist.

Schönbrunn and its manicured Baroque gardens comprise one of the most elegant and beautiful UNESCO world cultural heritage sites. No more fitting backdrop for glorious music is imaginable.

The annual New Year’s Concert from Vienna, seen by millions on TV worldwide, is the best-known classical concert in the world.

Georges Prêtre returns to Vienna’s illustrious Musikverein to conduct a compelling programme that combines adored classics with no less than four intriguing premieres. Idolized in Vienna, the legendary French maestro, Georges Prêtre (who first came to eminence for his recordings with the great Maria Callas) is a leading expert on and interpreter of the music of the Strauss family.

Recorded in 1985

This 4-DVD set includes top opera stars performing great works live in concert in Lugano with the Orchestra della Radio Televisione della Svizzera Italiana. DVD #1 Carlo Bergonzi performs in 1985 with conductor Bruno Amaducci in works by Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, & Mascagni. DVD #2: Raina Kabaivanska performs in 1987 with conductor Nino Bonavolonta in works by Rossini, Verdi, Puccini, and Cilia. DVD #3: Mirella Freni & Cesare Siepi perform in 1985 with conductor Bruno Amaducci in works by Nicolai, Gounod, Boito, Verdi, Puccini, and Mozart. DVD #4: Teresa Berganza performs in 1990 with conductor Nino Bonavonta in works by Rossini, Bizet, and De Falla.