DVD Videos

For a significant number of people, she is simply the greatest pianist of our time. No matter what repertoire she plays, she sounds, as they say, “in her element”. Indeed, her playing is entirely lacking in vanity, yet never remotely anonymous. Nor can one even speak of “Argerich’s Beethoven” – or “Argerich’s anything else”, for that matter, since her playing of every work – of every theme or section within a work – is conceived so intensely from within that it doggedly resists categorization. Interestingly, though not perhaps surprisingly, the same variety of approach is evident in the way she plays the piano. To speak of “Argerich’s technique” is again to oversimplify. She has this technique and that technique and any number in between. What they all have in common is their naturalness, their visible “fitness for function”. Her interpretations are united by the effortlessness and pure joy of her music making and her individual approach to each work, each situation and each audience.

Sound Format: PCM Stereo,DD 5.1, DTS 5.1

Picture Format: 16:9

DVD Format: DVD 9, NTSC

Running Time: 87 mins

FSK: 0

Music for the tour is by Telemann, a friend and contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach, founder of the Leipzig Collegium Musicum later directed by Bach, godfather to Bach’s second son and for many years in charge of music in Hamburg, where he was later succeeded by his godson. The music here includes a Suite for recorder and strings, and two concertos from his Tafelmusik, one for three violins and the other for two horns.

Bavaria, in south Germany, in earlier times ruled by an Elector, whose capital was Munich, is a region of the greatest variety. The places seen here start with the Bavarian Forest and its traditional craft of glass-blowing. Other scenes are of the great palace of the Thurn und Taxis Princes at Regensburg and the fine baroque monastery church of St George and St Martin at Weltenburg.

Aspect Ratio 4:3

NTSC – No Region Coding

DTS 5.1 • Dolby Digital 5.1 • PCM Stereo 2.0

Music for the visit is by Chopin, with his piano Preludes, written principally during the winter of 1838–39 that he spent in Mallorca with his mistress, the writer George Sand. The stay there brought many difficulties, not least the early signs of the illness that was to bring about Chopin's death ten years later. Other music included is Chopin’s Variations brillantes, written in 1833, based on a melody from an opera by Hérold and Halévy.

The Museo Vela is at Ligornetto in the Swiss-Italian canton of Ticino. The galleries have remarkable collections of the works of the Vela family, Lorenzo, Vincenzo and his son Spartaco. The principal part of the collection includes the works in gesso of Vincenzo (1820-1891), figures later reworked in stone. The Museo Vela houses the largest such exhibition in the world.

Aspect Ratio 4:3

NTSC – No Region Coding

DTS 5.1 • Dolby Digital 5.1 • PCM Stereo 2.0

Stephen Kovacevich's international reputation as a pianist has been built both on his concert appearances, renowned for their thoughtfulness and creative intensity, and on the highly acclaimed recordings he has made throughout his career. He is considered as one of the most searching interpreters of the core classical repertoire and he has won great admiration for his recordings of Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert and Chopin. In this masterclass he works with a student on Beethoven's second Piano Concerto.

Emmanuel Pahud is generally regarded as one of the world's greatest flautists. He was one of the youngest ever principal players of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra when he was appointed in 1992. His innate musicality and extraordinary technique have put him high on the agenda for solo appearances in Japan, South East Asia, Europe and the United States. His regular recital partners include Eric Le Sage, Hélène Grimaud, Yefim Bronfman and the jazz pianist, Jacky Terrasson. He is greatly in demand as a chamber musician and in this context has collaborated with most of the world's top soloists.

Of the world’s greatest pianists, perhaps only Claudio Arrau is as famous for his Brahms as he is for his Beethoven. His versions of the two epic Brahms Piano Concertos, one with Carlo Maria Giulini and the other with Bernard Haitink, are cherished landmark performances in every record collector’s library. As for his interpretation of the monumental Sonata No.3, there the revered master pianist truly outdoes himself. Today, no one else brings to the work the same powerful vision of romantic passion and depth of feeling allied to a transcendent virtuosity.

This historic performance was filmed in May 1984 when Maestro Arrau returned to play in Santiago, Chile, after an absence of 17 years. He was given a reception by his countrymen probably without equal.

Claudio Arrau has been playing the piano to great international acclaim for almost eighty years. From Tokyo to Berlin to Paris to London to New York, he has won the love and admiration of music-lovers around the world. He has built his career largely without the help of hype or hysteria. Arrau’s repertoire is larger than that of any other pianist of his time.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 4:3

Sounds formats DVD: DD 2.0

Region code: 0

Original language: English

Subtitles: German, French, Spanish

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 110 mins

FSK: 0

Ludovico Einaudi’s ‘Nightbook’ tour in 2010 was an unqualified success. Following on the heels of his massive studio album, the lineup included a full string ensemble and some extra instruments too, providing a sensitive backdrop to Ludovico’s entrancing piano style.

The crowning height of the tour was the London concert, at the Royal Albert Hall. Here, the full theatricality of presentation could be exploited; the musicians arriving onstage from all compass points, playing in procession, the whole concert captured on DVD.

But, theatrical though it may be, the set makes for a delightful listen, available on a double CD set.

The 2CD set and the DVD are available separately; the DVD is the only available concert footage of Einaudi on the format.

Martha Argerich proves once again her great pianistic technique in a wave of virtuosity, performing emblematic works of the greatest composers ever.

Martha Argerich has long been hailed as one of the greatest and most uniquely imaginative pianists. She is most admired for the pure joy of her music-making and her individual approach to each work, each situation and each audience.

The Verbier Festival, held each summer in the Swiss Alps, has developed over eighteen years into one of the most important classical music festivals in Europe, bringing together great musical talent and dedicated music lovers alike from across the globe.

Martha Argerich celebrates her 70th birthday on the 5 June 2011.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo

Region code: 0

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 87 min

FSK: 0

Three of the most important artists of our time here present three of the most important cycles of variation for piano ever composed.

Daniel Barenboim, Yefim Bronfman and András Schiff recorded the monumental works in very personal performances.

Because of its outstanding importance for the history of classical music in Central Europe the German critic of the 19th century called often just these three composers » the three B «.

This is the first release of a series of Metropolitan Munich programs.

Picture format DVD: NTSC 16:9

Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo

Region code: 0

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 170 mins

FSK: 0