Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

This box contains five splendid productions of Sergiu Celibidache (28 June1912 – 14. August 1996) for his 100th Anniversary.

He was one of the most charismatic, talented and fascinating conductors of all time; his profound knowledge of instrumental frequencies and acoustic science made him a genius of sound.

The five DVD-titles in this magnificent box-set present him conducting some of the most beloved pieces in the world, in concert and in valuable, rarely-seen rehearsal footage. He is joined by Daniel Barenboim (who dubbed him ‘one of the greatest musicians I ever encountered’), Hans Kalafusz, the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, and his beloved Münchner Philharmoniker, in a illuminating and moving set of performances.

Highly acclaimed, fascinating and dazzling productions - A real must-have!

Picture format: NTSC 4:3 ∙ Region code: 0 ∙ German FSK: 0

Sound Formats: DVD 1,2&5: PCM Stereo, DVD 3: PCM Mono, DVD 4: DD 2.0

Booklet Notes: GB, D, F ∙ Subtitles: DVD 3&5 GB, D, F, (DVD 5: + E)

Running Time: 511 mins (DVD1 81 mins; DVD2 111 mins; DVD3 114 mins; DVD4 101 mins; DVD5 104mins)

Otto Klemperer was born on 14th May 1885 in Breslau, Silesia (now Wroclaw, Poland) and died on 6th July 1973 in Zurich and hence next year we mark 40 years since his passing. Although disfigured by a stroke suffered whilst a brain tumour was being removed he became a world-renowned conductor whose recordings became and remain touchstones for the EMI catalogue.

Although Klemperer had primarily been contracted to provide orchestral music for the EMI Classics catalogue there were soloists who benefitted from his presence in recording concertos. Karajan had made a most successful recording of the Mozart Horn Concertos with the then lead player in the Philharmonia Orchestra, Dennis Brain, Klemperer recorded them with his lead player Alan Civil in 1960.

His superb series of orchestral works by Beethoven were enhanced by recording the Piano Concertos and Choral Fantasy with the star who had recently recorded the Piano Sonatas, Daniel Barenboim and the set was issued two years before the composer’s bicentenary in 1970. Both had their distinctive views on the works: Klemperer’s vivid but essentially monumental approach was questioned and provoked by the much younger man – just as the composer writes music which the piano and the orchestra “discuss” in different ways which is the very essence of a concerto. He also recorded Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25 with him in 1967.

The Violin Concertos by Beethoven and Brahms were recorded with Yehudi Menuhin in 1966 and David Oistrakh in 1960 respectively. A further disc of Piano Concertos of Liszt No. 1 and Schumann was made with Annie Fischer in 1960/2.