Schumann: Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - DVD & Blu-ray videos

Schumann at Pier2 is not a usual concert film; it shows the four Symphonies of Robert Schumann from a new perspective, filmed at Pier2, a former dockyard in the harbour of Bremen where pop and rock concerts usually take place. Stars of the film are the conductor Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and they aim to present these works to a young audience.

Included in this set is also a 98-minute film with Paavo Järvi. This documentary explains the whole idea behind the project and contains footage from rehearsals, comments from Paavo Järvi about the symphonies and the interpretation, biographical information about Robert Schumann as well as musicians demonstrating salient passages and explaining their interpretation.

Sound Format: Blu-ray: DTS-HD MA 5.01 PCM 2.0

Running Time: 125 mins (Symphonies: 146 mins,

Documentary: 98 mins, Making of 18 mins)

Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean

AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE

This series of DVDs will make the publicly broadcast BSO concerts from this era available for the first time since they were broadcast.

This material represents some of the earliest televised concerts with the Boston Symphony and Erich Leinsdorf, and has been restored using the greatest care and state-of-the-art techniques.

It is of exceptional musical interest and rare historic value.

The BSO’s Music Director for seven seasons, Leinsdorf had a long and distinguished career, having worked with Toscanini and Walter, conducting at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Cleveland Orchestra and Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra in addition to his tenure at the BSO.

A particular favourite of Leinsdorf’s, the Schumann is both powerful and precise under Leinsdorf’s direction, whilst the Wagner is a warm and sensitive rendition from a great Wagnerian conductor.

Two of ICA’s BSO DVDs featuring Charles Munch as conductor have been awarded the Diapason d’Or in France’s Diapason magazine.

Sound format: Ambient Mastering

Picture format: 4:3

Running time: 97’

Subtitles: n/a

Menu languages: English

Booklet languages: E/F/G

Region code: 0

Territory Restrictions: None

Some of the greatest conductors have worked with the BBC Philharmonic – Sanderling (b.1912), conducting here in 1987, knew the orchestra well having first conducted them some 13 years previously when they were known as the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra.

Sanderling has had an illustrious career with orchestras such as the Leningrad Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle and the Philharmonia, retiring only 9 years ago.

The BBC Legends recording of his Mahler 9 with the BBC Philharmonic from 1982 received excellent reviews.

John Mitchinson, often chosen for the tenor role in Das Lied von der Erde, performed the work many times with the BBC Philharmonic to great acclaim, with two BBC Legends recordings featured in the Penguin Guide – ‘his voice focuses ever more securely through the work with many cleanly ringing top notes’ … ‘John Mitchinson is here at his finest, contrasting his firm, heroic tone in the first song against delicate half-tones, using his head-voice.’

Known for enjoying live performances and having an affinity for late Mahler, Sanderling’s reading of Das Lied von der Erde is inherently musical.

This is the first DVD release of this material.

1DVD

Sound format: Ambient Mastering

Picture format: 4:3

Running time: 99’

Subtitles: F/G

Menu languages: English

Booklet languages: E/F/G

Region code: 0

Territory Restrictions: None

Recording Place & Date:

Vienna, Musikvereinssaal, October 1984 (Sinf. 1, 3)

Vienna, Musikvereinssaal, October/November 1985 (Sinf. 2)

Vienna, Musikvereinssaal, February 1984 (Sinf. 4)

Martha Argerich has long been hailed as one of the greatest and most uniquely imaginative pianists.

This legendary Argentinean musician is surrounded by an aura of mystery: some find her too uncompromising, others generous and beautiful, yet to all she is without doubt incredibly talented.

When Argerich and Chailly performed the Schumann Piano Concerto it created a musical sensation! The connection between Argerich and Chailly underlines the whole work, and heartfelt applause sparks a charming encore: ‘‘Vom fremden Ländern und Menschen’’.

The perfect Blu-ray release for the Schumann Birthday Anniversary in 2010.

“Argerich, simply and assuredly, is one of the most magisterial talents in the history of piano playing." The Gramophone Magazine

Picture format BD: 1080i Full HD - 16:9

Sounds formats BD: PCM 2.0, PCM 5.1

Region code: All

Booklet notes: English, German, French

Running time: 93 mins

Audience: all

Schumann at Pier2 is not a usual concert film; it shows the four Symphonies of Robert Schumann from a new perspective, filmed at Pier2, a former dockyard in the harbour of Bremen where pop and rock concerts usually take place. Stars of the film are the conductor Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and they aim to present these works to a young audience.

Included in this 3 DVD set is also a 98-minute film with Paavo Järvi. This documentary explains the whole idea behind the project and contains footage from rehearsals, comments from Paavo Järvi about the symphonies and the interpretation, biographical information about Robert Schumann as well as musicians demonstrating salient passages and explaining their interpretation.

Picture Format: 16:9, HD

Sound Format: DVD: DTS 5.1, PCM Stereo

Running Time: 262 mins (Symphonies: 146 mins, Documentary: 98 mins, Making of 18 mins)

Subtitles: German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Korean