Tchaikovsky - Symphony 4

Rating:
Summary: Stodgy Performance in Heavily Compressed Sound
Review: Do not waste your money on this one. The sound receives such dynamic compensation and compression that there is no audible difference between ff and pp dynamics. A tragedy, seeing as the orchestra is on top form. There is no ambience or bloom to the sound and Karajan's performance sounds weighty and vertical and never takes flight. It is one-dimensional severe Tchaikovsky. The sound also gets chopped off at the ends of movements, perhaps to edit out applause, but gives the production a cartoony, clinical feel. The picture also loses in its very distracting camera-work and editing. Perhaps the momentously electrical live account with Zander in Boston's Jordan Hall will eventually see the light of day. This DVD is a disgrace to Karajan's often superb abilities.

Rating:
Summary: Poor arrangement on close-up
Review: The performance is great. I love the theme from horns of 1st movement and oboe of second movement. However, I don't like the director of photography too demand so many perfect screens. You can see the musicians held their woodwind instruments with similar angle. Ridiculously, from a long shot, the bass players didn't hold their bows for pizzicato in Scherzo movement. Suddenly, you can see they plug the strings with their bows in hands at close-up. So, just turn off the Television and just listen the music is the best way to enjoy the music.

Rating:
Summary: Poor arrangement on close-up
Review: The performance is great. I love the theme from horns of 1st movement and oboe of second movement. However, I don't like the director of photography too demand so many perfect screens. You can see the musicians held their woodwind instruments with similar angle. Ridiculously, from a long shot, the bass players didn't hold their bows for pizzicato in Scherzo movement. Suddenly, you can see they plug the strings with their bows in hands at close-up. So, just turn off the Television and just listen the music is the best way to enjoy the music.

Rating:
Summary: Stodgy Performance in Heavily Compressed Sound
Review: This DVD dissapointed me by the fact that the recording quality seemed very flat. The louds, particularly the 4th movement, didn't seem much different from the softs. I'm sure that it was an amazing performance, but the recorders don't let you listen to that performance. Another thing that bothered me were the cameras. They never seemed to focus on the important section of the orchestra. They also focused way too much on Karajan. I know that he is important, but not so much that the orchestra isn't. If you want to listen to a good recording, listen to his CD, or my preference is the Chicago Symphony recording with Daniel Barenboim conducting.

Rating:
Summary: A good performance recorded poorly
Review: This DVD dissapointed me by the fact that the recording quality seemed very flat. The louds, particularly the 4th movement, didn't seem much different from the softs. I'm sure that it was an amazing performance, but the recorders don't let you listen to that performance. Another thing that bothered me were the cameras. They never seemed to focus on the important section of the orchestra. They also focused way too much on Karajan. I know that he is important, but not so much that the orchestra isn't. If you want to listen to a good recording, listen to his CD, or my preference is the Chicago Symphony recording with Daniel Barenboim conducting.