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Mahler - Symphony No. 5 / Barenboim, Chicago Symphony

Mahler - Symphony No. 5 / Barenboim, Chicago Symphony

List Price: $24.99
Your Price: $22.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A realy authorized performance
Review: A first rate performance, musicaly, technicaly and visualy It only would be better on Digital DTS Surround!!!!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspired Unison!
Review: After a struggle with the gloomy preoccupation with mortality in the first two parts, the symphony bursts forth into a celebration of life.

Daniel Barenboim's conducting is graceful and elegant--he's there for every phrase of music, and is completely involved with it.

If you're a fan of audio versions of this symphony, you'll really appreciate SEEING what's going on. Kudos to Video Director Bob Coles who has the cameras right there at the right time to catch specific players at their key moments.

This is definitely not a static view of a symphony performance. It moves and flows as individuals work together in inspired unison.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not a Static View, but Inspired Unison!
Review: After a struggle with the gloomy preoccupation with mortality in the first two parts, the symphony bursts forth into a celebration of life.

Daniel Barenboim's conducting is graceful and elegant--he's there for every phrase of music, and is completely involved with it.

If you're a fan of audio versions of this symphony, you'll really appreciate SEEING what's going on. Kudos to Video Director Bob Coles who has the cameras right there at the right time to catch specific players at their key moments.

This is definitely not a static view of a symphony performance. It moves and flows as individuals work together in inspired unison.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: very worthwhile
Review: Although this performance lacks the passionate quality that some others bring to this work, noticably Bernstein, it is a sensitive and observant one which, unlike the well known 1970 recording of Barenboim's predecessor in Chicago (i.e. Solti), is not marred by being overdriven in places. Nevertheless, the orchestral playing retains the blend of power and precision characteristic of this orchestra in this repertoire, particularly in the brass. Furthermore, the sound is excellent. If one is willing to pay the premium to have this work on DVD, this is definitely worth acquiring.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautiful, Passionate, the CSO DELIVERS!
Review: I love Mahler! I have at least three recordings of every symphony and enjoy what each concuctor/director brings out of this composer's genius. However, watching the Fifth performed by the CSO is a real treat. I believe the brass in the CSO still sets the standard for orchestral playing. In fact in the first few bars you will see why Adolf Herseth is heralded as THE greatest orchestral trumpeter of all time. His playing is technically flawless and beautifully passionate. He IS the best. The entire orchestra is warm, rich and vibrant. I enjoyed every aspect of this performance. The interpretation is extremely romantic yet not overdone and the playing is tremendous. Brass players MUST see this performance; however, woodwind and string players will love this as well. Is there a better clarinetist than Larry Combs? This is a fabulous performance. Don't miss it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautiful, Passionate, the CSO DELIVERS!
Review: I love Mahler! I have at least three recordings of every symphony and enjoy what each concuctor/director brings out of this composer's genius. However, watching the Fifth performed by the CSO is a real treat. I believe the brass in the CSO still sets the standard for orchestral playing. In fact in the first few bars you will see why Adolf Herseth is heralded as THE greatest orchestral trumpeter of all time. His playing is technically flawless and beautifully passionate. He IS the best. The entire orchestra is warm, rich and vibrant. I enjoyed every aspect of this performance. The interpretation is extremely romantic yet not overdone and the playing is tremendous. Brass players MUST see this performance; however, woodwind and string players will love this as well. Is there a better clarinetist than Larry Combs? This is a fabulous performance. Don't miss it!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: mixed feeling
Review: performance is great.
sound is presented with pcm digital recording and it explodes.

the probrem is the digital transfer of video.
this disc shows digital noise consistently throughout the performance. especially when the object moves fast, such as the movement of conductor's arms.
once you start noticing the noise that follows every movement of mr. barenboim's arms, it distracts you much.

since the performance is great, i'm very dissapointed with the poor video transfer...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Tribute to Bud Herseth
Review: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has the largest video archive of any orchestra in the country. From 1948-2001, only one man could be seen in every recording: CSO principal trumpet Adolph 'Bud' Herseth. This is the last visual recording Bud made with the orchestra, and what better choice of program could there be? Bud always played Mahler's 5th like it was written for him, and the well-deserved tribute he receives at the end of the performance is not just for another awe-inspiring performance, but for 53 years of showing the world how the trumpet can and should sound. This is a 1997 performance, and Bud was born in 1921... you do the math! This DVD should be seen by any brass player. The CSO's legendary tradition of excellence in brass-playing has never been more evident.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: An altogether superb presentation
Review: The video quality is excellent. The camera shots illuminated the various musical instruments, as they are highlighted. There is a tasteful and discrete amount of panning. This should now become the standard for all modern DVD recordings.

The orchestra is a large one, almost overwhelming. However, the conductor, Daniel Barenboim, keeps them in perfect harmony, and the sound is rich and full. Both PCM Stereo and Dolby 5.1 options are available.

The recording was made before a live audience, but there is unnoticeable distractions coming from this quarter.

I look forward to future releases of the other Mahler's symphonies from Arthaus, particularly Symphonies #1 and #4

In all, this is a very satisfying and enjoyable experience for all Mahler fans, and for symphony lovers generally.

A "must buy" for DVD collectors of the Basic Repertoire of Classical Music.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A realy authorized performance
Review: This is a good performance of Mahler's 5th by the Chicago Symphony with Daniel Barenboim conducting. I believe it is the same performance on the CD they released. The Chicago Symphony is on tour in Cologne in the video. The brass do a standout job, along with the rest of the orchestra. Barenboim takes the last movement a little slow, but it still sounds very good. There are a few places where I don't like the interpretation of Barenboim, but overall a very good performance. And at the end, the principal trumpet and horn, Adolph Herseth and Dale Clevenger, are honored with flowers by Barenboim. They are very well deserved, for their performance that night and throughout their careers. They are two of the best brass players in the world. A must see performance.


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