- Note: Blu-ray discs are in a high definition format and need to be played on a Blu-ray player. To find out more about Blu-ray, visit our Hi-Def Learn & Shop store.
- Important Information on Firmware Updates: Having trouble with your Blu-ray disc player? Will certain discs just not play? You may need to update the firmware inside your player. Click here to learn more.
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Product Description
This concert programme includes both Chopin Concertos with Garrick Ohlsson and the Warsaw Philharmonic under the baton of Antoni Wit. The documentary pays tribute to Chopins art to his highly original writing and show how much of a contribution it made to 20th century music and modern-day piano music. To this end we are combining two approaches: a narrative approach with a biographical account, which focuses on the composers most creative periods. And an analytical approach with first-hand accounts by some of the greatest performers of his works. Among them: Garrick Ohlsson, Bella Davidovich, Evgeny Kissin, Piotr Anderszewski and Yuja Wang. The first approach captures Chopins genius in his time by evoking his life, his work, his existential concerns and his musical influences. The second approach, which forms the mainstay of this documentary, conveys the passion artists have for performing Chopin and their understanding of his music today, which appears to be so easy and is yet so difficult to play. Filmed archives of prestigious pianists, some of whom are no longer with us, complete this portrait of Chopins art.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this very much. Beautifully played and the disc is worth it for the wonderful doco on Chopin's life. My only reservation is the video. The Hall is an old fashioned place and reminded me of various places in Russia. The lighting glares and overall the picture quality is not that attractive, probably not much the engineers could do with the location I guess. Not a patch on some of the recent Berlin and Lausanne offerings. One gets used to it though and the camera work is good and the music delightful. Ohlsson seems to get closer to the Chopin I enjoy than Barenboim and he is very good in the doco.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
In this recording Garrick Ohlsson steers a satisfying mid-course between the exhilaration of Kissin in the second concerto and the reflection of Demidenko in the first concerto which is to be found on a rival issue. Both issues share the talents of the conductor Antoni Wit with the Warsaw Philharmonic.
Whereas the Kissin/Demidenko release offers two very contrasting approaches to performing these two concerti, this issue provides a more balanced approach - not surprisingly as it is the same pianist for both works. Ohlsson is a very experienced Chopin player having won first prize at the Chopin International Competition as long ago as 1970.
Essentially Ohlsson brings a lyrical approach to these concertos in contrast to the bravura demonstrated by Kissin. However this lyrical approach has a firmer and tougher underpinning than the reflective Demidenko so that moments of climax bite harder. His technique is flawless and this uniformity of approach may well be a deciding factor for many listeners.
There are other works on this disc in the form of a Mazurka encore and an opening orchestral piece by Moniuszko with the title of `The Fairy Tale'. This is pleasant enough but hardly a deciding matter for considering this recording.
More importantly, this disc comes with an absorbing and informative supporting documentary, `The Art of Chopin'. This is an historical coverage of Chopin's life and creative development and which is copiously illustrated by musical excerpts played by many of the foremost Chopin pianists - a veritable feast of outstanding Chopin pianism. The documentary is a particularly fascinating piece of work through which we are guided with an authoritive commentary and explanation provided by Ohlssohn.
The quality of the recording is excellent throughout with crisp and sympathetic imaging that is detailed without being intrusive. The sound in DTS is equally excellent. This disc is highly recommended therefore.
Whereas the Kissin/Demidenko release offers two very contrasting approaches to performing these two concerti, this issue provides a more balanced approach - not surprisingly as it is the same pianist for both works. Ohlsson is a very experienced Chopin player having won first prize at the Chopin International Competition as long ago as 1970.
Essentially Ohlsson brings a lyrical approach to these concertos in contrast to the bravura demonstrated by Kissin. However this lyrical approach has a firmer and tougher underpinning than the reflective Demidenko so that moments of climax bite harder. His technique is flawless and this uniformity of approach may well be a deciding factor for many listeners.
There are other works on this disc in the form of a Mazurka encore and an opening orchestral piece by Moniuszko with the title of `The Fairy Tale'. This is pleasant enough but hardly a deciding matter for considering this recording.
More importantly, this disc comes with an absorbing and informative supporting documentary, `The Art of Chopin'. This is an historical coverage of Chopin's life and creative development and which is copiously illustrated by musical excerpts played by many of the foremost Chopin pianists - a veritable feast of outstanding Chopin pianism. The documentary is a particularly fascinating piece of work through which we are guided with an authoritive commentary and explanation provided by Ohlssohn.
The quality of the recording is excellent throughout with crisp and sympathetic imaging that is detailed without being intrusive. The sound in DTS is equally excellent. This disc is highly recommended therefore.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
very memorable performances
20 Jan 2012
I have owned the Chopin concerti by Demidenko/Kissin with this same orchestra-conductor combo for about a year. They are excellent performances by entirely different style pianists.
A year prior to that recording was this one with Garrick Ohlsson, playing both concerti, and is was coupled with a very good documentary on Chopin "The Art of Chopin". Some reviewers of this dvd-only release complained about the sound of the orchestra. This new bluray release has apparently cleared up that problem, at least using the DTS MASTER AUDIO selection. I found it excellent, extremely full and clear. I did find the orchestral opening of the #1 a bit prosaic, with little jauntiness. However, as the concerto progressed, matters improved dramatically. Ohlsson has a wonderful touch with Chopin, and it is no exaggeration to say that he transports you to another place with his delicate and sensitive playing. Time stands still, at least for me. Concerto #2 is no less impressive.
If you are looking for barnstorming performances, this will not be your cup of tea. These are time-honed, reflective outings by a man who loves Chopin and is not afraid NOT to show off for the sake of it. There are multitudes of Chopin virtuosi who are heavy on technique but have a dearth of "soul". I am not a pianist, but I am in awe of artists like Garrick Ohlsson.
I have not heard the well-reviewed Barenboim set, but I'm told it, too, is special.We should be so lucky!
I bought this from Amazon UK. The delivered price for bluray was less than $30. When you buy from them, your cart price will be about $5 less than advertised. Plus they often offer faster releases than Amazon USA.
Well worth your consideration!
A year prior to that recording was this one with Garrick Ohlsson, playing both concerti, and is was coupled with a very good documentary on Chopin "The Art of Chopin". Some reviewers of this dvd-only release complained about the sound of the orchestra. This new bluray release has apparently cleared up that problem, at least using the DTS MASTER AUDIO selection. I found it excellent, extremely full and clear. I did find the orchestral opening of the #1 a bit prosaic, with little jauntiness. However, as the concerto progressed, matters improved dramatically. Ohlsson has a wonderful touch with Chopin, and it is no exaggeration to say that he transports you to another place with his delicate and sensitive playing. Time stands still, at least for me. Concerto #2 is no less impressive.
If you are looking for barnstorming performances, this will not be your cup of tea. These are time-honed, reflective outings by a man who loves Chopin and is not afraid NOT to show off for the sake of it. There are multitudes of Chopin virtuosi who are heavy on technique but have a dearth of "soul". I am not a pianist, but I am in awe of artists like Garrick Ohlsson.
I have not heard the well-reviewed Barenboim set, but I'm told it, too, is special.We should be so lucky!
I bought this from Amazon UK. The delivered price for bluray was less than $30. When you buy from them, your cart price will be about $5 less than advertised. Plus they often offer faster releases than Amazon USA.
Well worth your consideration!
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
