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For over 20 years, the Berliner Philharmoniker have celebrated their foundation on May 1st with the annual EUROPA KONZERT - this years event takes place at the magnificent Teatro Real in Madrid. The renowned orchestra, under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, performs Joaquín Rodrigo's beloved Concierto de Aranjuez, Emmanuel Chabrier's exuberant España, and Sergey Rachmaninov's dramatic Second Symphony. It is joined for the Concierto by the famous flamenco guitarist Cañizares, whose virtuosity and sensitivity are given full opportunity to shine in this multi-faceted and subtle work.
Review
Flamenco star Canizares brings nonchalant authority to the Concerto de Aranjuez in a concert fizzing with energy,from a playful Espana to the sweeps of Rachmaniov's Symphony No.2. --BBC Music Magazine,Christmas'11
...this is a first-rate release,made all the more welcome by the excellent engineering and by the tactful camerawork,which gives refreshingly long takes of Rattle and which avoids the intrusive close-ups that blemish so many concert videos. --IRR,Jan'12
...this is a first-rate release,made all the more welcome by the excellent engineering and by the tactful camerawork,which gives refreshingly long takes of Rattle and which avoids the intrusive close-ups that blemish so many concert videos. --IRR,Jan'12
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was intrigued by the idea of a flamenco artist playing the Rodrigo concerto with the Berlin Orchestra and it was for that reason that I took the gamble and bought the disc. My personal favourite performance of this concerto up to this point had been the Bream/Gardiner CD which is excellent by any standards. I had some reservations about the Rachmaninov as neither the orchestra nor Simon Rattle are famed for such repertoire. I thought that sheer on-the-edge Russian fire (Svetlanov or Ashkenazy for example) might not exactly be a natural for them. Indeed their very sophistication might be a hindrance. As regards the Chabrier - well, quite an enjoyable make-weight but hardly the reason for purchasing such a disc.
I have now seen the disc 3 times and both I and my wife have been completely bowled over by the Rodrigo concerto on each occasion - a wonderful revelation and quite the best we have ever heard. Astonishing delicacy displayed by all is the over-riding impression coupled with a tight overall control of rhythm (as you might expect).
The Rachmaninov isn't bad either. Not the Russian fire as explained above but not the over-attention to small details that I feared from Simon Rattle either. Instead we get a deeply felt and convincing central European reading which is very well recorded as expected and which serves as a very satisfying alternative non-Russian view. One that is far more effective than the earlier version recorded by Maazel with this orchestra in my opinion. The Chabrier is OK!
Altogether an excellent concert here though that will surely give a great deal of pleasure to a great number of people - including doubters like me! Well done to all concerned.
Extra note for Rachmaninov enthusiasts
If a really authentic Russian sounding performance of the Rachmaninov is the key interest I would suggest investigating the 2007 double DVD set of the Symphony 2 under Bychkov coupled with The Bells and The Symphonic Dances plus 2 hours of illustrated documentaries on Arthaus - riveting performances throughout in excellent sound and vision.
I have now seen the disc 3 times and both I and my wife have been completely bowled over by the Rodrigo concerto on each occasion - a wonderful revelation and quite the best we have ever heard. Astonishing delicacy displayed by all is the over-riding impression coupled with a tight overall control of rhythm (as you might expect).
The Rachmaninov isn't bad either. Not the Russian fire as explained above but not the over-attention to small details that I feared from Simon Rattle either. Instead we get a deeply felt and convincing central European reading which is very well recorded as expected and which serves as a very satisfying alternative non-Russian view. One that is far more effective than the earlier version recorded by Maazel with this orchestra in my opinion. The Chabrier is OK!
Altogether an excellent concert here though that will surely give a great deal of pleasure to a great number of people - including doubters like me! Well done to all concerned.
Extra note for Rachmaninov enthusiasts
If a really authentic Russian sounding performance of the Rachmaninov is the key interest I would suggest investigating the 2007 double DVD set of the Symphony 2 under Bychkov coupled with The Bells and The Symphonic Dances plus 2 hours of illustrated documentaries on Arthaus - riveting performances throughout in excellent sound and vision.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
The 2011 Konzert takes place in the Teatro Real in Madrid,with Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmoniker. Every year since twenty years ago, this orchestra plays in a major city to recall the date on which it was founded, 1st May 1882. So far on bluray they have played in Palermo,Italy, 2002 under Abbado,the Brahms Violin concerto with Gil Shaham. Also,Oxford,England,2010 under Barenboim, the Elgar cello Concerto with Alisa Weilerstein and the Brahms No 1 symphony.
Rattle starts with Chabrier Espana, which sparkles with the joy of life. Rodrigo who became bind at the age of three composed the Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra. He was inspired by the gardens of of the Palacio Real de Aranjuez. In the piece he tried to capture the fragrance of the Magnolias, the singing of the birds and the gushing of fountains.Charismatic Canizares, the flamenco guitarist with the facial expressions of that art form, plays this classical piece well. Listen to the famous Adagio with his emotional touch.In the Rachmaninov Symphony No 2, Rattle fails to capture the Russian romantic melodic side, as does Gergiev or Ashkenazy, who touch you deeply. Too much stiff upper lip and not enough emotion in Rattles conducting of this piece. Its all a matter of taste anyway. I would still suggest this bluray for the Guitar Concerto.
Note All regions, not A or B. 1080i HD. PCM 2.O Dts HD-surround sound.
Rattle starts with Chabrier Espana, which sparkles with the joy of life. Rodrigo who became bind at the age of three composed the Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra. He was inspired by the gardens of of the Palacio Real de Aranjuez. In the piece he tried to capture the fragrance of the Magnolias, the singing of the birds and the gushing of fountains.Charismatic Canizares, the flamenco guitarist with the facial expressions of that art form, plays this classical piece well. Listen to the famous Adagio with his emotional touch.In the Rachmaninov Symphony No 2, Rattle fails to capture the Russian romantic melodic side, as does Gergiev or Ashkenazy, who touch you deeply. Too much stiff upper lip and not enough emotion in Rattles conducting of this piece. Its all a matter of taste anyway. I would still suggest this bluray for the Guitar Concerto.
Note All regions, not A or B. 1080i HD. PCM 2.O Dts HD-surround sound.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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2 reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
really good rodrigo
7 Oct 2011
Format:Blu-ray
I've usually been impressed by these Europa Konzert dvd's, especially last year's with the Elgar Cello Concerto and Brahms' First Symphony.
The main item here is that best known guitar concerto, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo. The soloist, Canizares,is new to me. Apparently, he is a flamenco artist of some repute, and I can see why. As a guitarist of no repute myself, I can appreciate the skill here. On the bluray you can see the fingering and string-bending in all its glory, and the piece is beautifully rendered. A real winner!. Rattle and the BPO accompany flawlessly.
The Rachmaninov 2, not one of my favorites, is played very well. I just think it's too long and inconsequential. I quite liked movements 2 and 4. The adagio could have used a bit more passion.
The intro, Chabrier's Espana, is done well, if not showing much of the nationalistic color of early exponents such as Argenta or Ansermet. Rattle does not do Spanish accents that well, in my view. This is an issue shared by most British conductors. I know - I'm British.
The recording is outstanding both visually and sound-wise. This is a great demo bluray disc.
Despite my reservations, this is a worthwhile purchase. I got mine from Amazon UK, which was less expensive by several dollars, including delivery, than from Amazon USA. Always check new releases on both the USA and UK sites. Sometimes one is cheaper, sometimes the other.
The main item here is that best known guitar concerto, the Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo. The soloist, Canizares,is new to me. Apparently, he is a flamenco artist of some repute, and I can see why. As a guitarist of no repute myself, I can appreciate the skill here. On the bluray you can see the fingering and string-bending in all its glory, and the piece is beautifully rendered. A real winner!. Rattle and the BPO accompany flawlessly.
The Rachmaninov 2, not one of my favorites, is played very well. I just think it's too long and inconsequential. I quite liked movements 2 and 4. The adagio could have used a bit more passion.
The intro, Chabrier's Espana, is done well, if not showing much of the nationalistic color of early exponents such as Argenta or Ansermet. Rattle does not do Spanish accents that well, in my view. This is an issue shared by most British conductors. I know - I'm British.
The recording is outstanding both visually and sound-wise. This is a great demo bluray disc.
Despite my reservations, this is a worthwhile purchase. I got mine from Amazon UK, which was less expensive by several dollars, including delivery, than from Amazon USA. Always check new releases on both the USA and UK sites. Sometimes one is cheaper, sometimes the other.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Aranjuez a la Flamenca
15 Oct 2011
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Berlin Philharmonic have just completed two decades traveling to a different country of Europe every May 1st for their anniversary concert. The Second Europa Konzert was conducted by Daniel Barenboim at the Escorial in 1992, with the assistance of Placido Domingo singing several operatic segments. The Escorial has far too resonant an acoustic, and the building battled the musicians through the whole concert. Now the Twenty-First Europa Konzert was been conducted by Simon Rattle at a far more favorable venue, the Teatro Real in Madrid. The video contains a nice balance of close-ups and long-shots, and allows one to get a sense of the house, which has a very deep amphitheater. The blu-ray clarity allows one to see the various cameras at work, one rolling back and forth right in front of the stage and filming both audience and performers from a low angle. That angle becomes extremely important during the featured middle piece, the Concierto de Aranjuez, but also plays a nice role in the other two.
It is a shame to bring the Berlin Philharmonic all the way down from Germany and then excuse half of them for the middle feature, which requires much smaller orchestral forces. They conclude the evening with a magnificent performance of Rachmaninoff's second symphony, which shows they had more music in them than the program let them play. One wonders why the Russian composer appears in the Spanish concert, and the only connection I can think of is stylistic. Rodrigo and Rachmaninoff were both romantic composers, and their pieces on this program are among the most nostalgic ever written.
Cañizares (full name Juan Manuel Cañizares) gives a flamenco-flavored account of the concerto. Some of the orchestral players seated behind him seem a little dubious about his interpretation. No doubt he brings out a quality of the music that would not be accessible otherwise. Cañizares once collaborated with his fellow flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia on a recording which included this concerto, so he brings some experience to the performance. It is good to have a recent high-definition audio recording of the concerto to add to one's collection, and a little different take on the old war-horse is certainly welcome. The piece was played throughout the Franco period (1940-1978) for its nostalgic qualities, like a dirge for the trauma of the Civil War. In 1981 when I visited Spain for the first time, the piece was still streaming from radios all day long. Then later with the triumph of the Socialists the mood of the nation changed, and the music changed with it. Now with perhaps the piece is making a comeback.
It is a shame to bring the Berlin Philharmonic all the way down from Germany and then excuse half of them for the middle feature, which requires much smaller orchestral forces. They conclude the evening with a magnificent performance of Rachmaninoff's second symphony, which shows they had more music in them than the program let them play. One wonders why the Russian composer appears in the Spanish concert, and the only connection I can think of is stylistic. Rodrigo and Rachmaninoff were both romantic composers, and their pieces on this program are among the most nostalgic ever written.
Cañizares (full name Juan Manuel Cañizares) gives a flamenco-flavored account of the concerto. Some of the orchestral players seated behind him seem a little dubious about his interpretation. No doubt he brings out a quality of the music that would not be accessible otherwise. Cañizares once collaborated with his fellow flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia on a recording which included this concerto, so he brings some experience to the performance. It is good to have a recent high-definition audio recording of the concerto to add to one's collection, and a little different take on the old war-horse is certainly welcome. The piece was played throughout the Franco period (1940-1978) for its nostalgic qualities, like a dirge for the trauma of the Civil War. In 1981 when I visited Spain for the first time, the piece was still streaming from radios all day long. Then later with the triumph of the Socialists the mood of the nation changed, and the music changed with it. Now with perhaps the piece is making a comeback.
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