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Series One of the BBC's groundbreaking classical music programme follows renowned actor and former chorister Simon Russell Beale as he explores the flowering of Western sacred music. This four-part documentary series contains a rich mix of personal, political and musical stories and features some of the greatest music ever written, all performed by Harry Christophers and his award-winning choir, The Sixteen.
Review
A beutifully filmed series that should inspire many to investigate further --The Gramophone.may 2010
The interplay of music,image and appealingly-elaborated context creates a rich polyphony of its own. performance **** Picture and sound **** extras *** --BBC Music Magazine. April 2010
The interplay of music,image and appealingly-elaborated context creates a rich polyphony of its own. performance **** Picture and sound **** extras *** --BBC Music Magazine. April 2010
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 100 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
These shows were aired in the autumn of 2009 in the afternoon and was perfect viewing before catching the football scores. Here we have all four programmes with extras on two DVDs. Simon Russell Beale takes us through four periods: the Gothic Revolution, Palestrina, Tallis and Byrd, and finally J. S. Bach. The fact the series ends here might suggest that there might be another series (please!) looking at maybe Handel, Henry Francis Lyte and others.
Beale is excellent as a presenter. He has secure knowledege without sounding pompous and arrogant and he also does not try to be "a nice guy" like many others these days. He gets on with the programme without dumbing down leaving others to be anaytical, chiefly Harry Christophers, the conductor of The Sixteen who provide most of the excellent music.
Choral music of this kind rarely gets any attention and to hear it played in these magnificent cathedrals remind us of why they were written. The show also does not force religion onto the viewer and the show can be throughly enjoyed by all. I seriously did not think you could enjoy an hour of Gregorian chant but with the visuals, interviews and performances you can.
Beale is excellent as a presenter. He has secure knowledege without sounding pompous and arrogant and he also does not try to be "a nice guy" like many others these days. He gets on with the programme without dumbing down leaving others to be anaytical, chiefly Harry Christophers, the conductor of The Sixteen who provide most of the excellent music.
Choral music of this kind rarely gets any attention and to hear it played in these magnificent cathedrals remind us of why they were written. The show also does not force religion onto the viewer and the show can be throughly enjoyed by all. I seriously did not think you could enjoy an hour of Gregorian chant but with the visuals, interviews and performances you can.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As someone who has sung in this tradition for most of my life, this is a wonderful opportunity to revisit some of my favourite repertoire and to have it set in its historical and social context. Very illuminating. More significantly, perhaps, is the attention this series turns on the art of choral singing and the precious value of sacred music, at a time when is very existence is threatened. Were it not for the endowed choral institutions of the great cathedrals and Oxbridge colleges, this priceless tradition in the UK might already have gone the way it has in the rest of Europe and the wider Western-Christian world: virtual extinction. I now live in Germany, birthplace of Bach, where the paucity of decent choirs - let alone good choirs - is striking. Finding a choir that can technically master Bach is rare now, and the prevailing level is low to poor. In France and Italy, almost non-existent. The few clips this DVD offers of Italian choirs attempting this repertoire are tellingly awful. The choir of the Sistine Chapel would not even make the relegation league reserves' XI of the English choral hierarchy.
While I lose myself in the wonderful music that comprises this series, and the superb singing and musical direction of the Sixteen, I am reminded that, without such choirs and such committed and knowledgeable conductors, the music itself would cease to exist. The Church in England, under the pretext of a drive for "relevance", has done its best over the last few decades to stamp it out; thank God it has somehow survived. Perhaps in another generation, those in a position to influence such things will realise the mistakes of their predecessors and actively work to protect and revitalise this unique tradition. It can only be hoped.
Simon Russell Beale is an excellent narrator, without the self-conscious mannerisms and intellectual vanity of someone like Melvyn Bragg, and charmingly cannot resist allowing his personal love of the music to come through his narration. Close to tears on seeing an autographed manuscript of Palestrina or the signature of Thomas Tallis, which I can well understand. Harry Christophers and The Sixteen are also a splendid choice as performers and musical guides, with Christophers providing some keen insights into more technical aspects of the music. What a fine choir. As to the poor technical quality of the DVDs mentioned by other reviewers, I am fortunate that my copy plays perfectly. For anyone with an existing love of or interst in this extraordinary music, I can only recommend this intelligent and moving production.
While I lose myself in the wonderful music that comprises this series, and the superb singing and musical direction of the Sixteen, I am reminded that, without such choirs and such committed and knowledgeable conductors, the music itself would cease to exist. The Church in England, under the pretext of a drive for "relevance", has done its best over the last few decades to stamp it out; thank God it has somehow survived. Perhaps in another generation, those in a position to influence such things will realise the mistakes of their predecessors and actively work to protect and revitalise this unique tradition. It can only be hoped.
Simon Russell Beale is an excellent narrator, without the self-conscious mannerisms and intellectual vanity of someone like Melvyn Bragg, and charmingly cannot resist allowing his personal love of the music to come through his narration. Close to tears on seeing an autographed manuscript of Palestrina or the signature of Thomas Tallis, which I can well understand. Harry Christophers and The Sixteen are also a splendid choice as performers and musical guides, with Christophers providing some keen insights into more technical aspects of the music. What a fine choir. As to the poor technical quality of the DVDs mentioned by other reviewers, I am fortunate that my copy plays perfectly. For anyone with an existing love of or interst in this extraordinary music, I can only recommend this intelligent and moving production.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this series when it first went out in late 2008 on BBC 4 and was captivated by the combination of the glorious music and the learned approach to the development of the western choral tradition; I was frustrated to discover that the BBC hadn't made it available on DVD despite repeating it in 2009 (and now in 2010). Hooray for Corus, yet again!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Groundbreakingly badly made!
Such a great idea for a series, the music is stunning and the information very informative but the production is grim beyond belief. Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. Kay
Cerebral and Sublime
Too many people are put off the notion of Church music, which up to a point I understand. If you are one such person this DVD might well covert you, so wonderfully does it portray... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. C. F. Burton
Sacred Magic
With superb singing, brilliant conducting by Christophers,the best of Palestrina,Tallis,Byrd,Bach and others over the centuries from the Gothic Revolution, what more could one ask... Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. McEvoy
one of the great seriespresented by BBC4
Beautifully and illuminatingly presented by Harry Carpenters and Russell Beale.
A series one can return to time and again.
A series one can return to time and again.
Published 17 months ago by John Hautz
Poor quality DVD
Unfortunately I was not able to enjoy this DVD as the picture constantly slipped and the sound was not synchrionised to the lip movements.
A very poor quality product. Read more
A very poor quality product. Read more
Published 18 months ago by nightingale
Great series marred by poor manufacture
Having seen this on television I waited with anticipation for the release of the DVD. The series is informative, well-presented and well-edited, but the sound quality on the DVD is... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Musiclover
both CD's faulty
Both of these CD's were faulty. One was covered in gluey fingermarks, the other badly scratched on the playing surface. I expected better quality from the BBC.
Published 23 months ago by H. C. Fuller
SACRED mUSIC
WE REALLY ENJOYED THE SERIES ON TELEVISION SO DECIDED TO BUY THIS DVD. IT CERTAINLY STOOD THE TEST AND WE ARE ENJOYING IT FREQUENTLY. SO LOVELY TO PICK PARTS TO SUIT THE MOOD.
Published on 22 April 2010 by A. E. Morgan
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