Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Antonin Dvorak - Symphony # 9 "From the New World"
List Price:
Our Price: $7.42
You Save: $4.52 (38%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.44 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Herbert von Karajan, Vaclav NeumannDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 5.1; German (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1
Format: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 44 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1998-12-08
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Sony
DVD Reviews of Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Antonin Dvorak - Symphony # 9 "From the New World"
DVD Review: Excellent audio, but video disappointing
Summary: 3 Stars
This is part of Herbert Von Karajan's legacy series featuring the Weiner Philharmoniker. Recorded in 1985 this DVD has a total running time of just a little over 43 minutes.
First, let me state that Dvorak's 9th Symphony (From the New World) has always been one of my favorite pieces of classical music; with its pulsating opening movement, then the Largo, with its beautifully quiet "going home" theme and finishing up with a driving ending that simply leaves me breathless and in awe of this masterpiece.
The audio is a very solid production of Dvorak's 9th ; my only minor complaint here would be that I found some of the horns a little blaring at times. However, I have several concerns for the video portion of this recording; (not that there was anything technically wrong with the video,) but more specifically, I felt the way it was recorded and then edited into the final product could have been better, much better... let me explain.
-many of the shots of the orchestra were fairly tight closeups of groups of 4 or 5 instruments (horns, cellos or clarinets etc.). The view was from the perspective of looking down an row of musicians with their instruments; the first person was in focus but all the others becoming increasingly out of focus. (this reminded me of a line of Greek columns) This view was repeated over and over throughout the entire work. The camera for these shots (and in fact, all shots) was stationary, giving the video a regimented, detached almost lifeless look.
-although the DVD was in color there was a drab, featureless quality to it; to me, it might have well have been in black and white.
-there were virtually no panoramic views of the orchestra itself. The largest group one got to see was about 10 or so violins in the background (out of focus) with Von Karajan in the foreground (in focus). Again, this was a view that was prominently featured throughout the entire DVD.
-and also I have a couple of "video" concern dealing with Von Karajan himself;
1.) this DVD seemed to me, to be more about HVK than the piece being performed; he seemed to spend an inordinate amount of the time in the camera spotlight.
2.) Von Karajan seems to conduct this energizing, exhilarating symphony with all the vigor of a man scarcely awake; arms and hands barely moving up and down while the orchestra and its rampaging music is pounding all around him. His conducting enthusiasm just did not measure up to the music being performed, and yet the "music" was as good as I could have asked for. I eventually found it was much easier to appreciate this great work by turning off the monitor and simply listening to the audio.
Basically the only reason to put a product like this on DVD is for the visual affect, (the audio could be adequately handled by a CD), and the video in this case falls short. To me, this is a 5 star audio recording of Dvorak's New World Symphony, but the video limitations are significant enough to really hinder the overall enjoyment of this great piece of music. 2 1/2 stars.
Addendum: Dec. 18, 2006
If I had to recommend a DVD recording of Dvorak's Symphony # 9 "From the New World", it would have to be Euroart's magnificent recording, "Claudio Abbado: Europa-Konzert From Palermo" ; this DVD features the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Italy. It has wonderful audio, and as well, is superbly filmed and edited; highlighting the most appropriate individual, group or panoramic view at any given moment in the concert. It's simply 5 Star in all aspects.
More Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Antonin Dvorak - Symphony # 9 "From the New World" reviews:
1 2
1 2
Classical Music CDs
Bestsellers in Classical Music CDs
Winterscapesby London Philharmonic
Prophetic Voice; Published: 2000-07; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $2.74
Price in other shops:
The Queen, the Bear, and the Bumblebeeby Dini Petty
Childrens Group; Published: 2001-03; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $13.40
Price in other shops:
Classical Kids - Beethoven Lives Upstairs CdrRelease date: 2000-04-05; Music CD
Best price: $25.98
Tchaikovsky (Life and Works (Naxos))by Malcolm Sinclair, Jeremy Siepmann
Naxos; Published: 2003-11; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $35.99
![Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS] Image](/images/Jose-Carreras-Jubileum-Concert-VHS-1584481471-X.jpg){kind=small}
Jose Carreras - Jose Carreras - Jubileum Concert [VHS]Sling Shot; Release date: 2000-04-18; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $5.87
Price in other shops:
![Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS] Image](/images/Tchaikovsky-The-Nutcracker-Nureyev-Park-Royal-Ballet-VHS-156127092X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker / Nureyev, Park, Royal Ballet [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-09-09; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.94
Price in other shops:
![Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS] Image](/images/Lonely-Town-Lonley-Street-Sergeant-Early-Dream-VHS-1561270857-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rambert Dance Company - Lonely Town Lonley Street / Sergeant's Early Dream [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1997-10-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $24.99
Price in other shops:
Winter Music: Composing the Northby John Luther Adams
Wesleyan; Published: 2004-11-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $23.62
Price in other shops:
![Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Puccini-La-Fanciulla-del-West-Santi-Domingo-Neblett-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720382-X.jpg){kind=small}
Puccini - La Fanciulla del West / Santi, Domingo, Neblett, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS] Image](/images/Verdi-Falstaff-Giulini-Bruson-Ricciarelli-Nucci-Royal-Opera-Covent-Garden-VHS-0769720358-X.jpg){kind=small}
Verdi - Falstaff / Giulini, Bruson, Ricciarelli, Nucci, Royal Opera Covent Garden [VHS]Kultur Video; Release date: 1999-05-25; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.95
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Anne Sophie Mutter, Herbert Von Karajan - Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: J.S. Bach - Violin Concerto in E MajorSony; Release date: 2000-06-06; DVD
Best price: $7.23
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Antonin Dvorak - Symphony No. 8 - Wiener PhilharmoRelease date: 2004-04-27; DVD
Best price: $7.33
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Symphonies 6 'Pastorale' & 7Sony; Release date: 2000-09-05; DVD
Best price: $7.20
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Symphonies 4 and 5Sony; Release date: 1999-10-19; DVD
Best price: $7.24
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an ExhibitionSony Music; Release date: 2005-02-01; DVD
Best price: $7.32
Price in other shops:
Herbert von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: The New Year's Concert 1987Sony; Release date: 1998-12-08; DVD
Best price: $7.77
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video - Beethoven Symphony No. 9Sony; Release date: 1998-12-08; DVD
Best price: $7.56
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - New Year's Concert 1988 - Prokofiev Symphony No. 1 & Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 / KissinSony; Release date: 1999-10-26; DVD
Best price: $7.22
Price in other shops:
Herbert Von Karajan - His Legacy for Home Video: Ludwig Van Beethoven - Violin ConcertoSony; Release date: 1999-10-19; DVD
Best price: $7.37
Price in other shops:
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons / Von Karajan, Mutter, Berlin PhilharmonicSony; Release date: 1999-02-16; DVD
Best price: $7.54
Price in other shops: