Best Concert Halls

These rarely heard works offer listeners an introduction to very different aspects of Respighi's orchestral oeuvre. The mighty "Metamorphoseon", a breathtaking symphonic interpretation of Bach's C minor Passacaglia, a suite on themes by Rossini as well as the world premiere recording of an early burlesque are performed by the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by George Hanson.

Rossini’s opera overtures discharge a function of decisive importance – that of captivating listeners even before the actual opera action begins. Therefore they are the instrumental highlight of every opera and in their time quickly made their way into the concert halls. In them there are numerous aha-effects such as the unusual horn solo in the first section of the overture of the comic opera Il turco in Italia. The faster part reveals further hallmarks of Rossini’s style: catchy short motifs, loud-quiet contrasts, and question-answer games between the instruments (here, for example, between the woodwind group and the solo trumpet). In the end the concluding crescendo quite literally lifts the listeners out of their seats. And all of this occurs within a quite simple formal structure – but one that functions as a guiding idea. Whether The Barber of Seville, La scala di Seta, or Il signor Bruschino – all of these famous, sparkling opera overtures are dashingly and rousingly performed by I Virtuosi Italiani. A release that you will never forget!

Maurizio Pollini's late 1970s film recordings of Beethoven Piano Concertos 3 and 5; Mozart Piano Concertos 19 and 23; and Brahms Piano Concerto 2 have it all: great pianism, beautiful playing by the Vienna Philharmonic, magnificent conducting by Karl Bohm (Beethoven, Mozart) and Claudio Abbado (Brahms), all adding up to one thing: a beautiful experience. These DVDs are a feast for the ears: great audio, and the eyes: great video. The 1970s Unitel films used in this DG release have held up very well in the vaults: there are no glitches or imperfections in the picture. The camera work is also excellent, and serves the music being performed.
There is no audience, and the recording venue: Vienna's Musikvereien, has wonderful acoustics - one of the best concert halls in the civilized world. It was worth alot to me to see Karl Bohm smile at Maurizio Pollini at the beginning of I, of Mozart's Piano Concerto 19 with it's humorous, scherzo like theme which begins the concerto. Highly recommended!