Introducing Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique - Berliner Philharmoniker DVD

UPC: 0880242561589

Product Features

• Composer: Hector Berlioz
• Conductor: Mariss Jansons
• Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker
• Documentary Highlights:Performance Recording: Live at Hagia Eirene, Istanbul, May 1, 2001
  • In-depth analysis of Symphonie Fantastique by music scholar Wulf Konold
  • Insights into Berlioz’s life and the inspiration behind the symphony
  • Musical examples, quotes from 19th-century critics, and historical context
• Director: Bob Coles (Performance)
• Documentary Directed by: Angelika Stiehler
• Producers: Paul Smaczny & Günter Attein
• Running Time: 82 minutes (27-minute documentary, 53-minute performance)
• Audio Formats: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
• Picture Format: 16:9 NTSC
• Languages: English, German, French, Spanish
• Region Code: Worldwide (Region 0)
• Publisher: EuroArts

Overview

This DVD presents Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique in a rich multimedia experience that combines a full concert performance with a documentary. Conducted by the esteemed Mariss Jansons with the Berliner Philharmoniker, the symphony comes to life in a unique setting—the historic Hagia Eirene in Istanbul. Known for its remarkable acoustics, Hagia Eirene provides an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the surreal quality of Berlioz’s composition.

Accompanying the performance is an insightful documentary by Wulf Konold, who delves into Berlioz's life and the creative and emotional forces that led him to compose this groundbreaking symphony. Konold’s narration is enhanced by quotes from contemporary critics, revealing the public’s reaction to Berlioz’s bold, avant-garde work. The documentary also explores the symphony's structure and symbolism, making this DVD an educational resource as well as an engaging musical experience.

Interesting Facts

• Symphonie Fantastique is one of the earliest examples of "program music," telling a vivid story of unrequited love, despair, and hallucinatory visions.
• The symphony reflects Berlioz’s infatuation with Irish actress Harriet Smithson, who inspired its theme of obsessive love.
• This performance by the Berliner Philharmoniker under Mariss Jansons is set within Hagia Eirene, a historic Byzantine church, adding an ethereal quality to the acoustics.
• The documentary portion provides a rare glimpse into 19th-century Parisian society's response to Berlioz’s ambitious musical narrative, which was both shocking and celebrated at the time.

Publishers

• Published by: EuroArts

Hashtags

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