Do you collect classical music DVDs as well?

IcedNote · Post by **IcedNote** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:19 pm

Hi, all.

Well, I have about 20 concerts/operas on DVD or so. While they seem like a great idea, I just never seem to be in the mood to sit down and watch one. Whenever I have a period of time that I'd just like to use to chill out and relax, I usually pop in a film.

So if you collect them, when do you watch them? I mean, do you enjoy a bottle of wine and an opera on a Friday night?

Curious!

-G

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:35 pm

I'll buy a performance on DVD if I read that it's an extremely good performance and it's not easily available on CD. I'm not into opera, but I've started to build a little collection of orchestral DVDs.

Gurn Blanston · Post by **Gurn Blanston** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:39 pm

I got into DVDs because I was a very reluctant listener to opera, and I convinced myself that if I could exploit the visual aspect of opera instead of just the aural, I might learn to love it as much as everyone else seemed to. So I got a player and a few DVDs and sat down to watch. And guess what. It worked! Bottle of wine and a cigar will get me through nearly anything short of Wagner. ;D

And I have since picked up several concerts, like the Berlin/Abaddo Beethoven cycle and quite a bit of Mozart, Berlioz and the like. And I find that I derive a good deal of enjoyment out of watching, I can "see' where the sounds are coming from a lot better now, and really appreciate the finer points of orchestration.

So yes, I'm for it.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:50 pm

I have a huge DVD movbie collection but I never bought videotapes of classical concerts nor will I buy DVDs of them. When I listen to CDs at home I either devote my full attention to the music or read.

I will occasionally watch a televised concert but my attention usually strays from the screen to a book or magazine.

Post by **Lance** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:14 am

As a veteran LP/CD collector, I was never able to get into videos or DVDs with regard to classical music concerts. While one can more replicate the live visual through DVDs or videos, I don't think it works as well as going to a live concert. It's too convenient to get up to turn off the microwave, visit the john, answer the phone, and thus lose concentration on the actual performance. Yes, one can click the pause button, but the telephone conversation may last an hour or longer, and to resume the DVD puts the listener/viewer too far away from where it all started.

I still maintain that listening to music via CD or any other format, catches the concentration of the listener better.

Having that said, it is only this week that I am now longing to acquire some of the DVDs that are being made available by such great artists as Rubinstein, and others. Yes, I have one of Rubinstein and Heifetz, Kathleen Ferrier, Horowitz, and a few others. But I am going to collect a few more - particularly the Rubinstein/Previn concertos on DGG that is listed elsewhere on the CMG site. Any new DVDs will be hand-picked carefully.

I'm FOR DVD slightly more than 50% - but I don't believe it will ever replace the CD format.

Holden Fourth · Post by **Holden Fourth** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 3:06 am

I felt similarly until I got the Verdi Requiem with Price/Cossotto/Pavarotti/Ghiaurov/Karajan/La Scala Milan. Just to watch the ease with which Leontyne Price and to a slightly lesser extent Pavarotti delivered the notes made the DVD itself such a powerful experience. I got the DVD because a couple of people I knew and respected raved about it and it wasn't available on CD.

Since then I've got a number of other CDs, many of them keyboard and watching the pianist play adds to the visceral experience for me. I can happily put a DVD into my player then veg out on the couch and enjoy the music almost as if I was in the concert hall.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:23 am

Holden Fourth wrote:I felt similarly until I got the Verdi Requiem with Price/Cossotto/Pavarotti/Ghiaurov/Karajan/La Scala Milan. Just to watch the ease with which Leontyne Price and to a slightly lesser extent Pavarotti delivered the notes made the DVD itself such a powerful experience. I got the DVD because a couple of people I knew and respected raved about it and it wasn't available on CD.

Yes! That was also the first classical DVD that made a big impact on me. It's also probably my favorite recording of the Verdi Requiem. And I agree with you that watching Leontyne Price deliver notes that send chills down my spine with such apparent ease is an inspiring experience. It was a great cast of soloist, but she stole the show for me.

Hondo · Post by **Hondo** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:03 pm

I have not bothered to buy DVD's of concerts or individual artist performances because one can easily listen to those on a good replay system. However, I found that watching an opera on DVD is an incredible experience! The sets, the costumes, the movement - you just can't get that on a CD. Plus, the subtitles are much easier to follow than the miniature librettos now included with opera CD recordings!

Gabe

Allen · Post by **Allen** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:37 pm

Dear all,

I just want to recommend this DVD, which is my favorite by far:

http://www.mdt.co.uk/MDTSite/product/DVD/OACN0903D.htm

Haydnseek · Post by **Haydnseek** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:25 pm

When the DVD was introduced I expected to build up a collection of operas but it hasn't happened. I find it very difficult to sit through an opera, even in the theater, (I used to spend at least one act standing at the back) and prefer to wander about the house listening to CDs and doing other activities while listening. I would, however, like to acquire some of the operetta movies made in Germany in the 1950's and '60's that often featured Rudolf Schock. I don't think any of them are available yet and they will have to be ordered from Germany and played on a code-free DVD player, in any case.

Brahms · Post by **Brahms** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:59 pm

DVDs are superior to CDs in most respects, and I intend to substantially escalate my purchase of DVDs (being limited only by the lack of new DVD releases).

Gary · Post by **Gary** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:34 am

Sometimes I watch and sometimes I just listen. If it's something rather long like an opera or ballet, I tend to watch an act per evening.

Ballet VHS tapes/DVDs make up the bulk of my classical music video collection. The rest: only six operas and four are symphonic.

Brahms wrote:(being limited only by the lack of new DVD releases).

Then take a look at these.

http://www.tdk-music.com/

Click on "Catalogue"

http://euroarts.com/

Click on "DVD".

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:44 am

IcedNote wrote:Hi, all.

Well, I have about 20 concerts/operas on DVD or so. While they seem like a great idea, I just never seem to be in the mood to sit down and watch one. Whenever I have a period of time that I'd just like to use to chill out and relax, I usually pop in a film.

So if you collect them, when do you watch them? I mean, do you enjoy a bottle of wine and an opera on a Friday night?

Curious!

-G

I am such a creature of habit. I buy dvds just like I buy books: so I can have it when I want to see it or read it. I never think, "Well, I'll just go down and snag a few minutes of Poppea . . . " When I watch TV I'm usually looking for a documentary somewhere, anywhere.

Novitiate · Post by **Novitiate** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:40 am

Brahms wrote:DVDs are superior to CDs in most respects, and I intend to substantially escalate my purchase of DVDs (being limited only by the lack of new DVD releases).

Brahms, is the sound quality the same on DVD as on CD?

IcedNote · Post by **IcedNote** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 10:37 am

Novitiate wrote:
Brahms wrote:DVDs are superior to CDs in most respects, and I intend to substantially escalate my purchase of DVDs (being limited only by the lack of new DVD releases).
Brahms, is the sound quality the same on DVD as on CD?

DVD is better...provided your speakers are actually good enough to translate the difference.

-G

lmpower · Post by **lmpower** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:01 pm

Watching a video enriches the experience of opera and even more of ballet. I don't feel that need with instrumental music, though I suppose it could sharpen the awareness of orchestration in a symphony.

Nashvillebill · Post by **Nashvillebill** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:17 pm

Naxos of America (naxos' distribution wing) distributes DVD's as well. So far we distribute TDK, Euroarts, Arthaus Musik, Opus Arte, The Christopher Nupen Films, & Ideale Audiance (Juxtapositions). If y'all would like I can give a list of each month's new releases from these labels.

Here's what was released in January:

Naxos DVD -
2110521 - "The Plow that Broke the Plains - the River" by Pare Lorentz and Music by Virgil Thompson (re-recoreded full score of this movie)

Arthaus Musik -
101251 - "Alceste" Christop Willbald Gluck, featuting Donald Kaasch, Catherine Naglestad, Bernhard Schneider and Johan Rydh

101255 - "Simplicius Simlicissimus" Karl Amadeus Hartmann, featuring Claudia Mahnke, Frank Wan Aken, Heinz Gohrig

101267 - "Orpheus in der Underwelt" Offenbach, historic studio recording with Hamburg State Opera from 1971

101269 - "Zar und Zimmermann" Lortzing, Historical Studio production from the Hamburg State Opera 1965

101271 - "Der Freischutz" Carl Maria von Webber, Historical Studio Production from 1968

TDK
DVWW-OPTANC - "Tancredi" Rosinni, featuring Daniella Barcellona, Darina Takova, Gaul Gimenez

Euroarts -
2000068 - "Bernliner Philkarmoniker 125 years: A Jubilee Celebration" 5 DVD box set featuting the best of the Berlin Phil.

Opus Arte -
OA 0964D - "Lohengrin" Wagner, featuring Klaus Florian Vogt, Solveig Kringelborn, Hans-Peter Konig, Deutch Symphonie-Orchester Berlin,

OA 0965D - "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" Schostakovich, featuring Eva-Maria Westbroek, Christopher Wentris, Carole Wilson, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

I can post february and march releases as well if you'd like.

peace
Bill

Eetu Pellonpää · Post by **Eetu Pellonpää** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:26 pm

I usually let the DVD play on the background, while I do homeworks, eat or sit at the sofa, watching it more intense if there's something very interesting, or sometimes just listening the music. If there's a great production of a good opera, I usually watch it like a film, intensively from end to beginning.

BTW, could you recommend me god filmatisations of Wagners Ring cycle? I found one series from the library, but I didn't like the production, as it was transferred to some Kafka-like office world. Though experimentations are great, I would prefer to see some bit more classical version of this stuff.

Somne operas are much nicer with film, as the visual elements are often big part of the coplete presentation. It's also easier to follow the plot with texts.

Nashvillebill · Post by **Nashvillebill** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:18 pm

This one is pretty good from Opus Arte it's a little on the expensive side but a great collection

http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=174

dirkronk · Post by **dirkronk** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:01 pm

I find myself being drawn to concert DVDs almost in spite of myself. I think I could hold off if the performances were available on CD (or even LP), but some simply aren't. Opera still isn't my bag, even on these convenient and colorful discs, but the idea of hearing Richter and Rostropovich in even MORE vital performances of LvB cello sonatas than their classis Philips recording...and Szeryng doing the Brahms vc so-o-o beautifully with Paray...and other artists in similarly enticing situations--all this makes me reach almost spontaneously for my wallet.

Dirk

Novitiate · Post by **Novitiate** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 8:52 pm

IcedNote wrote:
Novitiate wrote:
Brahms wrote:DVDs are superior to CDs in most respects, and I intend to substantially escalate my purchase of DVDs (being limited only by the lack of new DVD releases).
Brahms, is the sound quality the same on DVD as on CD?
DVD is better...provided your speakers are actually good enough to translate the difference.

-G

Cheers.

Stonebraker · Post by **Stonebraker** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:22 pm

I'm building up my collection, slowly but surely. I've got all Brahms symphonies with the Symyon Bychov, and the middle DVDs of Bernstein's Mahler cycle with DG. I have "archived" some DVD's onto my harddrive that my professor from school lent me. These include the Bernstein Mahlers I dont have, Boulez does rite of spring, and a few others.

As a twenty year old, I find it's a great way to introduce friends to symphonic music. It's hard to get anyone to sit down and LISTEN for 10 minutes, let alone the hour or so that many symphonies last, espcially with people my age. So with the visual stimuli of the DVD, and the camera angles showing what's going on, it's much easier to get my friends to sit down and listen to some long hair music. The only drawback are conductors who look funny, for example, his names rhymes with semyon bychov, which sends people even less immature than I into fits of snickering.

walboi · Post by **walboi** » Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:32 am

They are still too expensive by far.

Stonebraker · Post by **Stonebraker** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:15 am

walboi wrote:They are still too expensive by far.

So is anything that is worthwhile.

Anyways, does anyone have any recommenadations on Wagner opera's on DVD? Since I've begun to enjoy classical music, I've avoided Wagner, on the basis that I like Brahms and I'm pretentious and arrogant enough to think that I know enough to exclude Wagner from my listening.

my god wine is delicous

Eetu Pellonpää · Post by **Eetu Pellonpää** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:54 am

Nashvillebill wrote:This one is pretty good from Opus Arte it's a little on the expensive side but a great collection

http://www.opusarte.com/pages/product.asp?ProductID=174

Thanks for the hint!

Nashvillebill · Post by **Nashvillebill** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 11:07 am

Anyways, does anyone have any recommenadations on Wagner opera's on DVD?

Opus Arte and Arthaus both have some very interesting versions of Wagner operas. I think that it's hard to recomend something specific because it could be a fantastic opera production but the filming of it could be terrible and take away from the full scope of what's happening.

if you'd like a list send me a PM with your email and I'll forward you what we have available.

SamLowry · Post by **SamLowry** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 3:49 pm

Lance wrote:...While one can more replicate the live visual through DVDs or videos, I don't think it works as well as going to a live concert.

When I go to a concert, I sometimes close my eyes so I'm not distracted by the performers. Though I'm starting to do less of that while driving.

Stonebraker · Post by **Stonebraker** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:51 pm

Can anyone recommend Wagner opera DVDs please?

The Classical Music Guide Forums

Do you collect classical music DVDs as well?

Do you collect classical music DVDs as well?

Re: Do you collect classical music DVDs as well?

Re: Do you collect classical music DVDs as well?

Who is online