Dom Robinson reviews
Herbert Von Karajan: Beethoven Symphony No.9 in D Minor,
Distributed by
Cat.no: SVD 46364
Cert: E
Running time: 66'15
Year: 1983
Pressing: 1998
Region(s): 2, PAL
Chapters: 4 plus extras
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 and Stereo
Languages: English, French, German
Programme Notes: English, French, German
Presented in Fullscreen
16:9-enhanced: No
Macrovision: No
Disc Format: DVD 5
Price: £19.99
Extras : Scene index, Biography, Programme Notes
Herbert Von Karajan: Beethoven Symphony No.9 in D Minor, Op.125 "Choral"
Like the Dvorak DVD, in addition to Karajan swinging his baton we are treated
to separately-staged shots of same-instrument musicians playing away with the
light shining off their perfectly polished instruments while shot against a
black background. This gives each section their own prominence and allows them
to be viewed close-up which is difficult from the musicians clustered in front
of Karajan.
Perfect picture quality is again the order of the day. Artifacts are nowhere to
be found and average bitrate is an excellent 8.12Mb/s. Given that the
performance is displayed in 4:3, the disc is obviously not anamorphic - a
process used for prints with a ratio of 16:9 or wider which allows extra
resolution on widescreen televisions.
Sound options are available for Stereo and Dolby Digital 5.1. It comes across
superbly in either case.
Extras :
Chapters :
There are 4 chapters, with one for each movement. The track listing is as
follows :
1. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso (15'27)
Final chorus from Schiller's "Ode to Joy"
Languages/Subtitles :
This time there are some vocals. While they are sung in their original language,
lyrics are available in English, French and German. The biography and programme
notes and are also available in the same three languages.
Biography and Programme Notes :
The first option displays an extensive seven-page biog of conductor Herbert
Von Karajan, while the latter provides eight pages of info containing what the
public thought the very day Beethoven himself previewed it to a waiting world
and Karajan's impressions of the music.
Menu :
Like the Dvorak disc, the menu is static and navigation between the different
sub-menus is problem-free.
Overall, it's another fantastic-looking and sounding DVD from Sony Music,
but it's just a shame that there's only just over an hour's worth of material
here. A Karajan collection on one DVD would have been the ideal choice.
Still, what's on here is well worth a look (and a listen) and anyone unfamiliar
with "Ode To Joy" will be reminded if they watch their "Die Hard" video at the
point where the huge safe was finally opened.
FILM : *****
PICTURE QUALITY : *****
SOUND QUALITY : *****
EXTRAS : **
-------------------------------
OVERALL : ****
Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.
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