Barenboim Beethoven Sonatas on DVD

Yes, I agree. I've said before how valuable this set is to me. I guess we're at the mercy of a producer who gets to decide what and how we are to see this visually. One day perhaps, we will be able to see what the pianist or musician sees in a realistic way. But although not entirely perfect, these DVD's are still among the best, as you say.

One thing that always amazes me is how a video (and recording, for that matter) can create an illusion as to what is actually occurring and the physical demands being placed on the performer. When I look at the top pros they make everything appear easy and effortless I just shake my head in amazement and utter disbelief. What's nice about these DVD's is how they do at least show the sweat dripping from his brow which should give a small clue even though it mostly looks like he isn't doing to much. I don't think most non-musicians realize just how difficult physically it is to play this music. The other astounding thing for me is that he is playing the complete set from memory. This is in the neighborhood of 600 pages of music and of course this is on top of the huge amount of repertoire he has mastered, performed and studied in his lifetime. A truly amazing talent and I have the highest amount of respect for him and others like him.

I do like to see the whole body of the performer from time to time too. The way one sits, plays, moves give many musical clues away to the observer as well. Barenboim, Kempff, Backhaus, Brendel etc. all sound different and they all sit and approach the instrument differently. It is neat to see this and how it connects to the outcome.

Regards,
Doug

Barenboim is a character whom i first came to know as a conductor. i have a set of bruckner symphonies he did with chicago, which was the first time these very difficult works made sense to me. his comprehension of romantic music is beyond reproach.

what pianists do is the physical marathon of all classical music. the feats of memory and endurance suffered by pianists is beyond belief. it's like watching a marathon.

i am amazed by the quantity of pianists who have risen to the occasion and not just overcome, but transfigured the musical experience, bringing you to a spiritual place you never imagined before.

as a test of the individual soul, piano stands alone, having set a high watermark that has stood for over a century.

long live the piano! and they are currently blessed with instruments far beyond what beethoven dreamed of. god only knows what beethoven might have written if he had our contemporary instruments at his disposal!

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

Many of us use the music room to find new music, and that is how i came to have this set of dvds ... not to put too fine a point on it, i have to say that as a set of recordings this is the best thing in my collection

You're more than welcome.

quote:

occasionally in the middle of an intense passage, the cameraman will let you watch barenboim wiggle his eyebrows instead of his upper torso where all the action is taking place. why would anyone want to look at his face in the middle of a fugal variation in the third movement of the opus 109? ... maybe one day i'll find a music dvd where the cameraman is a music lover, but not yet :-)

But Barenboim's eyebrows are highly expressive ... lots of music in them. Seriously. I like to see how the music manifests in facial expressions.

Besides, it's not the decision of the camera operators ... there are multiple cameras, the director calls various shots during the shoot, and in postproduction the director and editor, and, ultimately, Barenboim, decide which shots are used.

Best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by mikeeschman:

Many of us use the music room to find new music, and that is how i came to have this set of dvds ... not to put too fine a point on it, i have to say that as a set of recordings this is the best thing in my collection

You're more than welcome.

quote:

occasionally in the middle of an intense passage, the cameraman will let you watch barenboim wiggle his eyebrows instead of his upper torso where all the action is taking place. why would anyone want to look at his face in the middle of a fugal variation in the third movement of the opus 109? ... maybe one day i'll find a music dvd where the cameraman is a music lover, but not yet :-)

But Barenboim's eyebrows are highly expressive ... lots of music in them. Seriously. I like to see how the music manifests in facial expressions.

Besides, it's not the decision of the camera operators ... there are multiple cameras, the director calls various shots during the shoot, and in postproduction the director and editor, and, ultimately, Barenboim, decide which shots are used.

Best,
Fred

ok, i'm obsessed. i want to see what he's doing with his hands and upper body every second he is playing. if i could, i'd jump into his skin and be him while he's playing :-)

so his facial expression is secondary to me ...