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Carlos Kleiber - Beethoven Coriolan Ouverture, Brahms Symfonie nr. 4, Mozart Symfonie nr. 33, München (1996)

This is one of Carlos Kleiber's last concerts, filmed live in 1996 in the Herkulesalle, in Munich. Kleiber looks more elderly and frail (he was just 66) than he did in the 1983 Beethoven Symphonies 4,7 with the Concertgebouw Orchestra (Philips DVD), or the 1991 Brahms Symphony 2 (Philips DVD) also in late 2004. There is a special sense of occasion here:the orchestra and audience clearly love Kleiber, the orchestra playing with a special spirit and elan for him.

Beethoven's CORIOLAN Overture is very dramatic and tragic, creating a powerful effect. Mozart's 33rd Symphony, one less often played than the later Symphonies 35, 36, 38-41, is done lovingly, yet without the slower tempo for I used by some conductors such as Bohm (DG CD, with complete Mozart Symphonies) or Wordsworth (Naxos CD). The Brahms Symphony 4 is beautifully played, although some might find the Passacaglia IV a bit poker faced nearing the end: not dramatic or emotional enough in the final bars. Kleiber seems to rush through a few passages other conductors, such as Steinberg (MCA CD) lingered over. But this is a great concert, and I would be thrilled to hear it in person.

The picture is excellent, widescreen. Camera work is terrific, and always serves the music: never invasive or distracting. Watching this makes me regret there will be no future videos or CDs from Carlos Kleiber, and I'm a bigger fan of Bohm, Furtwangler, Bernstein, and Ormandy. This is a great DVD: anyone liking Classical music videos will be pleased.


Er zijn altijd mensen die zoveel mogelijk, zo niet alles van een bepaald iets of iemand willen hebben, welnu...(en er is nog meer)


Veel plezier eermee..