Vienna State Opera Gala 2005 - Gala Concert 50th Anniversary Of The Re-Opening DVD

Advantages: Enchanting, Romantic, beautifully shot, Excellent dialogue
Disadvantages: You won't like it if you don't like films with a lot of talking in! Otherwise, none.

...on the big screen, it slowly gained popularity on its release to video, and then the 2004 release of a sequal, Before Sunset ensured that the DVD has become a must have in any film buffs collection. Jesse (Ethan Hawke), a young American student who has just been ditched by his girfriend is on a train travelling through Europe when he gets chatting to Celine (Julie Delpy), a French girl of about the same age. She is on her way to Paris, he is heading out from Vienna to catch a plane home, but he convinces her to get of the train with him in Vienna so they can hang out and explore the city together before they have to go their seperate ways in the morning. The film then follows them through the evening and the night to the next morning as they wander around Vienna together. The film is beautifully shot - I particularly love the scene... Read review

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Advantages: Fascinating insight into a very private conductor
Disadvantages: One always wants more concert clips in DVDs like this...

...***Updated/improved with more information*** Summary: This is a "must buy" for anyone who is a fan of conductor Claudio Abbado. If you are a keen classical music lover it also gives a fascinating insight into the artistic genius of this very special maestro. With revealing comments not only from Abbado himself, but some of his colleagues and a generous selection of concert/rehearsal clips, the DVD provides a tantalising glimpse into Abbado's complex philosophy towards music and conducting, in particular how it has deepened since his severe illness a few years ago. Background: Claudio Abbado is probably the world's finest living classical music conductor. He was born in Milan, Italy in 1933 and studied in Milan and then in Vienna with renowned conducting teacher Hans Swarowsky (who was also the teacher of fine conductor Zubin Mehta... Read review

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Advantages: Great cast, conductor and orchestra, top notch production
Disadvantages: None, to be honest

...a complicated plot, but this production by the renowned Austrian theatre director Otto Schenk, makes it comparatively easy to follow the action. Whilst opera productions taking a radical view can be exciting, I really feel that if one is getting to know a new work, particularly one of this complexity it is best to stick with a traditional approach. Schenk and his designer brilliantly encapsulate the contrasts between the expensive but slightly worn stately home appearance of the Marschallin's house, to the extravagant and rather over the top decoration of the nouveau riche Faninal household and finally the denouement in the unmistakeably insalubrious surroundings of a shabby, down-market Viennese inn! The detail of the set design is beautifully done and comes over vividly in this DVD which is filmed in the renowned Vienna State Opera house... Read review

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