New Year's Concert 2010
The annual New Year's Concert from Vienna, seen by millions on TV worldwide, is the best-known classical concert in the world. Featured Composers: J Strauss II, J Strauss I, Offenbach, Nicolai, and more! Georges Prêtre returns to Vienna's illustrious Musikverein to conduct a compelling program that combines adored classics with no less than four intriguing premieres. Idolized in Vienna, the legendary French maestro, Georges Prêtre is a leading expert on and interpreter of the music of the Strauss family. The DVD features the complete concert, supplemented by ballet highlights and the traditional intermission feature.
$26.99
We saw this at a friend's home and we all wanted a copy. We have been to Opera House and on a cruise on the Danube, so it brought back warm memories. The music was wonderful and watching the conductor enjoy the performance as much as we did was great. This will bring me many hours of listening pleasure.
Rose -- 2010 New Year's Concert from Amazon
I, too, copied the 2009 New Year's Eve concert in Vienna on my DVR and have watched it again and again and again. This concert is fabulous! To begin with, the setting is absolutely beautiful - Vienna's Musikverein. The concert is filled with Strauss waltzes and Conductor Georges Pretre is fantastic. The version of "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" is the most beautiful version I've ever heard and includes a set of videos that were shot along the Danube River in several different countries from the beginning to the end of the river. The music is so beautiful that it makes me cry.
There are two pieces that feature performances by the Paris Opera Ballet - costumed in the loveliest Valentino designer gowns I have ever seen on stage - and taking place in the Vienna Art History Museum. The first piece is "One Heart, One Mind," a Strauss polka and features one ballerina in a red Valentino gown, with counterpart in tuxedo and tails. For an extra smile, be sure to notice where the dance comes to an end at the top of the central staircase!
The second piece featuring a performance by the Paris Opera Ballet takes place in the picture galleries of the Art History Museum among works of art by Rafael, Rembrandt, Velasquez and others. This particular piece is my favorite among all of the other gems and includes more than a dozen dancers. The ballerinas are dressed in beautiful Valentino gowns in varying shades of pastel pink and grey. They dance along the marble corridors and among some of the most breathtaking art in history.
I've had this recorded on my DVR since New Years and I've played it for several different guests in my home and they have all loved it. My opinion about this particular DVD is that it is a little treasure. It is a beautiful piece of art that warmed my heart. It made me so happy to see this - to know that there really are talented people somewhere in the world and that culture hasn't been so degraded that we have lost art and loveliness. -- Delightful!
Exelent musical production, not as good selection of the music offered as years before, the conductor Mr Petre seem not to have the energy to conduct because of his age, but the orchestra realy performed great.
RAMIRO SANCHEZ
GUATEMALA -- New year's concert 2010
Since I missed part of this year's New Year's Concert in Vienna I decided to buy the DVD. It was worth it. Georges Pretre guided the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in a very unique way by preserving the traditional elements of the music, but also made me listen to sequences that I remembered differently from other performances. In all cases I admitted afterwards that his way of interpretation was very valid and not just acceptable. It gave me a new insight to parts of the program. Worth every penny (the editing is also great). -- Good mixture of traditional and 'modern' interpretation
I recorded this when it was first on PBS for viewing later. I liked it at first, but initially was impressed with the segments shot in the royal candy establishment. Talk about a droolfest!
I kept replaying this program, especially for my mother who has Alzheimer's, and found this is an almost perfect music dvd. I was not familiar with Pretre, but now he's probably my favorite video conductor. Mom and I have decided to adopt him, permanently. Guess he'll have to bring the orchestra.
I'd be content with total shots of the orchestra and ornate hall, but this production brings dramatic shots of the entire Danube river, from Germany to the Black Sea. Julie Andrews is the perfect new host, replacing the recently departed Walter Cronkite. Suppose one day I'll erase the program by mistake, and will order the DVD in earnest.
-- Lush and delicious...enjoy it over and over
