4/5 A great night out in Berlin
  by T. Fisher
This is from a concert by the Berliner Philharmoniker at the Waldbühne ("Forest Stage") in Berlin. The Waldbühne is Berlin's answer to the Hollywood Bowl -- a nice outdoor concert venue that is less formal and more relaxed than an indoor concert hall. At the same time, there are compromises in sound (at least this concert doesn't have helicopters flying overhead -- which was the case at my last visit to the Hollywood Bowl!).

Neeme Jarvi, formerly of the Detroit and New Jersey symphony orchestras and now chief conductor at the Hague's Residentie Orkest, puts on a great concert here, a nice evening with kind of an "Arabian Nights" theme. It features a very lyrical reading of Rimsky's "Scheherezade", in which the BPO's first Koncertmeister Daniel Stabrawa (not Janine Jansen) takes the solo parts.

Janine Jansen comes on for a brief but spectacular Meditation from "Thaïs" by Massenet and a great "Introduction and Rondo capriccioso" by Saint-Saens. Her appearance clocks in at only about a quarter hour, however, so you may want to think twice if you are buying it for her (looking fabulous in her red dress, by the way).

There are also Scandinavian pieces that somehow fit into the European fantasy-Middle-Eastern theme very well -- excerpts from Grieg's "Peer Gynt" and from Nielsen's "Aladdin". The whole thing kicks off with the overture from Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio".

The exotic theme fades out for the finale, a short "Berliner Luft" by Lincke, but that is made up for by the fact that the Berliners in the audience go nuts and start whistling and dancing like maniacs. So does Jarvi, for that matter -- dancing, although not whistling. Forget your staid German stereotypes: while well-to-do Berliners cutting loose at a classical concert may not be exactly rowdy, it's still quite entertaining to watch.

A previous reviewer mentioned Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops. The comparison is apt -- this is a "pops" style concert. The quality of the audio is very good for being recorded at an outdoor venue, but it is still not the controlled environment of a studio or concert hall, and the sound gets a bit thin at times. That all being said, it is a very pleasant concert.

I was debating whether to give it four or five stars. I might have been too harsh with four, since for its own "light classic" or "pops" genre it really is a great recording and a masterful performance. It's just not Mahler, if you know what I mean. I also have a bias against taking excerpts out of works -- in general, I'd prefer a whole "Peer Gynt" and "Aladdin" to bits and bobs. I'd probably give four and half stars if I could.


5/5 One of the best Concerts
  by rvcclub (Laredo, Texas United States)
One of the best Concerts in DVD. All the family enjoys it. It is a must for any Classical music fan.

5/5 Superb "Sheherazade" from Berlin
  by Donald Waits (New Orleans, La. USA)
After listening to the many versions I have of "Sheherazade" by other orchestras and conductors, THIS one is, in my opinion, the most beautiful and thrilling. Neeme Jarvi and the always superb Berlin Philharmoniker play with such obvious joy and passion that it is hard to keep from moving to the music. This DVD is a testament to the idea that a work that is performed so often CAN be fresh and new. Just observing the attitudes of the various players is proof that being in this orchestra is the best thing going! Each member is a consummate artist in his or her own right. They can do anything.
As with all of the Berlin Philharmoniker's DVDs, I am impressed with their delight and pride in being a part of such wonderful music-making. This orchestra is not a collection of impersonal and detached automatons sawing away at a "job", but a group of flesh and blood human beings. I am beginning to know the names and faces of individual players and watch for them as I would old friends. The Berlin's web site provides pictures and brief biographies of each player, enabling one to become more familiar with them as individuals.
In addition, the visuals of the audience are a welcome treat. Children, older people, young lovers, and whole families are shown thoroughly attentive and having the time of their lives. The Waldbume venue accommodates 22,000! The festive and casual nature of these concerts must be a thrilling experience for these lucky people. A far cry from "His Legacy", these DVDs are a living testimonial to the brilliance of the Berlin "family". The producers and directors of the performances are to be seriously complimented for these magnificent presentations. SIX stars!

4/5 no title
  by Juan Humberto Gonzalez Aguilar (Quilpué, Chile)
Sorry, but I live in Chile. No se escribir en inglés.
El concierto lo consideré muy bueno. La solista Janine Jansen ejecuta con maestría los temas. Los cantantes muy sólidos y la Filarmónica de Berlín como de costumbre, excelente. Finalmente el sonido DTS 5.1 espectacular.
¿Qué más se puede pedir ?

5/5 Great concert recording
  by B. Bader (Potomac, Maryland)
Superb sound, great concert. Janine Jansen is electric. Saw an excerpt and bought the DVD, was not disappointed.