MASTERS OF CLASSICAL MUSIC (5 DVDs)

Do you know why there was a wild brawl at the premiere of Stravinsky's Sacre du printemps? Why did Schubert never intend to finish his famous Unfinished Symphony in h-Minor. What is the fate behind Beethoven's Symphony of Fate? And what surprise did Haydn have in mind with his symphony of the same name? Expect to be enlightened with these and many other exciting answers to intriguing questions about some of the most famous works of classical music by the documentary series Masters of Classical Music. Renowned experts take a closer, always entertaining, but somewhat distinct, look at 20 of the most distinguished symphonic oeuvres, performed by some of the best artists and orchestras in the world. A must have for all fans of classical music, beginners and explorers alike.

Martha Argerich (Piano), Gil Shaham (Violin)

Freiburger Barockorchester
Gottfried von der Goltz 

C.P.E. Bach Chamber Orchestra
Hartmut Haenchen

Berliner Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Mariss Jansons, Bernard Haitink, Pierre Boulez 

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Riccardo Chailly, Kurt Masur 

Wiener Symphoniker
Pierre Boulez

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim

Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Claudio Abbado 

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln
Semyon Bychkov 

Sachsische Staatskapelle
Giuseppe Sinopoli 

Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester, Sächsische Staatskapelle Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Semyon Bychkov, Riccardo Chailly, Hartmut Haenchen, Bernard Haitink, Mariss Jansons, Kurt Masur, Guiseppe Sinopoli, Gottfried von der Goltz

Masters of Classical Music is an informative and captivating guide to twenty of the most important works in music history. Outtakes from the original scores within the documentaries, assist the viewer by making it easier to follow the music and to overall comprehend the structure of the works. The viewer will travel back in time to experience the birth places of these compositions and will thereby gain insight into the lives of the composers whilst receiving a thorough introduction to the works. Hosted by Jeremy Barham, Michael Beckerman , Pierre Boulez, Frank-Michael Erben, Constantin Floros, Hartmut Haenchen, Peter Hill, Armin Koch, Wulf Kunold, Robert Levin, Paul Roberts, Wolfgang Sandberger, Habakuk Traber

Gustav Mahler
Das Lied von der Erde

Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor

Richard Strauss
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64 (An Alpine Symphony)

Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

Franz Peter Schubert
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 ‘Unfinished’

Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 BWV1046-1051 (complete)

Béla Bartók
Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123, Sz.116

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 ‘Choral’

Hector Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14 (episodes in the life of an artist)

Johannes Brahms
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

Anton Bruckner
Symphony No. 8 in C minor

Claude Achille Debussy
La Mer

Antonin Dvorak
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 ‘From the New World’

Franz Joseph Haydn
Symphony No. 94 in G Major ‘Surprise’ (Mit dem Paukenschlag)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 41 in C major, K551 ‘Jupiter’

Maurice Ravel
Bolero

Robert Schumann
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Igor Feodorovich Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring (Le Sacre du Printemps)

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64