In 1997 Christoph von Dohnányi was appointed Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra. In Rehearsal is an unflashy but riveting documentary, made in the Royal Festival Hall in 1998, that follows his first experiences of working on Haydn's music with the ensemble. It includes substantial rehearsal footage, his comments on the piece (Symphony No. 88, nicknamed The Bagpipe), and interviews with some of the orchestra's principal players. It will undoubtedly be compulsory viewing for aspiring conductors, but it also makes fascinating watching for anyone who has... ever gained pleasure from listening to an orchestra perform. Dohnányi's rehearsal technique is laid bare: his phenomenal attention to the smallest details of phrasing and articulation, his rather severe manner lightened by the occasional pleasantry and his uncanny precision in the matter of wind tuning. (It is fascinating to note that when he joins in with a melody, he hardly ever sings in tune himself.) The changes he creates are startling: in the famous "bagpipe" sequence he transforms the sound from a commonplace into something startling and ear-bending simply by shading the strings down and foregrounding the bassoons. His general comments on the art of conducting and its foundation in human trust are also engrossing. All told this is serious, informative and thought-provoking--and highly recommended. On the DVD: Christoph von Dohnányi in Rehearsal comes equipped with subtitles in French, German and Spanish. Picture is standard 4:3 and sound basic PCM stereo. The disc also contains trailers for three other Arthaus DVDs. --Warwick Thomson [show more]
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Documentary that follows conductor Christoph Von Dohnanyi as he works on Haydn's Symphony no. 88 in G major with the London Philharmonia Orchestra, at the Royal Festival Hall in 1998.
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