Product Description

Based on the amphitheater in the ancient Greek city of Epidaurus, and nestled in a natural valley, the Waldbuhne theater seats 22,000 in leafy comfort and remains one of Berlin's favorite open air concert venues, with magnificent views of the stage. World class conductors lead the Berlin Philharmonic in evening concerts of popular Italian, French, Russian and American favorites.

This release features Claudio Abbado conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker and soloists Angela Gheorghiu, Sergei Larin, and Bryn Terfel at the Waldbuhne in Berlin. The concert program includes Verdi's overture and chorus of Hebrew slaves from Nabucco, Bellini's Eccomi in lieta vesta from I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Verdi's E lui...O mio Rodrigo from Don Carlo and Vedi! Le fosche notturne from Il Trovatore, Rossini's overture from Guglielmo Tell, overture Il Barbiere di Siviglia and much more.

Starring: Angela Gheorghiu, Sergej Larin, Bryn Terfel, Berliner Philharmoniker.
Conducted by Georges Prêtre
Directed For Video By Brian Large

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27989 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-08-25
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 107 minutes

Customer Reviews

Left Me Wanting More
Not because there isn't enough music, because there is. It's because I didn't want it to end. The concert is made up mostly of Verdi's music, with Bellini's and Rossini's music thrown in for good measure. Soloists, soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor, Sergei Larin sing the love duet from Otello as well as soloing respectively in music from Bellini's The Capulets and the Montagues, and from Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera. Baritone, Bryn Terfel, sings Iago's Credo from Otello, and joins Mr. Larin in a duet from Don Carlo. In addition to these high-powered soloists, the concert includes Verdi's overture to La Forza del Destino and to Nabucco. A chorus sings the Slave Music from the latter as well as the Anvil Chorus from Il Travotore and the Triumphal Chorus from Aida. The nod to Rossini is his sprightly overture to The Barber of Seville. The audio and picture are excellent
As you can see, there are a lot of favorites on this DVD. The conductor, Claudio Abbado, with the Berlin Philharmonic, and the outdoor audience seem to be having a lot of fun, not permitting to have the falling rain rain on their parade. Mr. Abbado amused the audience by inserting operatic themes during the audience participation in the work, Berliner Luft, which traditionally closes the program. This DVD will entertain you whenever it is viewed. SO BUY IT!!!

Italian Night With Abbado
I bought this one for my daughter-in-law, whose father is from Rome. I had to preview it, since Abbado is my favorite conductor. His Beethoven and Mahler sets are great. But what could be better than Abbado conducting Italian opera highlights?
Highly recommended.