Beethoven: The Symphonies (Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Conducts the Danish National Symphony Orchestra) (2012)

Beethoven: The Symphonies (Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Conducts the Danish National Symphony Orchestra) Poster

Synopsis

Spanish maestro Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos (1933-2014) concluded his acclaimed international conducting career spanning nearly six decades with two memorable years as the revered Principal Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Recorded live at Copenhagen's new DR Koncerthuset, Koncertsalen from 2012 to 2014, this exclusive recording combines Fruhbeck de Burgos's powerful interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven's complete symphonies with his spectacular renditions of Hector Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Richard Strauss's Eine Alpensinfonie, as well as Joaquin Rodrigos's popular Concerto de Aranjuez, with world-renowned Spanish guitarist Pepe Romero.

First Air Date: 2012-09-06

Last Air Date: 2014-01-23

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 12

Top Cast

Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos as Director
Danish National Symphony Orchestra as Orchestra
Danish National Concert Choir as Choir
Soo-Jin Hong as Concertmaster
Johannes Søe Hansen as Concertmaster
Christina Åstrand as Concertmaster
Florian Helgath as Chrosu Master
Albina Shagimuratova as Soprano
Charlotte Hellekant as Mezzo-Soprano
Scott MacAllister as Tenor

Seasons

None (2012)

"Beethoven: The Symphonies" is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of DRS and Da Capo with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in 1.78:1. You have to hunt a little bit, but on the back of the three cardboard sleeves attached to the left side of the inside of this somewhat oddly configured package is information detailing that everything save for Eine Alpensinfonie was captured in native 1080p, while the Strauss piece has been upscaled from standard definition (it's not just obvious from the rampant stair stepping and similar anomalies on display, but also from the fact that Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos is noticeably younger and more spry, and conducts that piece standing up). While the really wide shots taken from what looks like the second balcony of Copenhagen's new(ish) Concert Hall look fairly ragged.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Symphony No. 1 in C major, op. 21 (1799/1800) (2012-09-06)

Recorded on September 06 and 07, 2012 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 2: Symphony No. 2 in D major, op. 36 (1801-1802) (2012-09-13)

Recorded on September 13 and 14, 2012 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 3: Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, op. 55 “Eroica” (1803-05) (2012-12-06)

Recorded December 06 and 07, 2012 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 4: Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, op. 60 (1806) (2013-01-24)

Recorded January 24 and 25, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
Ep. 5: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, op. 67 (1804-1808) (2013-01-31)

Recorded on March 21 and 21, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 6: Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68 “Pastoral” (1808) (2013-04-25)

Recorded on April 25 and 26, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 7: Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 (1811-1812) (2013-05-24)

Recorded May 24 and 25, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
Ep. 8: Symphony No. 8 in F major, op. 93 (1812) (2013-06-30)

Recorded on June 30 and 31, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 9: Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 « Choral » (1822-1824) (2013-06-30)

Recorded on June 30 and 31, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 10: (Joaquín Rodrigo) Concierto de Aranjuez (1939) (2013-03-21)

Recorded on March 21 and 22, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.
Ep. 11: (Hector Berlioz) Symphonie fantastique, op. 14 (1830) (2013-01-24)

Recorded January 24 and 25, 2013 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
Ep. 12: (Richard Strauss) Eine Alpensinfonie, op. 64 (1911-1915) (2014-01-23)

Recorded on January 23, 2014 at DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen.