BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 1; SCHUBERT: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8 – Chicago Symphony Orchestra, George Solti (DVD) EuroArts

One of the legendary liaisons of the 20th century between conductor and orchestra is that of Sir Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Solti himself described it as a “love affair” and he influenced the orchestra with the elegance and impeccable taste of Central European music making. His remarkable partnership with the Chicago Symphony began in 1954 and he was named Music Director in 1969, a post he held for a phenomenal 22 years. As one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, his readings of the major composers of classical music have often been referred to. The present recordings on DVD show conductor and orchestra at the peak of their music making with three unforgettable works. Recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall in London 1978 was a concert of Beethoven’s beautiful First Symphony. It is sometimes labelled a ” farewell to the 18th century”, as it still follows the structure of 18th-century symphonic music. The concert recording from Chicago in 1979 features two of Schubert’s symphonies, his “Unfinished” Symphony No. 8, one of the most universally beloved works in the symphonic repertoire and his lesser played Sixth Symphony in C major, known as the “Little Symphony”, which he wrote before he was 21 years of age. Directed by Humphrey Burton, the DVD features almost 100 minutes of concert performance plus an eight minute introduction to Schubert’s Symphonies Nos.6&8 by Sir Georg Solti as a bonus film. A fitting hommage to Sir Georg Solti and his special relationship to „his“ Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Bonus subtitles

English, German, French, Spanish

Beethoven Symphony No. 1; Schubert Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8