You bet!

A couple of months ago someone started a thread along the line of "What CD did you get for Christmas" or something like that. I did get a lot but my day-time job was too much of a crunch for me at the time to post something. Well, yesterday afternoon a packet from a friend of mine arrived at my front door. It contains the 3rd batch of VCDs (video CD) of classical music performances and precious documentaries some of which, IMHO, are priceless! I was so excited that I could not sleep. I simply can't contain myself. Let me share my over-joy with many of you here that have similar tastes and preferences like mine. For years and years I have been using my quite limited resources to build my classical CD collection. I simply do not have the capability to start on the video genre. I have altogether less than 30 VHS classical tapes and a couple of DVDs. Now I have close to 100 VCDs!! Here is the latest shipment:

1. Stanislav Bunin (Piano)
Chopin Nocturne Op.27/2
Mazurkas Op.30/2, Op.56/2,Op.59/3, Op.63/3
Polonaise Op.61
Waltz in Eb, Op.posth.
Waltz in E, Op.posth.
Debussy Arabesque No.1
Tarantelle Styrienne
Images pour le piano Set 1

2. Gerhard Oppitz (Piano)
Schumann Carnaval
Brahms 2 Rhapsodies, Op.79
Brahms Piano Pieces, Op.119
Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Handel, Op.24

3. Yundi Li (Piano)
Liszt La Campanella MV
Executive Interview
Live in Japan 2002:
Rigoletto Paraphrase
Sun Flower
La Campanella

4. Martha Argerich (Piano)
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1 in C, Op.15
The Egmont Overture, Op.84
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Seiji Ozawa (Conductor)

5. Jorge Bolet (Piano)
Chopin Ballade No.1 in Gm, Op.23
Nocturne in F# major, Op.15/2
Nocturne in Fm, Op.55/1
Liszt Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Liszt Sonetto 123 del Petrarca
Annees de pelerinage, deuxieme annee, Venezia e Napoli

6. Claudio Arrau (Piano)
Schumann Carnaval (filmed in London, June19, 1961)
Beethoven Sonata No.32 in Cm, Op.111 (filmed in Paris, 1970)

7. Claudio Arrau (Piano)
Schumann Piano Concerto, Op.54
George Hurst (Conductor)
London Philharmonic Orchestra
(filmed in London, June 8, 1963)
Solomon (Piano)
Beethoven Sonata No.23 in Fm, “Appasionata”
(filmed in London, January 15, 1956)

8. Massimo Palumbo (Piano)
Cycle of Twelve Piano Sonatas by J. Haydn, vol. 5
Sonata No.37
Sonata No.20
Sonata No.49
Sonata No.52
(I have never heard this pianist’s name before)

9. Gerhard Oppitz (Piano)
Beethoven Choral Fantasy in C, Op.80
Bach Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue in Dm, BWV903
Liszt Variations on Bach’s Cantata No.12
Sudfunk Choir
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
Gianluigi Gelmetti (Conductor)

10. Maurizio Pollini (Piano)
Brahms Piano Concerto No.2 in Bb, Op.83
Wiener Philharmoniker
Claudio Abbado (Conductor)
(filmed in 1977)

11. Glenn Gould (Piano)
The Alchemist (1) A film by Bruno Monsaingeon
Part One: The retreat
Part Two: The Alchemist

12. Glenn Gould (Piano)
Part Two: The Alchemist (Conclusion)
Part Three: Glenn Gould 1974
Part Four: Bach Partita No.6 in Em, BWV830

13. Alicia de Larrocha (Piano)
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1 in C, Op.15
London Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas (Conductor)
(filmed in 1993)

14. Nicolas Economou (Piano)
Schumann Kreisleriana Op.16
Arabesque Op.18
Papillons Op.2
(I have never heard this pianist before)

15. Vladimir Horowitz (Piano)
Royal Festival Hall, 4:40 p.m. Saturday, May 22, 1982
Scarlatti Sonatas L.186, 494, 118, 33, 189, 224
Chopin Polonaise-Fantasie, Op.61
Chopin Ballade in Gm, Op.23
Vladimir Horowitz Self-Portrait (Beginning)

16. Vladimir Horowitz Self-Portrait (Conclusion)
Schumann Scenes from Childhood, Op.15
Rachmaninoff Sonata No.2 in Bbm, Op.36
Chopin Waltz in Abm, Op.69/1

17. Horowitz in Moscow (1986)
(who doesn’t know this one?!)

18. Vladimir Horowitz (Piano)
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No.3 in D minor, Op.30
New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Zubin Mehta (Conductor)
(filmed live at Avery Fisher Hall, September 24, 1978)

19. David Oistrakh (Violin)
Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Archival Treasures Vol.2, Part 1
Brahms Violin Sonata No.2 in A, Op.100 (3/29/1971)
Brahms Violin Concerto in D, Op.77 (2/14/1966)

20. Part 2
Beethoven Violin Sonata No.3 in Eb, Op.12 (3/1972)
Beethoven Triple Concerto, Op.56 (1970)

21. Anne-Sophie Mutter (Violin)
Beethoven Violin Concerto in D, Op.61
Berliner Philharmoniker
Herbert von Karajan (Conductor)
(who doesn’t know this one?!)

22. Daniel Barenboim (Piano)
Itzhak Perlman (Violin)
Pinchas Zukerman (Viola)
Jacqueline de Pre (Cello)
Zubin Mehta (Doubble bass)
Schubert “Trout” Quintet

23. Karajan – Early Images, vol. 2
Schumann Symphony No.4 in Dm, Op.120 (Rehearsal) (1965)
Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 in A, K.219 (1966)
Yehudi Menuhin (Violin)
Viener Symphoniker

24. The Art of Conducting
Legendary Conductors of a Golden Era (1)
Sergiu Celibedach
Wilhelm Furtwangler
Erich Kleiber
Evgeny Mravinsky
Charles Munch
Willem Mengelberg
Andre Cluyns
Herbert von Karajan
Hermann Scherchen
Vaclav Talich

25. The Art of Conducting
Legendary Conductors of a Golden Era (2)

26. Jacqueline de Pre (Cello)
Elgar Cello Concerto
An Intimate Portrait of a legendary musician
The New Philharmonia Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim
Sir. John Barbirolli
William Pleeth

27. Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Beethoven Sonata for Cello & Piano in F, Op.5/1
Beethoven Sonata for Cello & Piano in Gm, Op.5/2
(filmed in Edinburge, 8/31/1984)
Mendelssohn Variations serieuses in Dm, Op.54 (piano solo)
(filmed in Moscow, 1966)

28. Sviatoslav Richter (Piano)
Mstislav Rostropovich (Cello)
Beethoven Sonata for Cello & Piano in A, Op.69
Beethoven Sonata for Cello & Piano in C, Op.102/1
Beethoven Sonata for Cello & Piano in D, Op.102/2
(filmed in Edinburge, 8/31/1984)

I am SOOOOOOOOO jealous! I don't own any videos or anything of pianists, though I once saw a Martha Argerich concert on TV.
Did you order these, or somebody bought them for you? You could send a little money my way, I would be ever so grateful ( being the poor, poor college student I am)(and musician to boot)....
Well, anyways, have fun, and maybe take a "sick day" (riiiight...) off of work so you can watch them all....

Always way behind in technology, I have not heard of VCD. Could you please explain how these work? Can you just listen to them in your CD player? How do you see they video part? (I guess I need to get out more )

What a wonderful Christmas gift , even better in March. Do take the advice of Pianomuse and "get sick" for a couple of days to watch them all. If you have time to post a review, I would enjoy reading your thoughts as you make your way thru your new library of VCD's.

Nancyww, I think the terminology is just throwing you off track. These would be (I'm pretty sure) the DVD's you rent at Blockbuster when you want to see The Godfather III or RockyXXX.

Digital VideoDisk = DVD
VideoCompactDisk = VCD

I'm pretty sure they are interchangeable terms for the same technology. Prices for DVD player start around $100, dual DVD/VHS(tape) players can be had for $180 or so.

I'd be interested in the catalogue numbers of some of these disks as I am not even going to claim to be a poor poor struggling student and might use some of my hard earned disposable income to watch along with Andrew.
Bob

I have seen a few of these, but the majority is something that I have not seen. Those aforementioned tapes I just have not found in stores, Andrew, do you know where I can get my hands on such treasures?!

DVDs and VCDs are *not* the same thing. The quality of a VCD is comparable only to a VHS tape, quite unlike the high quality of a DVD. A VCD is also smaller in capacity compared to a DVD, although the size of both discs are still the same as an audio CD. The video information on some VCDs are coded as MPEGs, but there are other formats as well.

You can play VCDs on the computer or there are stand-alone VCD players, just like DVD players. Most DVD players sold in Asia can play both DVD as well as VCD. Stand-alone VCD players used to cost much less than DVD players, but with the drop in DVD prices lately, stand-alone VCD players are no longer in demand.

VCDs are most prevalent in Asia, where they go for about 40% or even less than DVDs. In Asia, movies are released in DVD, as well as VCD, while in Europe and North America, you get DVD and VHS. I have never seen VCDs sold in Europe or North America, expect in video shops run by the Chinese for Chinese patrons. Most video shops in Asia have not carried VHS tapes for quite a few years now. VCDs are superior to VHS because there is much less wear and tear, and no problems with mould etc. They are the poorer cousin of DVDs.

Andrew, that is a treasure chest. I am very envious.

Brendan, could you email me so that I can contact you privately?

When I have some time I'll respond, hopefully to everyone's question...

I ahte to be picky, but DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. You would be amazed that about 95% of people dont know thats what it really is.

Andrew G.

Remember to be nice to this special friend for the rest of your life. :rolleyes:

Actually DVD stands for either Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc, depending on whom you ask. There is no consensus from what I've read.

Rick