Exploring Mahler's Resurrection Symphony

An essential addition to any collection of Mahler's works.
This superb film offers an in depth study of Mahler's 2nd Symphony from its conception to its completion. The involvement of a generous number of outstanding musicians and scholars (musicologists, philosophers, theologians) and the narration by Thomas Hampson beyond doubt recommend this DVD. The re-enactments of incidents in Mahler's life are carefully done, and the cinematography is stunningly beautiful. As a fan and student of the works of Mahler for over fifty years, I recommend this film and the performance video with great enthusiasm and without reservation. The High Definition quality of the film could not be bettered and the recorded sound is beyond reproach.

This 2 DVD set includes the complete performance of the symphony in New York City's Riverside Church by an orchestra of musicians especially brought together from the New York Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and assembled chorus from the NYC area...

Jason Starr's Latest Mahler Film
Following up the success of his brilliant film about Mahler's Third Symphony, What The Universe Tells Me, Jason Starr has produced and directed an insightful and inspiring motion picture, entitled Of Love, Death and Beyond , in which he explores the depths and heights of Mahler's Second Symphony. Narrated by possibly the finest Mahler singer of our time, Thomas Hampson, the film presents a virtual cavalcade of celebrated Mahler scholars and performers who enlighten us with their in-depth comments about this towering masterpiece, performed here by members of several major orchestras under the direction of Maestro Neeme Järvi. Ingeniously conceived visual effects reinforce the deep emotions stirred by the music and provide extraordinarily evocative imagery that enhances the compelling commentary. I recommend it for all lovers of Mahler's music, whether they have vast experience in listen to it or have never heard a note of it. We look forward with anxious anticipation to Starr's...

Beautiful and enlightening: 5 stars plus!
I enthusiasticaly agree with the other reviewers in giving this 2-DVD set five stars plus! Disc one contains an insightful, penetrating, and detailed musical/philosophical/psychological analysis that is deftly and seamlessly illustrated with both musical selections from the symphony and great visual art among other images. Among those speaking are Mahler scholars Henry-Louis de la Grange, Donald Mitchell, and Stephen Hefling and others; theologians; and the noted philosopher Martha Nussbaum from the University of Chicago. Baritone Thomas Hampson, one of the foremost interpreters of Mahler's songs, provides narration. A second DVD contains the entire symphony performed at Riverside Church in New York City with thoughtful direction and sharply defined editing; a bargain for the additional $10 over the single disc product of just disc 1 Of Love Death, and Beyond, Exploring Mahler's Resurrection Symphony. Additional...

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