A completely new way of experiencing and enjoying the great works of music from the Baroque to the Modern Period – thanks to a new series of audio-visual concert guides, Masterpieces of Classical Music.

Each release includes extensive documentation and a complete performance of the work or works in question. Famous masterpieces from the standard repertoire of the greatest international orchestras are brought closer to the viewer through first class concert broadcasts (Berliner Philharmoniker, Wiener Philharmoniker, Gewandhaus Orchester…) in a timely visual style. Each part includes 27 mins introductory feature plus a full concert performance!

Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has the character of an appeal. From the very start, the four-note “fate” motif casts a spell on listeners. The German Beethoven expert Wulf Konold illustrates the ingenious variations of this motif on piano. With great insight, he also explains the non-musical references of the work which inspired much speculation.

Host: Wulf Kunold

Recorded at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Rome, February 2001

Picture format DVD: NTSC  16:9
Sounds formats DVD: PCM Stereo, DD 5.1, DTS 5.1
Region code: 0
Booklet notes: English, German, French
Running time: 30 mins (documentary) + 35 mins (performance)
FSK: 0