Saint Francois D'assise - DVD

Gremlins/Gremlins 2 (DVD Double Feature

The French program offers a stimulating blend of celebrated repertoire works as well as Inchspecial tipsInch from the Romantic era to the early 20th century. These concerts of Leonard Bernstein were unanimously hailed in the press, both for the dynamism and brio of a conductor at the peak of his artistic powers, and for the unmistakable signs of rejuvenation of the Orchestre National de France. Featuring works of Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique, subtitled Episode in the Life of an Artist, Albert Roussel's Symphony No. 3 - Leonard Bernstein is, in a sense, paying homage to his friend and benefactor Serge Koussevitzky, who commissioned the work for the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1930 - Ambroise Thomas´ sparkling, Rossini-like overture to Raymond and Camille Saint-Saens' Le Rouet d'Omphale it was Inch... one of the most wonderful Berlioz concerts that you can dream of...Inch (Le Monde)

Michael Praetorius was the most prolific German composer of his generation, making use of a beauty of sound and an abundance of instruments worthy of his contemporary Monteverdi. Here we have a festive Christmas Mass as might have been heard in a great Lutheran church in the North of Germany in around 1620. The congregation sang Lutheran Chorals which were part of the other music and which required the presence of the best performers in the city as a support to the children's and adult's choir creating an extraordinary musical communion. Spatialising this Christmas Morning Mass in the exceptional architecture of the Royal Chapel of Versailles, Paul McCreesh alternates these monumental pieces and the soloist's airs in a rich instrumental decoration, giving the work the popular and festive dimension of a brilliant fresco.