A nice performance with problems in its presentation on disc.
I am a big fan of Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. All the recordings, DVDs and BlueRays I have purchased have been great. When I learned this particular recording was coming available with Yo-Yo Ma (cello) in a live performance at the Philharmonie im Gasteig - where the orchestra is resident - I ordered it immediately - particularly pleased to know the preformance also included two encores plus Dvorak's Carnival Overture and his 8th Symphony. This was certian to be a terrific live concert. I wish I could say I didn't have some disappointments with this presentation. For one, the sound isn't up to standard compared to other recordings I have of this terrific orchestra (particularly the mutliple-disc presentation of all the Beethoven Symphonies). Unfortunately, the wind machine(s) are paid a lot of attention by the camera but can not be heard nor I was unable to hear the bass drum! That disappoints, since even in the antiquated sound of the very old LP I bought as a teen, played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, both these percussion section instruments are very easy to hear - and they do lend a certain dynamic missing from this otherwise good live recording. Add to that the engineers who put this Blue Ray together handled the individual sections between the parts of the concert poorly - the picture and sound simply suddenly go dark between selections rather than phasing out and in to the next selections. The whole presentation is a bit awkward and not up to what I would normally expect from a disc that cost close to $40. The preformance is quite good, notwithstanding issues of not hearing two important musical instrumets. Overall, the sound quality is not up the quality I expect for such a highly touted concert presentation. Read more
