Symphonie Fantastique / Harold en Italie (recorded 2001)

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All Regions - Widescreen 16:9 - PCM Stereo / Dolby Digital 5.1 Surroundd / DTS 5.1 Surround - Colour - 103 Minutes - NTSC

Bel Air Classiques has released a DVD of Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique and Harold en Italie. The recording took place in the Salle Pleyel in Paris on 14 and 15 February 2001. Christoph Eschenbach conducts the Orchestre de Paris, with Tobea Zimmmermann (viola). The release celebrates the return of the Orchestre de Paris to the renovated Salle Pleyel.

Christoph Eschenbach (born February 20, 1940 in Breslau, Germany (today Wrocław, Poland) is a noted pianist and conductor.

Orphaned by World War II, he won numerous first-place piano competition prizes. In 1964 he made his first recording (of Mozart) for Deutsche Grammophon and signed a contract with the label.

Prior to being named to his appointments as Music Director of the Orchestre de Paris and the Philadelphia Orchestra, he held principal conducting and directing positions with orchestras in Ludwigshafen and Hamburg (Germany) and the Ravinia Festival (outside Chicago, Illinois).

In October 2006 he announced that he will conclude his tenure in Philadelphia at the close of the 2007-2008 season. In the weeks prior to his departure, Philadelphia Inquirer music critics Peter Dobrin and David Patrick Stearns debated whether or not he should be retained, with Dobrin suggesting that Eschenbach should move on and Stearns arguing that Eschenbach should remain. [1] [2]

Following the announcement, Dobrin in the Inquirer wrote that Eschenbach's tenure in Philadelphia was difficult for many musicians. "In three seasons, Eschenbach and the orchestra have produced a handful of brilliant concerts. More often, though, his rehearsals and performances have elicited a long list of complaints from musicians: getting lost in the score at concerts; leading disorganized rehearsals and then asking for overtime; and insisting on a peculiar rushing and slowing of tempos." [3] The paper also cited a number of accomplishments including a new recording contract and the appointment of nine musicians, four of which were principals.

In 1981, Eschenbach became principal guest conductor of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, and was chief conductor from 1982-86. Other posts include music director of the Houston (1988-99); chief conductor of the Hamburg NDR Symphony (1998-2004); and music director of the Ravinia Festival, summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1994-2003). He has made numerous recordings both as piano soloist and conductor.

He is credited with helping and supporting talented young musicians in their career development including soprano Renée Fleming and pianists Tzimon Barto and Lang Lang.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)