Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Duas edições de imagem deslumbrantes sobre uma trilha sonora suntuosa dão nova vida ao trabalho perene de Vivaldi. Escolha entre o corte do diretor com imagens impressionantes da mudança das estações, filmado no Jardim Botânico Nacional do País de Gales, ou a edição de performance com fotos de Julia Fischer e da Academia de St Martin in the Fields, na cúpula de vidro futurista do jardim por Norman Foster .

Sir Neville Marriner conducts this 250th Anniversary performance. Soloists include Sylvia McNair, Anne Sofie Van Otter. The performance is supported by an informative background film "For Ever and Ever", explaining the circumstances behind the composition and the work's early impact, featuring contributions from the popular Handel scholar Professor H.C. Robbins Land and from Sir Neville Marriner himself. Recorded in 1992, this performance of Handel's awesome "Messiah" took place on the 250th anniversary of the initial rendition of the piece. Recorded at the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, this is an especially poignant rendition as it takes place in the city where it was originally performed in 1742.

This installment of the Classic Archive series captures renowned American pianist Murray Perahia at one with his art form, interpreting the works of Ludwig van Beethoven with unrivaled virtuosity and sensitivity. At once playful and disciplined, Perahia's technique evokes the mastery of a poetic genius who strives to blend the lyric and the epic, much like Beethoven united classic and romantic styles in his compositions.

Sir Neville Marriner conducts the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields chamber orchestra and Sheldon Schwartz dances the title role in this 1980 production of Stravinski's one-act ballet, choreographed by Heinz Spoerli. The story centers on Naples man-about-town Pulcinella (Schwartz), who woos all the local maidens and fakes his own death to escape an army of angry suitors. This production also stars dancers Amanda Bennett and Loya Molloy.