Ludwig van Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (NTSC) (Arthaus DVD)

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN
Missa Solemnis
From the Cologne Cathedral 2005
A Concert on the occasion of the XX World Youth Day

Bozena Harasimowicz, Monica Groop, Jerry Hadley, Franz-Josef Selig, London Philharmonic Choir, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Gilbert Levine

Sound Format: PCM Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1
Picture Format:16:9
Menu Languages:D, F, GB, IT, JP, SP
Subtitle Languages:CZ, F, GB, IT, JP, PL, POR, SP
Region Code:0 worldwide
Running Time: 85 min
DVD 5 / NTSC

Special Feature:POPE BENEDICT XVI¡¦S SPEECH ABOUT THE MISSA SOLEMNIS BEETHOVEN AND FAITH (WITH SUBTITLES IN F, GB, SP, JP, IT, PL, CZ, POR)

Cat. No: 102 061

Beethoven himself dubbed this mass his "greatest and most successful work" and referred to it as an "oratorio".
With his Missa solemnis the composer broke with all conventions for the composition of a mass, creating a work that went well beyond the normal framework of the liturgy. His treatment and interpretation of the text creates the impression of a coherent set of events, and as such the work distances itself from normal liturgical procedures, becoming instead the main focus of interest.
In his introduction to the performance given in the Cologne Cathedral as part of the World Youth Day 2005 Pope Benedict XVI states: "The Missa solemnis bears overwhelming witness to an unceasing search for belief that refuses to turn its back on God."
Conductor Sir Gilbert Levine has a special link with the Catholic Church and the Pope, having conducted the legendary holocaust memorial concert for Pope John Paul II and having subsequently supported him in his untiring efforts to achieve better relations between the world¡¦s religions. In return for his efforts he was appointed Knight Commander of St. Gregory.