Ensemble Wien-Berlin Plays Beethoven & Mozart

“Here the crème de la crème of orchestral musicians are to be found sitting alongside one another and performing at such an unprecedentedly high level that it is a joy to listen to them. There is a constant give and take in terms of their breathing and articulation and in the whole way they work and think” (Der Kurier). Made up of wind soloists from the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, the Ensemble Wien-Berlin performs two of the greatest of all chamber works in the aesthetically apt surroundings of Hellbrunn Palace near Salzburg. The pianist is James Levine, whose sensitive pianism should not be eclipsed by his reputation as one of the greatest conductors of our age. The bonus material on this DVD features an entertaining and informative portrait of this altogether magnifi cent ensemble.