CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

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Handel: Messiah - The 250th Anniversary Performance [1992]

starring: Sylvia McNair, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance (II), Jerry Hadley, Robert Lloyd
directed by: Barrie Gavin, Tony Boland

Release Date October 06, 2003
I bought three copies of this DVD and they all stuck in different places but mostly 5 minutes into the part II. So, I bought a new DVD machine, and still they stuck. I assumed that there was a manufacturing fault. I would love a good copy of this but I will not buy another one, I'd be mad to. On the performance side, this is as good as it gets. Wonderful performances, especially Sylvia McNair and the conductor. Watch him smile just as they start Unto Us A Child is Born! You need to ignore the fact that Ann-Sophie decided to wear her living-room curtains, she has no dress-sense at all, she never does. Great singer of course. If Amazon could get me a working copy that would be great. But I do not trust this DVD.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

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Carl Orff: Carmina Burana / Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 (Choral) [2002] (NTSC)

starring: Kathleen Battle, Thomas Allen, Frank Lopardo, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Saito Kinen Orchestra
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date May 10, 2004
I bought three copies of this DVD and they all stuck in different places but mostly 5 minutes into the part II. So, I bought a new DVD machine, and still they stuck. I assumed that there was a manufacturing fault. I would love a good copy of this but I will not buy another one, I'd be mad to. On the performance side, this is as good as it gets. Wonderful performances, especially Sylvia McNair and the conductor. Watch him smile just as they start Unto Us A Child is Born! You need to ignore the fact that Ann-Sophie decided to wear her living-room curtains, she has no dress-sense at all, she never does. Great singer of course. If Amazon could get me a working copy that would be great. But I do not trust this DVD.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

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Guitarra! - The Guitar In Spain (NTSC)

starring: Julian Bream
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date January 03, 2006
This is a brilliant review of the history of the Spanish guitar, including some analysis of flamenco with Paco Pena. Julian Bream co-narrates and there is a lot of beautiful playing of the famous classical repertoire, as well as of lesser known Baroque material. The final DVD epidose has a full rendition of the Rodrigo guitar concerto. Bream plays a selection of authentic instruments in wonderful locations, including rather humourously on a boat in Cadiz.
Both extremely interesting as a social and musical history of Spain, as well as a document of a virtuoso player at the peak of his powers. It will inspire you to practise much more if you play (!), as well as visit the wonderful Spanish landscape on your next holiday! Wonderful to dip ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

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Gilbert & Sullivan: Ruddigore [1982] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Keith Michell, John Treleaven, Vincent Price, Paul Hudson, Donald Adams
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date October 22, 2002
This is a brilliant review of the history of the Spanish guitar, including some analysis of flamenco with Paco Pena. Julian Bream co-narrates and there is a lot of beautiful playing of the famous classical repertoire, as well as of lesser known Baroque material. The final DVD epidose has a full rendition of the Rodrigo guitar concerto. Bream plays a selection of authentic instruments in wonderful locations, including rather humourously on a boat in Cadiz.
Both extremely interesting as a social and musical history of Spain, as well as a document of a virtuoso player at the peak of his powers. It will inspire you to practise much more if you play (!), as well as visit the wonderful Spanish landscape on your next holiday! Wonderful to dip ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

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Guitarra!: A Musical Journey Through Spain [1986] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Julian Bream
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date November 28, 2000
A wonderful and balanced documentary encapsulating the history and psyche of Spain and her people through imagery music and art.
Mainly for the classical guitar lover but also there is a niche in this series for the historian,art lover and sentementilist in this production.

Bream does a good job of narration and opinion of the times,plenty 80's images of Spanish life mixed with romanticism keep's this series alive.

Yes it is a small niche product but if one thinks this niche is for him or her a worthwhile watch

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

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The Giuseppe Verdi: The Pursuit of Success & The Burden of Success [2007] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Josephine Barstow, Dennis O'Neill, Bob Peck, Juliet Stevenson, Richard van Allan
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date August 28, 2007
A wonderful and balanced documentary encapsulating the history and psyche of Spain and her people through imagery music and art.
Mainly for the classical guitar lover but also there is a niche in this series for the historian,art lover and sentementilist in this production.

Bream does a good job of narration and opinion of the times,plenty 80's images of Spanish life mixed with romanticism keep's this series alive.

Yes it is a small niche product but if one thinks this niche is for him or her a worthwhile watch

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

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Billy Budd

starring: Thomas Allen, Philip Langridge, Richard Van Allan, Philip Guy Bromley, Clive Bayley
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date March 29, 2004
A wonderful and balanced documentary encapsulating the history and psyche of Spain and her people through imagery music and art.
Mainly for the classical guitar lover but also there is a niche in this series for the historian,art lover and sentementilist in this production.

Bream does a good job of narration and opinion of the times,plenty 80's images of Spanish life mixed with romanticism keep's this series alive.

Yes it is a small niche product but if one thinks this niche is for him or her a worthwhile watch

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

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Blood On The Floor - Mark Anthony Turnage [1996]

starring: John Scofield, Peter Erskine, Martin Robertson, Ensemble Modern
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date April 03, 2006
A wonderful and balanced documentary encapsulating the history and psyche of Spain and her people through imagery music and art.
Mainly for the classical guitar lover but also there is a niche in this series for the historian,art lover and sentementilist in this production.

Bream does a good job of narration and opinion of the times,plenty 80's images of Spanish life mixed with romanticism keep's this series alive.

Yes it is a small niche product but if one thinks this niche is for him or her a worthwhile watch

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

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Berlin Philharmonic -- New Year's Gala 1996

starring: Maxim Vengerov, Swedish Radio Choir, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Claudio Abbado
directed by: Barrie Gavin

Release Date December 27, 2001
A wonderful and balanced documentary encapsulating the history and psyche of Spain and her people through imagery music and art.
Mainly for the classical guitar lover but also there is a niche in this series for the historian,art lover and sentementilist in this production.

Bream does a good job of narration and opinion of the times,plenty 80's images of Spanish life mixed with romanticism keep's this series alive.

Yes it is a small niche product but if one thinks this niche is for him or her a worthwhile watch

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

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Gilbert & Sullivan Master Collection [1982] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

starring: Keith Michell, Alexander Oliver, Janis Kelly, Peter Allen, Gillian Knight
directed by: Barrie Gavin, Dave Heather, Peter Wood, Rodney Greenberg

Release Date October 22, 2002
A wonderful and balanced documentary encapsulating the history and psyche of Spain and her people through imagery music and art.
Mainly for the classical guitar lover but also there is a niche in this series for the historian,art lover and sentementilist in this production.

Bream does a good job of narration and opinion of the times,plenty 80's images of Spanish life mixed with romanticism keep's this series alive.

Yes it is a small niche product but if one thinks this niche is for him or her a worthwhile watch