Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 Pastoral; Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1

Jean-Claude Casadesus conducts the National Orchestra of Lille in this pair of classical music video concerts. Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, also known as the "Pastoral," was inspired by the composer's love of nature, and is familiar to many from its use in Disney's animated classic Fantasia. Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1, inspired by Bach and Beethoven, is a lovely piece written in part because of Brahms' romantic attachment to Clara Schumann (wife of the composer Robert Schumann). Both programs are presented in beautiful Hi-Fi stereo sound, and feature "nature" shots intercut with the concert footage. As in most classical music videos, the visuals are not all that exciting (no one smashes their cello onstage; there's no slam dancing in the audience), but the musical renditions are superb. Recommended. (See the LOOK AND LEARN series for availability.)