Multimedia Spectacle

Rainer Aschemeier, December 2014

Previously, Arthaus Music was known exclusively as a DVD-Label. Now, however, the label heads from Halle/Saale have tried something new: their newest release comes as a DVD plus Bonus-CD with extracts of the concert, and, additionally, the program is also available as a Double-CD without the DVD. But what is this about? It is about two concert evenings with piano duo, Güher and Süher Pekinel. Already world-wide celebrated since the 1980’s, here the sisters present a furious tempo with Bela Bartok’s double concerto, conducted by Zubin Mehtas and recorded at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre. Further, there is also a colorful piano recital with music from Schubert to Lutoslawski. What works well as a live concert on the DVD, however, provides a somewhat arbitrary image as a CD. Nevertheless, the interpretations are successful, as with the Pekinels that is always to be expected.