Also available on Blu-ray

In the melting pot of Venice, trade is God. With its ships plying the globe, the city opens its arms to all – as long as they come prepared to do business and there is profit to be made. When the gold is flowing, all is well – but when a contract between Bassanio and Shylock is broken, simmering racial tensions boil over. A wronged father, and despised outsider, Shylock looks to exact the ultimate price for a deal sealed in blood.

Running time: 152 minutes
Subtitles: EN
Sound format: 2.0LPCM + 5.1(5.0) DTS

In this collection of prose and song, Langston Hughes narrates the history of the African-American people. Beginning with the struggles associated with slavery and punctuated with African chants and freedom songs sung by Brownie McGhee, Hilda Haynes and Leadbelly, Hughes imparts the glory and triumphs of African-Americans, which include the accomplishments of Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver, the founding of the NAACP, the sporting legends Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis and the music of William Grant and Ella Fitzgerald.

Narrated by Langston Hughes, The Story of Jazz is a concise history of jazz beginning with Drums of the Yoruba, from Nigeria, and continuing to the post-WWII era of be-bop with Dizzy Gillespie's "Oopapada." Hughes delineates the various subcategories of this ever-evolving genre which includes the rag, New Orleans jazz, blues, Kansas City jazz and boogie-woogie piano, swing, be-bop, and progressive jazz. Well-chosen examples accompany each exploration of style.

Classical Music

Another welcome instalment in BIS’s distinguished Holmboe symphony cycle, contrasting the classically minded Eighth Symphony of 1951 with the later transparency and refinement of the Ninth (1967-8), dedicated to Nadia Boulanger. Powerful commitment from Hughes (dramatically responsive, toughly disciplined, grand, intimate). Fabulous orchestral playing. Spectacular sound.

-- Ates Orga, BBC Music Magazine

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music