This DVD presents a nice program of 20th Century works not ordinarily associated with Daniel Barenboim. It is a film of a concert recorded live 25-27 April 2000 at the Philharmonie Cologne. First on the program is Notations I-IV by Pierre Boulez. Four short works from a cycle of piano works begun in 1945 and now transcribed for full orchestra. They reveal a master's touch for sonority and visceral orchestral effects. The entire length of the piece is less than 15 minutes and the influence of Webern is everywhere apparent. It is beautifully played and the orchestra appear to enjoy themselves in this gnarled and astringent music. As it is contemporary music and Boulez is definitely an acquired taste, some will find it difficult listening. It is quite short, however. A lyrical yet probing performance of Debussy's La Mer follows. It is an expansive and solid rendition forgoing the gauzy impressionism in which many conductors envelop Debussy's music. The superb horns of the Chicago Orchestra really shine. They offer a powerful performance, especially in the forceful and stormy third and final movement. La Mer has already been well served on DVD. There is an excellent performance available on an EuroArts DVD featuring Claudio Abbado conducting the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. De Falla performances on DVD are a comparative rarity, at least thus far. Last on the disc (other than a short encore) is what may hold some of the audience for this DVD most in its sway: an exciting performance of Manuel de Falla's El sombrero de tres picos with Elisabete Matos as the mezzo-soprano. It is a rendition that conjured up (at least for me: perhaps because I lived in Spain for awhile and found it a beautiful yet ultimately enigmatic country) many favorite Romantic notions about Iberia: the mysteries of mist enshrouded Andalusia, of Granada and the beautiful Alhambra, of Seville under a hot sun. Of course, this music is contrived by de Falla to do just that. This is one of the finer versions of this atmospheric and inventive piece that I've heard. Every featured instrument has its moment in the limelight. The percussion and horns I thought particularly thrilling. I played this piece several times in succession. The disc includes as a bonus an intelligent and revealing 20 minute interview of Boulez by Barenboim. As an encore, a short Spanish dance El firulete by Jose Carli fittingly concludes this splendid DVD.