Franz Liszt described the art of conducting as less than a task to be in evidence but rather a feat in disappearing behind the function itself. Conductors are pilots, not servants. Looking back at the past two centuries, we have been blessed with the…

What made Claudio Abbado stand out was his unpretentious, noble character, his democratic understanding of music making and his ability to celebrate the live moment on stage. Claudio Abbado empathized with his musicians. In order to be able to…

“It is a very special art of conducting. One must try to embrace the musicians.” (Bernard Haitink) On 6 September 2019, Bernard Haitink bowed before his audience for the last time: after 65 years on the podium, the 90-year-old exceptional conductor…

Claudio Abbado called concert halls all over the world his home, founded his own festivals and orchestras and supported young musicians. What made him stand out was his unpretentious, noble character, his democratic understanding of music making and…

It is one of the highlights in the calendar of every classical music fan in Berlin - and beyond: On New Year‘s Eve, the Berliner Philharmoniker invite an exceptional soloist for a festive gala. Together, the musicians bid farewell to the old year and…

How did artists survive in the Soviet Union? How tricky did they have to be in the face of authorities? What kind of danger and difficulties did they have to fear? Sviatoslav Richter and Gennadi Rozhdestvensky talk about authorities, watchdogs and…

As a musician, as a man of ideals, and as a citizen of the world, Yehudi Menuhin made an extraordinary mark on his era. The Menuhin Century, a unique project to be released on 1 April, marks the 100th anniversary of his birth on 22 April 1916…

Re-released in 2016 on the occasion of Yehudi Menuhin’s 100th birthday, this film is devoted to the artistic heritage of a personality who ranked among the most extraordinary musicians of his time, even as a child. Menuhin was not a mere musician: he…

We are proud to present the second edition of the ultimate collection of films by Bruno Monsaingeon, probably the most outstanding music filmmaker, who has documented life and work of the greatest artists of our time: Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999). The…

The Berliner Philharmoniker celebrate the last day of the 20th century with Grand Finales in the first part of this extraordinary concert, and herald the leap into the 21st century with an explosion of sparkling music in the second half of the…