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…

Only rarely do musicians win fame as great interpreters of everything they touch. However, the Chilean pianist Claudio Arrau was one such virtuoso. Like his great predecessors Liszt and Busoni, Arrau was renowned for reaching to the stylistic core of…

Ten years ago Russia’s Wonder Children documented the struggles and triumphs of four extraordinary piano prodigies. Now, in Competitors, the cameras return to discover how their lives and careers have developed, and whether time has brought 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…

Those lucky enough to have seen Mariss Jansons in concert could immediately perceive his unconditional dedication to music: The light in his eyes, his sweeping yet precise gestures, his tense, half-open mouth and his raised eyebrows. He conducted…

A music film with Daniel Barenboim Debussy wanted his piano preludes to be played and listened to privately. This film pays tribute to his wish, featuring Daniel Barenboim interpreting the first book of these delicate musical pieces. Architecture…

They are one-of-a-kind and they are known all over the world: the 12 Cellisten der Berliner Philharmoniker (the Twelve Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic). Their concerts offer the audience the chance to experience the ensemble’s instrumental…

At an attractive mid-range price, this 20 part DVD series brings famous masterpieces closer to the viewer through first class concert broadcasts and an introductory documentary. These audio-visual concert guides to highlights of classical music allow…

Turn back in time to the era of black-and-white movies where stars like Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland and Audrey Hepburn let us dream from Divas & Diamonds with their unforgettable voices and expressiveness. 1. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend (3:26)…