In retrospect, the solo version of Strawinsky’s Sacre du Printemps can be interpreted as a bleak, oppressive dance about his own life. The ballet is one of the late works by Uwe Scholz, one of the most important choreographers of the twentieth…

In October and November 2010, Valery Sokolov recorded the Tchaikovsky Concerto and the Bartok second Concerto for Virgin Classics with the Tonhalle-Orchester-Zürich conducted by David Zinman, in the Tonhalle Great Hall. On this occasion, Bruno…

This series of TV programmes presents the very best of the 16th Verbier Festival with worldwide renowned artists such as Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, René Pape, Joshua Bell and Philippe Jaroussky. Together with Malcom Martineau on the piano, the…

In his late years, Sergiu Celibidache (1912-1996) focused his attention on one particular composer: Anton Bruckner. In March 1991 he rehearsed Bruckner´s Ninth in unusually long and intense sessions with the Munich Philharmonics. Using unpublished…

The “Bolero”, originally composed as a ballet, is Maurice Ravel's most successful work at all. The world famous melody of the “Bolero” has been featured in popular music, motion pictures and even video games. Pianist and writer Paul Roberts vividly…

In summer 2007, the New York Philharmonic received an invitation that was unprecedented in the orchestra's history. North Korea, the world's most isolated and secluded country and technically at war with the United States, invited the orchestra to…

“Mendelssohn Unknown” is the most complete and up-to-date documentary about Felix Mendelssohn ever made till now. The narrative structure is based on the original letters of Mendelssohn and his sister Fanny, combined with evocative period images made…

Sviatoslav Richter's talent was such that Prokofiev's 9th Sonata was dedicated to him, he performed at Stalin's funeral with Oistrakh and Rostropovich and accompanied Schwarzkopf and Fischer-Dieskau. This profile, illustrated by rare and previously…

On December 24th, 2011, one of the world’s most renowned classical orchestras, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding. The film portrays the orchestra and its eventful history, which correlates both with…

This documentary, completed in the bicentenary of the birth of Liszt (1811-1886), attempts to recount the extraordinary, highly eventful life of the great Hungarian composer, with particular emphasis on his relation with Italy and with Italian art…