The film portrays Bruno Walter (1876-1962), one of the most important conductors of the 20th century. The Italian biographer Michele Selvini speaks about the musician Bruno Walter who formed the musical life of the capitals of Europe and the United…

A Christmas television special from Prague. The programme features a Thanksgiving service in the beautiful Baroque Church of St. Jacob and carol singing in the medieval Old Town Square.

Today Sir Simon Rattle is one of the world’s most famous conductors. He earned this international reputation during his 18 years as conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which he led to global fame. This recording of Massiaen’s “Et…

To celebrate the occasion of his 200th birthday on 1 March 2010, this film shows little known facets of Frédéric Chopin: the passionate opera fan, the admirer of the great female singers of his time, the advocate of the aesthetics of bel canto – the…

The composer Claude Debussy was born in St. Germain-en-Laye, a few miles outside Paris, in 1862. While a pupil at the Conservatoire, he composed music that did not conform to the theory of the times. He contradicted his teachers by claiming that…

This film gives us unique insight into the dedication and involvement of one of the world's greatest conductors. The programme includes footage of rehearsals and performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Wiener Philharmoniker and the Gustav…

The legendary Concierto de Aranjuez has never been performed with such sensuality and profundity as by guitarist Pepe Romero and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner. Romero’s interpretation is influenced by…

The Münchner Philharmoniker and Sergiu Celibidache share an impressive legacy. Celibidache has been principal conductor of the orchestra for a total of 17 years since 1979, a time in which the orchestra gained great international reputation and…

The great German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is greatly admired for his interpretive insight, note-perfect control of the tonal qualities, and shadings of color in his voice, for exceptional rhythmic sense and impeccable diction. His reputation…

Berlioz’ “Fantastic Symphony” is widely regarded as one of the most important and representative pieces of the early Romantic period. Leonard Bernstein once called it “the first musical expedition into psychedelia” because of its hallucinatory and…