Little Red Riding Hood begins, like all fairy tales, with: "Once upon a time..." For children of all ages the composer Georges Aperghis imagined a tale in music and movement: he chose the very first version written by Charles Perrault almost 300…

In 1741 Johann Sebastian Bach published the fourth and last volume of his most extensive keyboard publication, the Clavier-Übung: an aria and thirty variations known universally as the ‘Goldberg’ Variations. This monumental work, which is about…

“… it goes without saying that Franz Liszt cannot be a quiet piano player for quiet state burghers and cosy sleepyheads". This is how Heinrich Heine assesses Franz Liszt's public position. The Sonata in B minor, written in 1852/53 and considered one…

Yefim Bronfman plays Brahms Händel Variations op. 24 and Four Piano Pieces op. 119.

This modern and imaginative "Magic Flute" was recorded at the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele in 1993. A plain black and white stage, colourful and extravagant costumes and a special light design make this "Magic Flute" a feast for the eyes. Stage…

An austere but atmospheric stage and tasteful costumes draw the attention of the viewer to the story and the beautiful voices of the singers. Recorded live at the Ludwigsburger Schloßfestspiele in 1990. Costumes by Dagmar Niefind, stage direction and…

The Mariinsky Ballet is one of the world’s greatest ballet company with an astonishing heritage. Before emigrating to the West, George Balanchine studied in St Petersburg and was a member of the Mariinsky. However, Jewels dates from late in his…

Mozarts »Zauberflöte« ist nicht nur eine der berühmtesten Opern, sondern zugleich ein aufregendes Märchen. Da gibt es einen tapferen Prinzen und eine schöne Prinzessin, ein furchtbares Ungeheuer, eine böse Zauberin, einen weisen Priester – und…

Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio) one of Mozart’s five great repertoire operas, was a great success during Mozart’s lifetime and to this day has not lost any of its magic. In the Schwetzingen Entführung aus dem Serail…

Schwetzingen is a tiny town near Heidelberg which has a famous palace with magnificent gardens, not unlike those at Versailles. The Schwetzingen Festival is held every Spring in the palace and commissions a small-scale opera for the palace's…