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…

Musical encounters with Barbara Hendricks on tour in Eastern Europe with several Eastern European vocal masterworks in her musical repertoire. Our film documents this encounter between Western artists and Eastern Europe, both in the concert hall and…

Daniel Barenboim plays Franz Liszt: Wagner and Verdi Opera transcriptions.

31 July is the anniversary of Franz Liszt's death. A series of programmes produced by Bavarian Television with Daniel Barenboim sheds light on the much wrinkled activity of the piano virtuoso, composer, music teacher and theorist, conductor and…

“… 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…

This film traces the unlikely journey of a lock of hair cut from Beethoven's corpse and unravels the mystery of his tortured life and death. The film begins in modern times when a pair of Beethoven enthusiasts, Ira Brilliant and Dr Alfredo “Che”…

In March of 2004, the Royal Opera Covent Garden in London cancelled its contract with Deborah Voigt. The official reason given by the casting director: too fat. The opera world was outraged. Since when can't opera singers be overweight? Since Callas…

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…

Hungarian pianist Zoltán Kocsis performs various child scenes and pieces for children composed by Robert Schumann, Claude Debussy, and Bela Bartok. The intimate atmosphere of the recording allows to admire the artist closely while playing.