German composer Richard Wagner was notoriously anti-Semitic, and his writings on Jews were later embraced by Hitler and the Nazis. But there is another, lesser-known side to this story. For years, many of Wagner‘s closest associates were Jews - young…

Based on the story by H. C. Andersen, “The Nightingale” was transposed for opera by Igor Stravinsky who both composed the music and wrote the lyrics. This new adaptation using computer animation transposes the opera into a world ruled by the power of…

Iolanta and Perséphone - A double bill consisting of two stage works that “represent an ideal of beauty, poetry and hope” forms this new production in Madrid from the Teatro Real. In both works the progression from darkness to light acts as an…

In 1994, 54-year old José Van Dam undertook to play the role of Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca for the first time, a part that he had refused repeatedly in the past. In April 1995 in Liège, the singer met again with stage director Nicolas Joel for the…

The starting point of Shchedrin's composition is the tune from Chopin's Prelude in C minor No.28 Op.20. Recorded in the Kongressaal in Munich, it is performed by Rodion Shchedrin himself, Nicolas Economou, Paul Gulda and the American jazz pianist…

A musical duel... An artistic masterpice... A grand piano competition between two of Scandinavia's finest pianists, Staffan Scheja and Roland Pöntinnen. A classical programme that will delight all audiences.

On 17 July 1986, Nathan Milstein played his last public recital in the Berwaldhallen in Stockholm. The recital included the Bach Chaconne, one of the towering masterpieces of Western music and one of the most difficult to do justice to. Milstein was…

Four superb solo guitarists have joined together and formed a quartet to perform works by Fauré, Albeniz, de Falla, Granados, van der Staak and Ravel in original arrangements and transcriptions. 8 episodes from 7 - 9 minutes.

The Albrechtsburg Castle, Meissen Cathedral and the Ludwigsburg Palace provide magnificent backgrounds for the musical presentations of Ludwig Güttler, the international renowned trumpeter. 7 episodes from 6 - 12 minutes with compositions by Telemann…