Zhu Xiao-Mei: How Bach Defeated Mao

Music, especially Bach’s music, gave this artist the strength to survive unimaginable challenges. Zhu Xiao-Mei belongs to the “Lost Generation” that endured the worst excesses of Mao’s regime: several years of “re-education”, five years in a work camp, her family destroyed, endless deprivation and political intrigue… “Zhu Xiao-Mei: How Bach defeated Mao” is a portrait of an artist whose life is inextricably tied to Mao’s disastrous Cultural Revolution. In 1980 Zhu Xia-Mei emigrated to the United States, then decided to settle in Paris in 1984. In this film for the first time after 35 years she returns as a celebrated concert pianist to her roots with a triumphal tour to modern China.

Crossing Borders: Daniel Barenboim

This three-part documentary accompanies outstanding artist Daniel Barenboim on his quest into the social meaning of music and the secrets of sound. Part 1: Music and Politics (55′ min) // Part 2: Musical Approaches (28′ min) // Part 3: Part 3 Music and Taboo (28′ min / UPCOMING 58′ min).

Riccardo Chailly – A Portrait

Riccardo Chailly is one of the most exciting musicians of our time. This very first portrait shows him working with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and other leading orchestras, accompanies him on tour and with his family in Italy. It delineates the artist, the conductor as well as the husband, (grand)father and patriarch. It shows him in private settings as well as at work with leading orchestras of the world: With the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig he continues his acclaimed Mahler cycle; his passion for opera is documented in Valencia, where he recently produced Puccini’s “La Bohéme” with young vocal talents (cf. Puccini, La Bohème from Valencia. Prog. No. A93050003).

From Mao to Bach: Zhu Xiao-Mei performs the Goldberg Variations at the Bachfest Leipzig

Zhu Xiao-Mei occupies a unique place in the world of music: The program of her rare appearances is limited to a few works which are for her like “mountains of the soul”. Her famous recording of the Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach, whom she described as the “reincarnation of a great Chinese sage,” has led the artist to her international breakthrough.