Sir Georg Solti (1912-27) was one of the twentieth century’s greatest conductors.
This definitive profile, made during the last year of his life, captures the amazing energy and
passion for music of this remarkable man. Filmed with Solti in Budapest, Bavaria, Chicago and
London, and with a wealth of archive footage, it charts his exceptional musical journey. Solti is
seen in rehearsal and performance, and also working with singers Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Bryn
Terfel.
This semi-dramatised film delves into the vivid and exotic imagination of the Polish composer Szymanowski (1882-1937). Though dogged by ill health and misfortune, his whole life was a search to find his own creative voice and to develop and contribute to an authentic Polish musical culture. Szymanowski’s music is performed by the Warsaw National Philharmonic, conducted by Kazimierz Kord. Among those interviewed is the late Witold Lutoslawski.
Night on a Bare Mountain and Pictures at an Exhibition are firm favourites in the classical repertoire but, like many of Mussorgsky’s famous works, they are rarely performed as he wrote them. This programme, filmed on location in Russia, examines why his genius has been so obscured. It focuses on the detective work undertaken by the Singer Yevgeny Nesterenko, and the British conductor, David Lloyd-Jones, to uncover the details of the life and work of Modest Mussorgsky (1839-1881).
The renowned World Orchestra for Peace honors with this very special concert the 100th birthday of ist founder Sir Georg Solti – celebrating the story of Solti‘s musical life with works that were of special significance, such as MOZART’s Figaro overture STRAUSS’ tone poem Don Juan, the Adagietto from MAHLER’s Symphony No. 5, Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and select arias and ensembles from operas by MOZART and VERDI. It is presented and linked from the stage by his widow, Lady Valerie Solti. The concert features Valery Gergiev as conductor of the World Orchestra for Peace and worldclass soloists Angela Gheorghiu and René Pape together with outstanding young alumni of the Solti Foundation and the Solti Accademia di Bel Canto established after his death.
