An intimate portrait of Birgit Nilsson (1918–2005) on the occasion of her centennial on 17th May 2018: The Swedish soprano had an incredible technique and was the world’s leading dramatic soprano between 1955 and 1975. Rare TV and archive footage shows Nilsson at work, and is complemented by interviews with Plácido Domingo, Otto Schenk, James Levine, Nina Stemme, Jonas Kaufmann and many others. The film reveals a sensitive woman behind the honest, down to earth, quick-witted artist, who had “a voice like fire and ice” (Sir Antonio Pappano). The documentary was shot at the farm in Bastad/ Sweden, where Nilsson grew up and spent the summers until the end of her life, at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, where the legendary Wagnerian singer made her operatic debut in 1946, and in places like the Bayreuth Festival, the Wiener Staatsoper and the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where Nilsson was the star and box office draw.
Anne-Sophie Mutter – A Celebration
She is doubtlessly one of the world’s best: the violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter. Since more than 40 years now she has been playing concerts in every major venue throughout the world. This portrait by Anca-Monica Pandelea shows snapshots of a career in classical music that reached an outstanding artistic position in constant search for perfection. The documentary is not only an intimate portrait of a multifaceted artist but a report of a life full of unique musical encounters and enormous social engagement. It features rare archival footage, documenting the fascinating development of Herbert von Karajan’s former protégé to one of the world’s greatest musicians. Recordings of rehearsals and important stage performances provide an insight into the artistic day-to-day-life of an international star.
Good Thoughts, Good Word, Good Deeds – The Conductor Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is one of the world`s leading conductors. Born and raised in India, he is a brilliant symbol of today`s cross-cultural world and a living proof of the power of music to bridge different cultures and to break social and political barriers. On the occasion of Zubin Mehta’s 80th birthday, Filmmaker Bettina Ehrhardt creates a tender homage to this exceptional artist, who is Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic as well as the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Conductor Laureate of the Bayerisches Staatsorchester, the Münchner Philharmoniker and the Wiener Philharmoniker. The film deals with an artist loved by audiences and musicians alike because he radiates warmth and humanity, in both his music and his life.
Gustav Mahler – Autopsy of a Genius
In three chapters, this documentary tells Mahler’s story during the period when he is head of the Vienna Opera, in realist form and going against any romanticized images we may have of the subject. The film places the spectator in Mahler’s shoes and investigates using documented evidence (drawing from the latest research discoveries) and a visual sensuality, the ambiances, sounds and colours, trends, ebbs and flows, successes, and also the fanaticism and hostilities as Mahler felt and experienced them himself. Mahler’s portrait comes to life through the places he took possession of: his office at the Vienna Opera, his conductor’s podium, his summer home where he composed and his fetish objects: glasses, musical scores, manuscripts … . The idea is not to present a fixed image for the spectator, but to suggest the musician’s personality so that those watching can develop their own impressions and images of the musician. His voice only, is played by an actor. This is therefore not a docudrama of an actor incarnating Mahler, but a vision attempting to recreate the soul of a man, rather than an idol.
The Swan of Pesaro – Rossini reloaded
Known as “The Swan of Pesaro,” Rossini was the most popular composer of the first half of the 19th century. His highly ornate musical style revolutionized the art form, inaugurating the “Golden Century” of Italian opera. While his creative life was rather short, his success and influence was immense – Intellectual giants from Richard Wagner to Arthur Schopenhauer where amongst his admirers. In this documentary director Theo Roos explores the era of Belcanto and it’s main protagonist Rossini. Together with star-tenor Juan Diego Flórez, Rossini expert Alberto Zedda, soprano Joyce DiDonato and many others, he sheds light on the complex character of a composer known to the world as musical jester while his admirers showed deepest respect for the compelling emotions, the vivid diversity and the profound depths hidden in the lightness of his music.
The Mahler Project – Mahler, Symphony No.9 in D major
The Mahler Project: A fascinating documentary on the musical world of Gustav Mahler as seen by the two great musicians, and a recording of Mahler’s colossal Ninth. “Mahler created a new world with each of his symphonies (…) It is a fantastic journey for both of us”. With these few words, Daniel Barenboim sums up the vast scope of a project undertaken with his friend Pierre Boulez: two very different world-class conductors tackle all nine completed symphonies of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) with one orchestra, the Staatskapelle Berlin. Performed as a complete cycle in Berlin, Vienna and New York, the concerts were a tremendous success. The Financial Times even wrote: “New York is going Mahler mad”.
Venedig
Michael Nyman in Progress
The film is about a very special moment in the famous composers artistic life. Composing with innovative minimalism for films as memorable as “The Draughtsman’s Contract”, “The Ogre”, “Man on Wire”, and most famously for Campion´s “The Piano”, he has reached an international audience. But now, Michael Nyman is about to become a filmmaker himself. At first it was documenting, „collecting moments“, Michael Nyman was „just curious about the visual world out there“ but right now this turns into an art process. Featuring unprecedented access to the composer and his working life, this film shows one of the great composers of our time in all his diversity and endless energy. From London to Berlin, in Mexico, Poland, the Netherlands and Portugal this film is also a journey through the musical world today. It shows Michael Nyman, the musician, in his concerts with the Michael Nyman Band and live collaborations with other internationally known musicians or orchestras. But throughout his journeys, this film discovers Nymans increasing passion for filming and photography. Witnessing the development of Nyman´s visual works from the very moment of inspiration right through to his editing of the footage and the combination of the visuals with his music, this film gives a unique insight into Michael Nyman´s very personal views, his thoughts and emotions; his world.
Madama Butterfly – Hope and longing at Bregenz Festival
Rigoletto on the Lake – The creation of a spectacle
The open-air floating stage in Bregenz is one of the most spectacular opera venues in the world requiring a long and careful planning. Three years of preparation and ten months of construction, a scenery with a weight of 140 metric tons and a massive head of almost 14 metres: In Philipp Stölzl’s Rigoletto the stage design becomes the protagonist. The documentary gives an insight into the formation process of his ground-breaking production – so far the most lavish opera of Bregenz Festival, heralding “a new era in matter of stage technique.” (APA)