Vincent Paterson’s camera and imagination have given Anna Netrebko the scope to embrace five totally different characters within about an hour’s screen time. Revealing her true personality through an extensive and intimate interview on childhood, education, career and private matters, she then convinces the viewer as a gifted performer in her portrayals of Mozart’s Donna Anna, Bellini’s Amina, Gounod’s Marguerite, Dvorák’s Rusalka, and Puccini’s Musetta. The visual language of this portrait reflects a contemporary approach of introducing one of the most exceptional sopranos of our time to a wider audience.
The Wayne Shorter Quartet – The Language of the Unknown
“The Language of the Unknown” enters the universe of one of the last living saxophone legends of Jazz. Wayne Shorter’s maxim is to reinvent his music in each concert, always again in the radical originality. The film accompanies the great saxophonist and his band as they ready themselves for a concert on November 3, 2012, in the Salle Pleyel in Paris and observes the effect of the music on their creators, who are normally much too busy with creating the new rather than to deal with music already played. Surprising insights into the essence of their music open up, as well as the realization that true Creator-Spirit goes far beyond pure virtuosity. “Without doubt, one of the best jazz documentaries of all time.” Jazz Podium (Also available: The Wayne Shorter Quartet – Live in Paris. Concert 93′ min. / Prog. No. 9346)
The Impossible Dream
On the evening of July 7, 1990 an ‘impossible dream’ came true. Against the majetic backdrop of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome, superstar tenors José Carreras, Placído Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti were joined by conductor Zubin Mehta and more than two hundred musicians for a spectacular event that was to make musical history. ‘The Impossible Dream’ is telling the extraordinary story of this massive musical mega-hit. Featuring interviews with the three star tenors, this documentary offers a unique glimpse behind the scenes, documenting the creation and impact of this unparalleled musical phenomenon.
Karajan in Salzburg
This film shows Herbert von Karajan rehearsing Don Giovanni and a Wagner concert for the Salzburg Festival. It is a deeply moving tribute to one of the greatest musicians of the century. As one of the highlights: Karajan and Jessye Norman performing Isolde’s Liebestod.
Marsalis on Music
A series for young people of our time, it embraces classical music as well as jazz. After each performance, Marsalis illuminates the music in terms that everyone can understand, using language that is clear and simple, and infused with the colourful vernacular of Jazz. Musical performances include “The Nutcracker”, Prokofiev´s “Classical Symphony”, “Stars and Stripes Forever” and more.
Ozawa
This 1985 documentary focues on conductor Seiji Ozawa and the behind-the-scenes world of the symphony orchestra. It communicates the intensity and passion by Ozawa brings to his works as conductor and teacher, and shows him in the context of his relationshipwith former masters, current students and family. It also exproes the cultural tensions that caused him to leave Japan and begin a career in the West.
Horowitz: The Last Romantic
After a few years rest and some at-home unofficial rehabilitation Horowitz was ready to begin performing again. Horowitz recorded the material on this production in his own living room. We see a rejuvinated, different Horowitz, somone in much more control than in the 1982 and 1983 recitals. The only thing lacking in Horowitz’s performance from this point on was preparation, Horowitz admittedly did not practice very much and it shows. The film was awarded with two Emmy Awards in the category “Outstanding Classical Program in the Performing Arts”: Peter Gelb (executive producer), Susan Frömke (producer), Vladimir Horowitz (star) and in the category “Outstanding Individual Achievement – Classical Music/Dance Programming Directing”: Albert Maysles, David Maysles. It was nominated for Emmy Award in the category: “Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or a Special”: Lee Dichter (sound mixer), Lawrence Loewinger (sound mixer).Programme: J.S. Bach: Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659 – Transcribed for piano Ferruccio Busoni – Mozart: Piano Sonata No.10 in C major, K.330 – Chopin: Mazurka No.13 in A minor Op.17 No.4, Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op.20 – Schubert: 4 Impromptus, Op.90, D.899: No.4 in A flat – Liszt: 6 Consolations: No. 3 in D flat major (Lento, placido) – Schumann: Noveletten, Op.21: No.1 in F (Markiert und kräftig) – Rachmaninoff: Prélude in G sharp minor, Op.32, No.12 – Scriabin: Etude
Horowitz: A Reminiscence
After Horowitz’s death Wanda was interviewed for this production. Also included are segments of the 1974 footage including excerpts from Clementi’s Sonata in F-sharp minor and complete performances of Scriabin’s Vers la Flamme, op. 72 and Chopin’s Introduction and Rondo, op. 16) and segments from “The Last Romantic.”
Jessye Norman sings Carmen
Private recording sessions filmed in Paris.
La Casa Dei Suoni – The House of Magical Sounds
This film is both a memoir of the Berliner Philharmoniker director Claudio Abbado´s early years, and a personal introduction to the orchestra. It culminates in a deeply felt introduction to the sections of the orchestra with Abbado leading the Youth Orchestra of a United Europe.