To this day, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 is one of the most popular pieces of classical music in the world. But what is it about this global hit? The film charts the success of the symphony around the globe and encounters passionate amateur musicians and musical personalities. Watch as Greek conductor Teodor Currentzis works on Beethoven’s Ninth with his ensemble, MusicAeterna. Follow Chinese composer and Oscar winner Tan Dun as he creates a new composition inspired by the great Beethoven symphony. Experience the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as they play the Ninth. Visit a favela in Brazil, where Beethovens’s music helps people get off the streets. Be amazed as a choir of 10,000 in Japan sings the final chorus of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with great enthusiasm. Learn how Paul Whittaker helps make Beethoven accessible for deaf people. And find out how British DJ Gabriel Prokofiev performs a symphonic remix of Beethoven’s Ninth.
The Neville Brothers ?– Tell it like it is
The legendary Neville Brothers are joined by an extraordinary group of musical guests for an exciting, once in a lifetime musical event filmed live at the famed Storyville Jazz Hall in New Orleans. Musical guests include Gregg Allmann, Ed Bradley, Jimmy Buffett, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Dixie Cups, Herbie Hancock, John Hiatt, Daniel Lanois, Ivan Neville, Dennis Quaid, Bonnie Raitt, Buckwheat Zydeco.
Max Raabe & Palast Orchester – MTV Unplugged
“Unplugged”, the concert series conceived by MTV, has been in existence since 1989. It invites successful and exciting musicians from all over the world to present a selection of their songs acoustically in a relaxed, individually designed atmosphere. Among those artists is now Max Raabe & Palast Orchester, who thereby join an illustrious pantheon of star musicians from a wide range of genres. MTV Unplugged concerts traditionally make use of evocative locations. Many of them were never before used for music, but all have a special connection to the artists concerned. This soon gave Max Raabe & Palast Orchester an idea for a perfect spot: the “shabby chic” Hall of Mirrors in Clärchen’s Ballhaus. So why not plunge into the special atmosphere of MTV Unplugged with Max Raabe & Palast Orchester at a spot that seems tailor-made for the occasion. Accompany the Palast Orchester in yet another chapter in its successful international history. Here, in this gathering of valued musicians and friends, that his¬tory reaches another zenith and adds yet another radiant and euphonious facet to the iridescent gems of MTV’s Unplugged series.
Luka Sulic: The Four Seasons – Vivaldi & more
After seven years of touring the world as part of the critically acclaimed duo 2CELLOS, Luka Šulic returns to his classical roots. „I‘ve loved Vivaldi‘s Four Seasons since I was a child,“ says Luka Šulic of his newest project, adding, „I‘ve always wanted to play the piece on the cello and love taking on new challenges.“ Even in a Baroque masterpiece, Luka Šulic is ready to defy expectations and shatter boundaries. Though hundreds of traditional recordings exist of The Four Seasons with a violin soloist, Luka Šulic‘s recording is the first complete version – his own painstaking work – that reimagines all four concertos of The Four Seasons for a cello soloist. Joining Luka Šulic for the recording is the Orchestra of Teatro Lirico Giuseppe Verdi di Trieste.
The Vision: Making of The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994
The Vision gives you the chance to look behind the scenes and watch as the story of The Making of The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994 unfolds. With Budapest’s Heroes Square as the inspiration, a baseball stadium is transformed into the greatest amphitheatre ever built, combining classical architecture with the beauty of nature. A vast array of contracts are agreed, the repertoire is chosen (changed and chosen again!), including medleys specially arranged by renowned composer Lalo Schifrin, an orchestra and chorus are prepared, sound and live recording equipment is installed… and Los Angeles’ busy air traffic is persuaded to keep away from the stadium during the concert. From an intimate charity concert in Monte Carlo in June, there is exclusive film of The 3 Tenors relaxing, rehearsing and in concert performing Libiamo ne lieti calici and Granada. And six weeks later in Los Angeles, Carreras, Domingo, Pavarotti and Mehta are captured at their final dress rehearsal before the momentous 1994 concert. Finally, as World Cup fever and tenor-mania grip Los Angeles simultaneously, four of classical music’s premier and most popular talents combine to perform La donna é mobile from the concert that enthralled the world.
The Three Lives of Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann’s life story has become a legend. Her austere childhood, her extraordinary talent as a pianist, her early love for the composer Robert Schumann, which she imposed on her father, and the upbringing of seven children provide enough material for myths and clichés. But who really was Clara Schumann? The documentary “The Three Lives of Clara Schumann” approaches her personality from different angles – through her letters and diaries, through her compositions, and through musicians who have intensively studied her – as interpreters of her music, as seekers in her biography, as time travellers.
Joshua Bell – West Side Story: Live from Central Park
Violinist Joshua Bell pays tribute to Leonard Bernstein‘s West Side Story in New York City‘s Central Park. Under the baton of conductor William Eddins, the New York Philharmonic accompanies Bell in a new suite based on some of the musical theater‘s most enduring melodies. Broadway‘s Kristin Chenoweth duets with Bell on Bernstein‘s „Lonely Town“ from On the Town.
Maurizio Pollini plays Beethoven
Celebrated for music-making of matchless sophistication, unshakeable concentration and adamantine integrity, Maurizio Pollini occupies a special place among the ranks of today’s great pianists. The Italian artist has been hailed by Gramophone as “a towering musical presence”, a description supported by six decades of critical and public acclaim for the power and beauty of his artistry. Pollini’s performances of Beethoven’s piano sonatas have assumed almost legendary status – now 42 years after his first CD recording of the Sonatas, he is returning to the Herkulessaal in Munich, playing the last Beethoven Sonatas Nos 30-32.
LSO: Rattle conducts Christ on the Mount of Olives
In the words of Sir Simon Rattle, Beethoven is “absolutely inescapable”, especially in the year of his 250th anniversary. Nevertheless, Christ on the Mount of Olives is a rarely heard masterpiece and Beethoven’s only oratorio, which combines the emotive force of the composer’s later Missa Solemnis with the theatre of a Bach Passion. With orchestra, chorus and soloists, it tells the story of Jesus’ prayer and arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. “What Rattle made clear is that the music is full of life. It is hard to imagine this performance being bettered.” (Financial Times)
LSO: Noseda conducts Shostakovich
Shostakovich’s music is such an important chronicle of life in 20th century Soviet Russia, and the Tenth Symphony written after Stalin’s death portays the tragedy, despair, terror and violence of his tenure. Masterfully conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. PROGRAM Shostakovich: Symphony No 10