Acclaimed cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason invites audiences into an intimate musical journey where he both performs and reflects on the melodies that have shaped his artistic voice and life story. The documentary episode, part of the succesfull series “My Favourite Melodies” blends live performance and videoclips, thoughtful conversation, and behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process.
Magic Moments of Music – The Four Seasons recomposed by Max Richter
Turn old into new – a tried and tested approach, but can you do the same with Vivaldi’s legendary Four Seasons? Organist Anna Lapwood’s answer is clear: ‘Nothing is off limits!’ After the release of his album ‘Recomposed’, composer Max Richter initially expected fierce criticism. But the opposite happened – he hit a nerve: over 450 million streams, concerts in classical halls as well as in clubs such as Berghain Berlin or Poisson Rouge in New York, and the distribution of individual tracks in the Bridgerton series testify to the success of the reinterpretation. What’s touching people when they hear ‘Recomposed’? In this magic moment, prominent artists and contemporary witnesses embark on a journey through the music, recall performance challenges and personal highlights, and explain how the British composer Max Richter put his hand to the 300-year-old work.
Magic Moments of Music – The New York Philharmonic in Pyongyang
In 2008, the New York Philharmonic accepted an unexpected invitation to Pyongyang. 55 years after the Korean War, American musicians set foot on North Korean soil for the first time. Under chief conductor Lorin Maazel, they perform Dvorák’s ‘From the New World’ in front of an initially icy and formal audience. The Korean folk song ‘Arirang’ finally breaks down all barriers. This magic moment is a historic concert that transcends borders and shows how music can unite people where politics fails.