George London was one of the most impressive bass-baritones of the postwar era. He sang on the side of Maria Callas, Renata Tebaldi and Nicolai Gedda, to name only a few, and captured the audience’s hearts with his distinctive voice and his charismatic stage presence. Way too early he had to stop his singing career due to a vocal chord disease. The film portrays this exceptional artist in all its diversity, shows rare archive footage of his great performances as an opera singer but also as an interpreter of traditional spirituals and operetta. Another important element of the film are interviews with his widow Nora London, with former colleagues, experts and current stars of the opera scene as Neil Shicoff, Catherine Malfitano and Deborah Polaski, who have been taught by George London, supported in their career by the George London Foundation or see themselves as his followers.
Mauro Bigonzetti – A Choreographer Between the Worlds
Sheherazade
The choreographer Alonzo King, acclaimed as “one of the few, true Ballet Masters of our times” by world-famous William Forsythe, works with his company The Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco. Before founding LINES Ballet in 1982 King has been working for companies around the world, including the Frankfurt Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, the
Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the Washington Ballet and the Hong Kong Ballet.
its global perspective on dance the LINES Ballet attracts worldwide attention combining modern dance and classical ballet. Alonzo King gives his dancers the chance to get involved into the creative process of the choreography. Critics often comment on the “new language” or
“re-invention of form” arising in King‘s choreographies.”
Becoming a Swan
It is no secret that becoming a classical dancer takes extreme passion, talent and discipline. This documentary whisks its audience away into the fascinating world of classical ballet and shows young dancers from around the world on their journey to fulfilling their dreams. The film follows young dancers from the Ecole de Danse de l’Opéra National de Paris, the San Francisco Ballet School and Bavarian Junior Ballet Munich, highlighting the contrast between their struggles and the unifying love of music and dance. Through their stories, the documentary explores the challenges of achieving discipline and perfection in ballet, questioning the impact of teaching methods, power dynamics, and physical tolls on their bodies. The film offers an open look at ballet schools in Paris, San Francisco, and Munich, revealing stark differences in their approaches.
The Haydn Expedition
Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen have a mission: to dispel the prejudice that Joseph Haydn’s music is boring – and so far, their passion seems to be contagious. The orchestra received the OPUS Klassik as well as the Gramophone Award in the category of best orchestra for their recording of Joseph Haydn’s London Symphonies 101 and 103. Filmed in Vienna, Bremen and Estonia, this documentary follows the conductor and orchestra as they work on their interpretation of Haydn’s London symphonies, giving insight into rehearsals, concerts and recording sessions. Paavo Järvi is a great champion of Haydn’s compositions and his enthusiasm for this often underrated composer shines through in this film.
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2025
It is the traditional start to the pre-Christmas season for classical music lovers throughout Germany: on the eve of the First Advent, the Frauenkirche shines in its baroque splendour and offers a magnificent experience with the Sächsische Staatskapelle, the Sächsischer Staatsopernchor and the Kreuzchor Dresden. Conductor Nicholas Collon takes the podium for this year’s concert, joined by the dazzling soprano Elsa Dreisig, star tenor Benjamin Bernheim, and virtuoso violinist Daniel Hope. Together, they present a festive programme of Mozart, Berlioz, Bach, Gounod, and more.
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2024
The Advent concerts have long become a tradition, and numerous internationally renowned artists have since accepted the invitation to the annual Advent concert. For this production, the audience can look forward to the Canadian mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, who is on stage with the Saxon State Opera Chorus and the Saxon Staatskapelle under the baton of Riccardo Minasi. In addition to soprano Nikola Hillebrand, another prominent guest is Thomas Quasthoff, who celebrates his fiftieth stage anniversary this year.
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2022
Two world-renowned singing stars are this edition’s guests at the “Festive Advent Concert”, German TV’s most successful concert series: soprano Diana Damrau and tenor Mauro Peter. The young French conductor Marie Jacquot leads the Staatskapelle Dresden for the first time. With the 2024/25 season, Marie Jacquot will take over as Musical Director of the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen. In addition to the Staatskapelle Dresden, two choirs complete the cast of the 2022 “Advent Concert”: the Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden and the Kammerchor der Frauenkirche. The choir’s director, the cantor of the Dresden Frauenkirche, Matthias Grünert, also appears as organist. “The Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the Sächsischer Staatsoperchor once again proved their quality.“ (Online Merker)
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2023
It is the traditional start to the pre-Christmas season for classical music lovers throughout Germany: On the eve of the First Advent, the Frauenkirche shines in its baroque splendour and offers a magnificent experience with the Sächsische Staatskapelle under the baton of its music director Christian Thielemann and internationally renowned singers. This edition’s guests are soprano Hanna-Elisabeth Müller (“with a smooth, melodious, effortless sounding voice and great diction”, Online Merker) and tenor Mauro Peter (“offering a lyrical swell with depth”, Sächsische Zeitung). The programme includes baroque instrumental music, Romantic choir works and atmospheric arias. Together with “his” orchestra, “Christian Thielemann spread ut a carpet of pulsating sonority, dynamically highly differentiated, flexibly responding to the respective partners.” (Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten)
Festive Advent Concert at the Frauenkirche Dresden 2021
The Festive Advent Concert has become a much loved tradition in Dresden and one of German TV’s biggest classical music success stories. In 2021, conductor Petr Popelka, the Staatskapelle Dresden and the Staatsopernchor join forces with soprano Katharina Konradi, tenor Jonathan Tetelman and organist Samuel Kummer to present a programme ranging from Bach to festive arias and works of Tchaikovsky, Saint-Saëns, Handel, Grieg, Humperdinck and Lili Boulanger.