Where once Vladimir Horowitz gave his legendary concert, in the big hall of Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra celebrate their Russian première. They belong to the top orchestra of the class and are celebrated in the whole world. Within the scope of the first international cello festival in Moscow, dedicated to the big “Slava”, the cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, they present a great program from “Angel Dances” and “Dance around the World”. This concert in Moscow crowns the 36 years old history of 12 cellists.
Sasha Waltz – Garden of Lust
This film portrait of the choreographer Sasha Waltz depicts the progress of her work between 1992 and 2007, describing her exhilarating course through from the early choreographies to her large opera productions. An appreciation for Contemporary Dance and an insight into the life and work of the choreographer are conveyed filmically and entertainingly.
Horowitz in London
Recorded and broadcast in May 1982, Horowitz’s technique was begining to decline, though he retained all the fire of his playing. Introduction: Interview (00:05:30). Programm: Robert Schumann, Kinderszenen op.15, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sonata No. 2 in B-flat Minor, op. 36; Frédéric Chopin, Waltz in A-flat major, op. 69 No. 1
Pure Schumann! Robert Schumann – The Solo Concertos
Who would have thought to hear the Freiburger Barockorchester playing Schumann? At the end of a long journey from Baroque to Romanticism the FBO and Pablo Heras Casado perform the three great solo concertos by Robert Schumann and his rarely heared “Ouvertüre, Scherzo und Finale” op. 52. Isabelle Faust, Jean-Guihen Queyras and Alexander Melnikov. More than being exceptional soloists, Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov and Jean-Guihen Queyras all three are members of the same trio and this experience will not fail to give their interpretation homogeneity and absolutely unprecedented scale. A unique concert recording from Berlin Philharmonic Hall: Pure Schumann! Length: 99’ (17’ / 28’ / 26’ / 28’ ).
25 Years Of Wacken – The Documentary
The legendary Heavy Metal Festival is celebrating its anniversary this year. Enjoy the most spectacular moments from 25 years of Wacken music history. 75.000 fans arrive each year in the north German village of Wacken to relish four days of metal music and campsite frenzy. Whether from Mexico, Russia, Japan, Australia or the USA – The WACKEN FESTIVAL is a must for any metal fan around the world. The WOA started in 1990, when two friends had a crazy idea. They rented a small field and made their lifetime dream come true: “We had a vision and wanted to bring the biggest metal festival in the world to our village. Starting with 300 fans, it has grown to an unbelievable 75.000 fans.” We dive into the Wacken photo album and illustrate the birth of this festival with old VHS-shots. Then we take a look behind the scenes with anecdotes from Motörhead, Anthrax, Annihilator and many more. Original footage of the early shows from Saxon, Doro, Blind Guardian und Gorgoroth and their 30 spiked sheep heads are unforgettable. Also featured are the highlights of the most monumental appearances with gigantic pyro-effects and the greatest Metal Gods of all times.
Eras of Music History
Bold in conception, popular in format, gripping in its presentation – “Eras of Music History” makes the soundtrack to European history come alive – immediate and easily comprehensible for young viewers, classical newcomers and experts. In the series “Eras of Music History” music becomes something palpable – sounds you can touch and feel. Graphic novels, historical scenes, jam sessions and commentaries by classical stars, footnotes from political figures, philosophers and cultural scholars – all these are woven together with video and audio documents of the history of great performances. (4 part series: Baroque, Romantic, Viennese Classicism, 20th Century – 4×90’ or 8×45’)
Beijing Opera “You and Me”
“Raise the Red Lantern“ Film Director Zhang Yimou directs his first Beijing. With his films, such as “Hero”, which won a Golden Globe, or “Raise the Red Lantern”, Zhang Yimou has – despite years of repression by Chinese authorities – decisively shaped modern Chinese cinema and helped it surface throughout the world. His first Beijing-Opera production in the Chinese capital at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA): “You and Me” is based on a 2700-year-old Chinese imperial story from the chapter “Lord Zheng defeats Duan in Yan” from the legend of Zuo – a tale of betrayal, the power of infantile love and the fact that blood is thicker than water.
C.P.E. Bach – 300 Years: The 1786 Charity Concert
A concert in celebration of the 300th birthday of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach from the Konzerthaus Berlin. The famous RIAS Kammerchor and the Akademie für Alte Musik are performing works by C.P.E. Bach, his father J. S. Bach and G. F. Haendel. ——- PROGRAM: C.P.E. Bach · Introduction / J.S. Bach · Credo (Symbolum Nicenum) / G.F. Händel · Arie: Ich weiß, daß mein Erlöser lebt / G.F. Händel · Hallelujah / C.P.E. Bach · Sinfonie / Magnificat (Lobgesang Mariens) / Heilig with double chorus. Length: approx. 105′ / 58′ (2nd half) / 43′ (Magnificat)
Memorial Concert for Claudio Abbado
Claudio Abbado, who passed away on 20 January 2014 in Bologna, gave Lucerne Festival innumerable outstanding musical experiences. The Lucerne Festival Orchestra honors him with a special memorial concert at the Easter Festival. Opening the program is the first movement from SCHUBERT’s Unfinished Symphony, which Claudio Abbado conducted during his last performance in Lucerne in August 2013 — the final concert of his career. The program continues with Alban BERG’s Violin Concerto, which is dedicated “to the memory of an angel.” The soloist is Isabelle Faust, who recorded this very work with Claudio Abbado in 2011. To conclude the concert, the LFO performs the finale from Gustav MAHLER’s Third Symphony, which the composer originally planned to title “What love tells me.” Conductor is Andris Nelsons. (Cat. No. UNITEL: A955500020000)
Mariss Jansons conducts Richard Strauss
‘ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA’: from the symphonic poems that brought Richard Strauss worldwide fame in the 1880s and 1890s and his florid operas from the first decade of the twentieth century to the resigned metamorphosis of his final masterpieces after the Second World War. In this production, Mariss Jansons is seizing the opportunity to pay tribute with this work, considered to be one of his specialities, to that other big name from the orchestra’s early history. Also on the programme: Strauss’ METAMORPHOSEN and the SUITE FROM DER ROSENKAVALIER.