“What would the world be like without Beethoven?” That’s the provocative question posed by this music documentary. To answer it, the film explores how Ludwig van Beethoven’s innovations continue to have an impact far beyond the boundaries of classical music. What would be missing from jazz or film music, for example, if Beethoven had never created his many innovations? Would the concert business exist as we know it today? And how has it changed the role of the artist? Sarah Willis, horn player with the Berliner Philharmoniker, sets out on an entertaining and informative journey in search of answers. She meets people from around the world – musicians and managers – to follow the traces of Beethoven’s influence.
Magic Moments of Music – Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim at Teatro Colón
In 2014, a memorable concert took place at the Teatro Colón: Martha Argerich and Daniel Barenboim as a piano duo on two pianos. Since their youth, the two have enjoyed an artistic friendship rich in magic moments of music. What happens when these very different personalities form a piano duo? The two superstars had already performed together almost everywhere in the world – but not in their hometown. Their first joint performance in Buenos Aires was a magic moment of music and a kind of folk festival in equal parts. During their stay in Buenos Aires, Argerich and Barenboim went in search of traces of the places where they met as children. And how does Daniel Barenboim himself remember the concert? He laughs: “It’s totally easy with Martha. It’s not like that with everyone. You can only fall in love with her.”
Maestras – The long journey of women to the podium
Being a female conductor means being an exception. Even today. When a woman stands on the podium she is, in most cases, somehow “the first”: the first to lead a world-class orchestra, the first to conduct the “Last Night of the Proms” in London, the first to win the German Conductor Prize. For decades, this sensational character has been tradition. At the same time it seems that the world of the maestro is now in a state of upheaval. The young Lithuanian conductor Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla, who took over the post of Andris Nelsons in Birmingham this September, said with conviction: “I really believe that something is changing now.” But why is it that there have been so few female conductors in the international music scene? To take a closer look at this phenomenon, the 53-minute film MAESTRAS follows several female conductors. This historical retrospective is supplemented by the memories of Hedy Graber. She is the daughter of Hedy Salquin, the first Swiss female conductor, who in 1955 received a letter from the Hessian Radio with the words: “Dear Mr. Salquin, although you are a woman we are addressing you with “Mr.” Moreover, we don’t have any use for you.”
Magic Moments of Music – The Wrath of Nina Simone
It is a special moment in the life of the world-famous singer and pianist. She has just become a mother and has joined the protests of the civil rights movement in America against racism and discrimination against the black population. She predominantly writes and sings protest songs, risking her career because her lyrics are considered controversial in America and are even boycotted in some cases. In Europe, she sees the opportunity to express herself freely and tell the stories of the oppression of black people from her homeland. Through television concerts like this one, she reaches an audience of millions. The film tells of Simone’s beginnings in music, how she transitioned from classical to jazz, and her courage and relentless fight for equality and freedom. “Tomorrow is my turn, no more doubts, no more fears,” Simone sings in a mix of resignation and defiant hope. She hopes that her voice can be part of the change in the situation of the black population in the USA in the 1960s. Pianist Gabriela Montero and singer Angélique Kidjo explain how music can be an instrument of resistance. Jazz singer Lizz Wright’s work is still strongly influenced by Nina Simone to this day. Opera singer Victoria Randem explains how important Nina Simone was for the generations after her. They all show how important civil courage, authenticity, and emotionality are on stage and how Nina Simone’s legacy continues to have an impact today.
RCO: Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla conducts Tchaikovsky and Weinberg
Mirga Gražinyte-Tyla conducts two works packed with folk tunes: Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, with Gabriela Montero, and Weinberg’s Third Symphony. The concert starts with music by Raminta Šerkšnyte. PRGRAM Raminta Šerkšnyte: De Profundis; Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1; Weinberg: Symphony No. 3
Carnival of the Animals – A music piece tells the story
The “Carnival of the Animals” is his best known work. Camille Saint-Saëns never wanted to publish it during his lifetime. On the 100th anniversary of the composer’s death in December 2021, the music piece itself tells us how the dwindling act of birth occurred in the composer’s mind. It is the notes that tell us of its suffering and of its triumph on the great stages of the musical world. According to the will of its creator, “Carnival of the Animals” was to be performed only once, in March 1886, on Shrove Tuesday. And now this piece has stolen the show from Camille Saint-Saëns’ other works for a hundred years. Directors have brought Saint-Saëns’ music to Hollywood. At the Cannes International Film Festival, “The Aquarium” is the signature tune. The film shows that “Carnival” is more than the musical characterization and exaggeration of various species. The role of the narrator was taken over by German actor Sebastian Koch. An orchestra specially assembled for the film lets the music of the “Carnival of the Animals” resound.
Magic Moments of Music – Martha Argerich in Warsaw
Martha Argerich’s appearance at the 1965 Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw marks the beginning of an incomparable career. With her flowing hair and impetuous and mysterious demeanour, the 24-year-old Argentinian conquers the hearts of everyone present. For much of the competition, however, her victory is far from certain. Her closest competitor is Arthur Moreira Lima from Brazil. It comes down to the final performance of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto, and a legend is born. The film includes excerpts from the dramatic musical duel between Martha Argerich and Arthur Moreira Lima, and from Martha Argerich’s interpretation of Chopin’s First Piano Concerto in Warsaw forty-five years later. We also hear from close friends of Martha Argerich, including the conductor Daniel Barenboim, pianists Gabriela Montero and Sophie Pacini, violinist Gidon Kremer, her competitor Arthur Moreira Lima, the Polish star pianist Rafal Blechacz, who won first prize in the Chopin Competition in 2005, and other people present at the competition in 1965.
For Elise – Beethoven’s Besteller
It’s one of the most popular pieces of classical music in the world. A catchy tune that won’t let go. It’s in every stack of piano music. It’s been used in music scores for Hollywood films like “Rosemarys Baby” or “Inglorious Basterds”. “For Elise” can be heard tinkling from mobile ringtones, telephone waiting loops, Fabergé eggs and toy pianos. The American rapper Nas based his hit “I can” on the melody of “For Elise”. How could this piece of music, just 928 notes in length, ever achieve such international distribution and celebrity? Within this documentary famous Pianists such as Alice Sara Ott, Gabriela Montero, Kit Armstrong, Richard Clayderman, composer Detlev Glanert and others give their interpretations of “For Elise”. The film sets off in search of the meaning and merit of “For Elise”. Prominent classical music experts and historians in Berlin, Vienna and Bonn work out the secrets of the magic that this best known and most frequently played of Beethoven’s pieces sparks anew in every generation around the world.