This film tells the story of one of the most magic moments of music. The beginning of 1964 held a great surprise for the music world: Maria Callas returns to the opera stage as prima donna. Her “Tosca” at the Royal Opera House becomes a sensation. Not even the Beatles received more press coverage. All this, for an artist whose glorious career was said to be over, with the singer herself passing over to legend. It is no longer her performances, but her scandals that, are dominating the headlines. Unlucky in love with her billionaire boyfriend Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas wants to show them all that the title of ”Primadonna assoluta” is still rightfully hers. On condition that famed stage director Franco Zeffirelli takes on the production, the exceptional vocalist is prepared to take on the role of Tosca. Her fans queue outside the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden for four, even five nights. To get their hands on the sought after tickets, they spend the freezing winter nights in sleeping bags and on fold up chairs. The film tells the story of the event from today´s perspective and features interviews with Antonio Pappano, Rolando Villazón, Rufus Wainwright, Thomas Hampson, Anna Prohaska Wolfgang Joop, Jürgen Kesting, Brian McMaster, Kristine Opolais. As bonus the performance of Tosca´s second act is included. It is one of the most dramatic acts in opera history. The film recording is one of the few opportunities to see Maria Callas on stage and witness her emotional dramatics and vocal competence.
Robert Wilson – The Beauty of the Mysterious
We know Winston Churchill’s saying about a “riddle wrapped inside an enigma”. Nothing could better describe Robert Wilson’s symbolic productions. What do minimalist fuel pumps have to do with Shakespeare’s sonnets? Why does Parsifal wear a triangular helmet? How did Alice from Wonderland end up on the Reeperbahn? Why and how does all this move many audience member to tears? This film sets out on a journey to uncover the mystery in the heart of Robert Wilson’s mysterious art – with the help of Tom Waits, Willem Dafoe, Marina Abramovic, Coco Rosie, and Rufus Wainwright.
Lang Lang – New York Rhapsody
Lang Lang‘s „New York Rhapsody“ is a love letter to the city he considers his adoptive home, set to the music that helped make this city so famous and performed at one of New York‘s most iconic venues, Lincoln Center. The one-night-only show embraces a wide range of musical styles and voices capturing New York‘s magic, from Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, and Danny Elfman to Lou Reed, Alicia Keys, and Don Henley, including a rare performance of the original 1924 jazz band arrangement of George Gershwin‘s “Rhapsody in Blue”. Joining Lang Lang are celebrated artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Suzanne Vega, Kurt Elling, Regina Spector, Jerry Douglas, and rising stars including Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day, genre-bending violinist Lindsey Stirling, and Grammy-winning trumpeter Sean Jones, in addition to a 30-piece orchestra with musical direction by David Lai.
Magic Moments of Music – Maria Callas & Tosca
The beginning of 1964 held a great surprise for the music world: Maria Callas returns to the opera stage as prima donna. Her “Tosca” at the Royal Opera House becomes a sensation. Not even the Beatles received more press coverage. All this, for an artist whose glorious career was said to be over, with the singer herself passing over to legend. It is no longer her performances, but her scandals that, are dominating the headlines. Unlucky in love with her billionaire boyfriend Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas wants to show them all that the title of ”Primadonna assoluta” is still rightfully hers. On condition that famed stage director Franco Zeffirelli takes on the production, the exceptional vocalist is prepared to take on the role of Tosca. Her fans queue outside the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden for four, even five nights. To get their hands on the sought after tickets, they spend the freezing winter nights in sleeping bags and on fold up chairs. A British broadcaster has recorded the opera’s second act. It is one of the most dramatic acts in opera history – to save the artist Cavaradossi from his torturer; Tosca ends up murdering the chief of police Scarpia. The film recording is one of the few opportunities to see Maria Callas on stage and witness her emotional dramatics and vocal competence.
Wainwright does Weill
Rufus Wainwright’s fascination with Kurt Weill’s music goes back for decades — in his early twenties he wore out the vinyl grooves of Teresa Stratas’ famous Weill album. Never has he dedicated an entire evening to singing the German musician’s songs. With the Paci?c Jazz Orchestra under the baton of Chris Walden he is now expanding the orchestral palette for his approach to Kurt Weill. Wainwright interjects some of his own compositions, old and utterly new ones that have been in?uenced by the German composer who had a long career in the US after migrating here from Nazi Germany. Furthermore, the Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles now o?ers a stage that provides the perfect visual setting for the period in which Weill’s songs were written.