Renée Fleming, America’s Queen of Opera, performing with the internationally acclaimed Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, in the Palaces of the Czars in Saint Petersburg. Fleming and Hvorostovsky lead the audience through Saint Petersburg performing in the Gold Ballroom of Peterhof Palace, the White Column Room and the extraordinary baroque Theater of the Yusupov Palace.
Jerome Robbins‘ NY Export: Opus Jazz
Shot on location in New York City, NY Export: Opus Jazz takes Jerome Robbins‘ 1958 ‘ballet in sneakers’ and re-imagines it for a new generation in this feature-length scripted adaptation. Starring an ensemble cast of New York City Ballet dancers, Opus Jazz won an Audience Award at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival, and continues to air successfully on PBS’ Great Performances series. Length: Performance: 45′ min + Documentary: 15′ min.
Welcome to the Eigthies!
Welcome to the 80s – This 6 x 52min music documentary is a unique production showing a fascinating musical journey through the 80s featuring all the facets of this exciting area: Synthiepop & New Romantic, Charts, Clips & Commerce, Rap, Breakdance & Graffiti, House Nation & Acid Parties, Gothic, Industrial & Black Metal.
Susan Tedeschi plays AVO Session
A new queen of the blues comes to Basle: Grammy-nominated singer and guitarist Susan Tedeschi, who began her ambitious career in the nineties, has risen to fame with her powerful singing voice, fearless stage presence and her marriage to Derek Trucks of the Allman Brothers Band. She is also known for the Soul Stew Revival, a conglomeration of both her band, that of The Derek Trucks Band, and other talented musicians.
Kurt Masur – Adventures in Listening
Kurt Masur, one of the world’s great Maestros, challenges and teaches the next generation of young musicians and conductors by stretching their limits and transforming their perspectives and abilities. Following master classes around the world over a period of few years, the film is a carefully constructed collage organically interviewing the maestro’s teachings and his personal life experiences. The result is a comprehensive emotional portrait of one of the most respected music conductors of our time.
All you need is Klaus
A journey into the incredible life of Klaus Voormann. An inside view into the history of Rock’n’Roll. A story of friendship, art and music. Klaus Voormann was on the frontlines of the pop era’s meteoric rise. His friendship with the Beatles has lasted ever since their joint Hamburg Days. This is his story. The film follows him to the most important places of his career in England, the US and to friends like Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Carly Simon, Van Dyke Parks, Joe Walsh, Randy Newman, Richard Perry, Jim Keltner, Trevor Lawrence, Twiggy, The Manfreds, Olivia Harrison. We meet stars like we’ve never seen them before and witness new and extraordinary music sessions.
Joseph Haydn – Libertine & His Master’s Servant
Haydn’s lifetime saw a series of striking changes in musical style. At the time of his birth and childhood baroque traditions still prevailed. By the end of his life the apparent stability of the classical style was being challenged, notably by Beethoven. Haydn did not simply live through this long development; he was a central part of it. Nele Münchmeyer’s documentary throws light upon Haydn as the ingenious composer and as the private person – the “Libertine” in his private life and the “Servant” as the Kapellmeister of Esterházys’. The film includes excerpts from highly acclaimed performances of Haydn works. Amongst them are: the opera, Armida with the German Soprano Annette Dasch, Arias from Haydn performed by the Freiburger Barockorchester and the Baritone Thomas Quasthoff, performances of “Die Schöpfung” and “Die Jahreszeiten” conducted by Roger Norrington.
Il Postino
Based on the popular 1994 Italian film, Il Postino by Daniel Catán stars Plácido Domingo as the poet Pablo Neruda for this exciting world premiere. In a tiny Italian fishing village, a shy young postman finds the inspiration to live out his dreams during his daily deliveries to his only customer, a famous poet.
Bienvenido Gustavo!
“Red Carpet Special” of Gustavo Dudamel’s Inaugural Concert as musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Classical Music and Cold War
»In my opinion, comrades, we really should end the monotony of this Yeah, Yeah, Yeah or whatever they call it« (SED General Secretary Walter Ulbricht about pop music).
As classical music was considered politically harmless in the former GDR, its education was highly encouraged. The regime quickly discovered its great potential for generating valuable cultural exchange — as well as much needed hard currency. Classical music »made in the GDR« became an export hit for the regime, thanks to, for example, the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig and renowned artists like Kurt Masur, Peter Schreier, Franz Konwitschny, Kurt Sanderling and Theo Adam. Through case studies of individuals who lived under the system, »Symphony & Socialism« explores the fates of both the privileged and the non-privileged, and delivers insight into the influence of the political system on artistic life. The film includes interviews with contemporary witnesses both from GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG)