Subgenre Sampler

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Tár (Tar) (2022): Dir. Todd Field
Feat. Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss, Noémie Merlant…; A striking and rigorously intelligent drama from the director of IN THE BEDROOM that interrogates the process, pressures and politics in the…
Eulogy, The (2018): Dir. Janine Hosking; Australia's greatest, and perhaps most overlooked, classical pianist Geoffrey Tozer is the subject of this documentary presented by music educator…
Score: A Film Music Documentary (2016): Dir. Matt Schrader; An interesting insight into the art of composing film scores that gleans commentary from a diverse range of more than 60 composers (including Hans…
Marguerite (2015): Dir. Xavier Giannoli
Feat. Catherine Frot, Andre Marcon, Michel Fau…; Touching French version of the story inspired by the life of Florence Foster Jenkins, a socialite who believed she was in possession of a beautiful…
Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, The (2015): Dir. Morgan Neville; From the director of the Oscar winning 20 FEET FROM STARDOM comes this beautiful portrait of the international music collective founded by legendary…
Seymour: An Introduction (2015): Dir. Ethan Hawke; Award–winning documentary on the life and career of classical pianist Seymour Bernstein, who abandoned fame as a performer in favour of a…
In Search of Chopin (2014): Dir. Phil Grabsky; The life and music of Polish–born pianist and composer Fryderyk Chopin is explored in the detailed format of dir. Grabsky's previous "In Search…
Devil's Violinist, The (2013): Dir. Bernard Rose
Feat. David Garrett, Jared Harris, Joely Richardson…; The acclaimed violinist David Garrett makes his acting debut in this biopic of Italian violinist and composer, Niccolò Paganini, from the director…
In Search of Haydn (2012): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Lucid, unpretentious biography of 'the father of the symphony' Joseph Haydn drawing on interviews with both musicians and historians. The third…
Classical Destinations (TV Series) (2011): Welsh singer Aled Jones fronts this latest addition to the 'Classical Destinations' canon. Dubbed the "ultimate travel guide to classical music", the…
Curse of the Gothic Symphony, The (2011): Dir. Randall Wood; A group of brave and committed musicians take on an 80 year curse in an attempt to stage one of the longest, largest and most technically difficult…
Last Night of the Proms (2010): That very British institution, 'The Proms' at the Royal Albert Hall, is captured in all its pomp and circumstance in this rousing live recording of…
Wagner and Me (Stephen Fry Wagner & Me) (2010): Dir. Patrick McGrady
Feat. Stephen Fry; A passionate documentary in which Stephen Fry explores his love for the world's most controversial composer, Richard Wagner – a passion that…
Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (2009): Dir. Peter Raymont, Michele Hozer; The definitive filmic account of the enigmatic Canadian–born pianist and cult figure that reveals a wealth of never–before–seen…
In Search of Beethoven (2009): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Dir. Grabsky's scrupulous follow–up to his IN SEARCH OF MOZART examines classical music's other pre–eminent composer, Beethoven, in…
Pianomania (2009): Dir. Robert Cibis, Lilian Franck; Something of an unofficial sequel to the Steinway documentary NOTE BY NOTE, this fascinating insight gives us a close–up look at the difficult…
Simone Young - To Hamburg From Downunder (2008): Dir. Ralf Pleger; Perceptive documentary following renowned Australian conductor and Sydney Opera House Director Simone Young on her return journey from Europe to…
4 (Vivaldi - The Four Seasons) (2007): Dir. Tim Slade; In this remarkably unique and poetic documentary, a performance of each season of Vivaldi’s masterpiece is delegated to four prodigious violinists…
Glass: A Portrait Of Philip In Twelve Parts (2007): Dir. Scott Hicks
Feat. Philip Glass; Epic doco of seminal composer Glass covers his life, influences, and his working process. Filmed over 3 continents in 18 months, this is hugely…
Pavarotti Forever (2007): A post–humous compilation of opera arias, sacred songs and Neapolitan favorites from six of Luciano Pavarotti's landmark concerts (including…
In Search of Mozart (2006): Dir. Phil Grabsky; Thoughtful and well–orchestrated documentary about 18th century classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which aims to not only put across…
Joan Sutherland - The Reluctant Prima Donna (2006): Dir. Steve Cole; Spotlight on Australian opera diva Joan ‘La Stupenda’ Sutherland, from her modest early years, through to international stardom via two…
Knowledge is the Beginning (incl. The Ramallah Concert) (2006): Dir. Paul Smaczny; Inspiring documentary about Daniel Baremboim's West–Eastern Divan Orchestra that illustrates how prejudices between young Arabs and Israelis…
Salzburg Festival, The (2006): Dir. Tony Palmer; An epic and detailed look at the world's most revered classical music festival, which takes place annually in Mozart's birthplace, the Austrian town…
Five Days in September: The Rebirth of an Orchestra (2005): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete; A supreme classical music doco, this intimate look behind the scenes of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra delves candidly into the artistic process of…
Dame Kiri and Friends - The Gala Concert (2004): A concert performed at the Aotea Centre, Auckland to celebrate the launch of the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation. Dame Kiri sings with other luminaries…
Pavarotti: The Last Tenor (2004): Feat. Luciano Pavarotti; A quality BBC–commissioned documentary portrait that follows the great Italian tenor through a momentous period of his life as he says goodbye…
Toward the Unknown Region - Malcolm Arnold (2004): Dir. Tony Palmer; An in–depth exploration and celebration of the life and music of Britain's foremost 20th century composer – Malcolm Arnold – who…
Fonteyn and Nureyev (2002): Feat. Rudolph Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn; Considered the great dancing–partnership of our time, Rudolph Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn are here seen at their prime, in such ballets as Swan…
Yehudi Menuhin - Classic Archive (2002): Number 6 in EMI's 'Classic Archive' series, here featuring footage of the great violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Menuhin plays four pieces in…
Great Composers - Volume 1 (Bach, Mozart) (2001): Dir. James Runcie, Francesca Kemp; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Great Composers - Volume 2 (Beethoven, Wagner) (2001): Dir. Jill Marshall, Kriss Rusmanis; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Great Composers - Volume 3 (Tchaikovsky, Puccini, Mahler) (2001): Dir. Simon Broughton, Chris Hunt, Kriss Rusmanis; Excellent BBC series gives a substantial insight into its selected classical composers, combining biographical narrative with musical–analysis…
Howard Goodall's Big Bangs (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Howard Goodall; Presented by affable Brit maestro, Howard Goodall (whose own notable works include the theme tunes to Blackadder and Mr. Bean), this enlightening,…
Art of Piano, The (1999): Dir. Donald Sturrock; Survey of 20th century classical pianists that starts with Hofman and ends with Arrau, taking in such diverse talents of the keyboard as Rachmaninov,…
David Oistrakh - Artist of the People? (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; The life of the renowned 20th century Russian violinist, who at times locked horns with the Soviet state, is told through interviews with family and…
Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau - Autumn Journey (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Interviewed on his 70th birthday the German baritone recollects his life and art in fascinating detail. Tape includes an 85–min concert recital…
Richter, The Enigma (1998): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Lengthy biography of the supremely expressive Russian pianist Sviatoslav Richter, who only emerged from behind the Iron Curtain in the late 1950s.…
Turandot Project, The (1998): Dir. Allan Miller
Feat. Zhang Yimou, Zubin Mehta; The glorious insanity of Italian opera defeats all obstacles in this amusing behind–the–scenes account of a gigantic international…
Art of Conducting - Volume 2, The (1997): Dir. Peter R Smith; Excellent study of six more conductors of the 20th century – Sergiu Celibidache, Wilhelm Furtwangler, Erich Kleiber, Evgeny Mravinsky, Charles…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 1 (1997): Dir. Kevin McMahon, Francois Girard; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 2 (Falling Down Stairs / Sarabande) (1997): Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete, Atom Egoyan
Feat. Arsinee Khanjian, Don McKellar; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Yo-Yo Ma - Inspired by Bach Vol. 3 (1997): Dir. Niv Fichman, Patricia Rozema; Cellist Yo–Yo Ma’s celebrated musical exploration of Bach’s enigmatic solo cello suites, prompted six films, attempting to complement the…
Leaving Home (TV Series) (Orchestral Music in the 20th Century) (1996): The famed conductor Sir Simon Rattle here presents an accessible guide to the challenging classical music traditions of the 20th…
Transformation of the World Into Music (1996): Dir. Werner Herzog; Werner Herzog, indulging in a love of opera, turns his documentary eye on the Richard Wagner Festival, capturing the pulse of the annual event, and…
Farinelli (1995): Dir. Gerard Corbiau
Feat. Stefano Dionisi, Enrico Lo Verso, Elsa Zylberstein; Il Castrato – less a freak of nature than of anatomical subtraction. This flamboyant biopic freely interprets the illustrious musical and…
Gesualdo - Death for Five Voices (1995): Dir. Werner Herzog; A sharp, sometimes unflattering profile of 16th century composer Don Carol Gesualdo, with dir. Herzog dividing his time between the artist's sexual…
32 Short Films About Glenn Gould (1994): Dir. Francois Girard; Built out of 32 disparate fragments, this quasi–doco on the Canadian pianist is fittingly tailored to its difficult and elusive subject,…
Remembering Jacqueline Du Pre (1994): Dir. Christopher Nupen; Official doco on the renowned cellist suffers from a sanctimonious voice–over. Still, the best record of this talent with interviews and…
Verdi - La Traviata (1994): A 1994 staging of the Verdi opera with Georg Solti conducting the Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, and Angela Gheorghiu, Frank Lopardo…
Art of Conducting - Volume 1, The (1993): Dir. Sue Knussen; Sixteen of the 20th century’s greatest conductors are studied in this top–notch, award–winning series, including: Bernstein,…
Porgy and Bess (1993): Dir. Trevor Nunn
Feat. Willard White, Cynthia Haymon; Acclaimed stage–director Nunn, brings the Gershwin brother’s greatest opera/musical to life. Recorded at Shepperton Studios in 1992.
Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey (1993): Dir. Steven M. Martin; The fascinating life of Prof. Leon Theremin, the Russian inventor of the Theremin – a unique musical instrument/sound effects generator,…
On the Town (Stage version) (1992): Leonard Bernstein's classic Broadway musical, following the misadventures of three sailors is captured here in a recent stage version, accompanied by…
Perlman in Russia (1992): Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman fiddles with legendary virtuosity in the Tchaikovsky Hall, Moscow, accompanied on piano by Janet Guggenheim.…
Ute Lemper - Illusions (1992): Dir. Michael Houldey
Feat. Ute Lemper; Live performances of songs from Ute Lemper's 1992 album.
Nigel Kennedy - Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (1990): Nigel Kennedy and the English Chamber Orchestra play their signature versino of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons'.
Yes, Giorgio (1982): Dir. Franklin J. Schaffner
Feat. Luciano Pavarotti, Kathryn Harrold; Enjoyable romance has Pavarotti as an Opera singer (what else?) who loses his voice but finds love with throat specialist Harrold.
Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould (1981): Dir. Bruno Monsaingeon; Carefully prepared filming of Glenn Gould's second version of Bach's 'Goldberg Variations', pieced together over 5 years.
From Mao to Mozart (1980): Dir. Murray Lerner; Deserving winner of the Best Documentary Oscar follows violinist Isaac Stern on his concert and tutorial tour of China in 1979. A film as moving as…
Benjamin Britten: A Time There Was (1979): Dir. Tony Palmer; Revered British composer Benjamin Britten’s life and times is given the royal Tony Palmer treatment in this comprehensive, loving portrait of…
Bolshoi Ballet - Ivan the Terrible (1976): The Bolshoi Ballet present their version of Sergei Prokofiev's 'Ivan the Terrible', choreographed by Yuri Grigorovich. Stars Yuri Vladimirov, Natalya…
Bolshoi Ballet - Carmen (Poem of Dance) (1969): Another classic from the famous Russian ballet troupe, here choreographed by Alberto Alonso. Featuring Maya Plisetskaya. Narrated in English.
Tchaikovsky (1969): Dir. Igor Talankin; Dramatised biopic of the great Russian composer which uses natural imagery and impressionistic structure in a way reminiscent of Ken Russell's early…
Romeo and Juliet (1966): Dir. Paul Czinner
Feat. Margot Fonteyn, Rudolph Nureyev; The famed Royal Ballet production of Romeo and Juliet. This historical performance stars Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev as the quintessential…
Elgar (1962): Dir. Ken Russell
Feat. Peter Brett, Rowena Gregory, George McGrath; Restrained and brilliant TV docudrama on England’s greatest 20th century composer, Edward Elgar, that made the director’s name and…
Delius (1958): Dir. Ken Russell; Ken Russell's BBC film biography of the music and life of English composer Frederick Delius, who had to overcome blindness and paralysis to fulfil…
Bolshoi Ballet - Romeo and Juliet (1955): The Bolshoi Ballet presents Sergei Prokofiev's interpretation of Shakespeare's play. Features the daning talents of Galina Ulanova. Narrated in…
Bolshoi Ballet - Stars of the Russian Ballet (1953): Three ballets are presented by the Bolshoi Ballet – Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake' and 'The Fountains of Bakechisarai' and 'The Flames of Paris'.…
Song to Remember, A (1945): Dir. Charles Vidor
Feat. Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, Cornel Wilde; Biopic on the life of Polish pianist and composer Frederic Chopin, taking a few liberties here and there to follow the child prodigy through his…
Herbert Von Karajan: Highlights from the German master's conducting career with the Berlin Philharmonic. Movements from Beethoven's 5th and 6th Symphonies, Rachmaninov's…
Leonard Bernstein: The career of the celebrated conductor/composer is examined in this documentary narrated by Lauren Bacall.

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