Karajan: Strauss: Death and Transfiguration & Metamorphosen

Ludwig van Beethoven headed for Symphony No. 9 literally his entire life. As early as the 1790s, he had an eye on Ode to Joy, perhaps the most well-known poem by Friedrich Schiller, written on the threshold of the French Revolution (1786). In his mature and, in particular, later years, the deaf composer with an acute ‘hearing vision’ increasingly distanced himself from conventional forms and genres and wrote parts beyond the possibilities of instruments of his day. He nurtured the idea of a symphony with a choir for at least several years. The history of the Ninth’s interpretations includes 200 years of staggering revelations and lingering stagnation. Performed by the musicAeterna orchestra, choir, and guest soloists under the baton of Teodor Currentzis, Beethoven’s opus magnum acquires the original poignancy and energy of a recent discovery.

At the Rheingau Festival, violinist Renaud Capuçon, cellist Julia Hagen and the Bamberg Symphony conducted by Jakub Hrusa perform Brahms's 'Double Concerto for Violin and Cello'.

Recording of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan playing Beethoven's 7th Symphony.

Recording of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Herbert von Karajan playing Beethoven's 8th Symphony.

Award-winning filmmaker Tony Palmer directs this riveting documentary on the life and times of influential English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. With archived performances by conductor Sir Adrian Boult and stirring musical passages from "The Tallis Fantasia" and "The Lark Ascending," among others, Palmer's film also features interviews with Vaughan and his beloved wife, Ursula.

Pastorale

Mariss Jansons conducts the Berliner Philharmoniker in the 2001 edition of the Europakonzert, filmed live at the Hagia Eirene in Istanbul on 1 May 2001. The program features Haydn’s Symphony No. 24 in G Major “Surprise” Mozart’s Concerto No. 2 in D Major for Flute and Orchestra, Emmanuel Pahud soloist Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14.

Premiered in 1926, Leoš Janáček’s absorbing masterpiece Veˇc Makropulos reflects all the dominant musical styles of the early 20th century, from Bohemian tunefulness to big Straussian phrases, Berg-like jaggedness and primeval rhythms. With the “breathtakingly grandiose” (Salzburger Nachrichten) Angela Denoke in the lead role, this emotionallypowerful opera was given superior treatment at the hands of the Wiener Philharmoniker under Esa-Pekka Salonen. Recorded live at the Salzburger Festspiele on 8 & 30 August 2011. Angela Denoke stars as Emilia Marty, with Raymond Very as Albert Gregor, Peter Hoare as Vitek, Jurgita Adamonyté as Krista, and Johan Reuter as Jaroslav Prus. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the Wiener Philharmoniker.

An intimate portrait of the legendary pianist Murray Perahia. The documentary observes Perahia at work on the interpretation of some pieces by Chopin and Schumann. It shows him as conductor of the famous Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, follows him into the recording studio and a master class in Hanover and finally captures a concert performance at a Warsaw Chopin recital in February 2010.

From the euphoric first to the solemn sixth, the Brandenburg Concertos features some of Bach's finest and most popular orchestral music. Münchener Bach-Orchester ; Karl Richter, conductor and harpsichord. Recorded Apr. 1-10, 1970, Schloss Schleissheim No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046 -- No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047 -- No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 -- No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049 -- No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 -- No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051. Apr. 1-10, 1970. Orchestra: Münchener Bach-Orchester - Conductor: Karl Richter - Violin: Otto Büchner - Trumpet: Pierre Thibaud - Recorder: Hans-Martin Linde - Recorder: Günter Höller - Oboe: Manfred Clement - Flute: Paul Meisen - Viola: Herbert Blendinger - Viola: Ingo Sinnhoffer - Viola Da Gamba: Hans Dieter Kruse - Viola Da Gamba: Oswald Uhl - Cello: Peter Steiner - Double Bass: Franz Ortner

200 years after Chopin's birth, the Space Shuttle Endeavour, like a giant piano, took the music of Chopin into orbit.

Andre Rieu performs a diverse array of tunes originally performed by Strauss, Glenn Miller and The Andrews Sisters, as well as standards such as "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Auld Lang Syne." Filmed on New Years Eve in London, this is a moving document of a stunning performance.Track List:

This music-video piece denounces the declining state of classical music by throwing a piano into the sea as a symbol of high culture submerging. The experiment focuses a grand piano floating and drifting until it sinks. This video questions the artist's role in today's society and the piano as an icon that submerges, subverted by mass culture.

This fascinating musical exploration of Scotland retraces the journey taken in 1829 by acclaimed composer Felix Mendelssohn, which inspired some of his most famous works, such as the "Scottish" Symphony and "The Hebrides" overture. Travel from the majestic sites of the historic Edinburgh Castle, Scott Monument and Palace of Holyrood to the picturesque island of Staffa, home of the legendary Fingal's Cave.

Go behind the scenes with one of London's most important musical institutions.

Relationships, rehearsals, performances, hobbies, and family life of the members of the Guarneri String Quartet.

Shuhei Amamiya transfers to Moriwaki Elementary filled with hope and ambition. But it doesn't take long before he gets picked on by the class bullies, and gets involved in a dare to play the mysterious piano in the forest. Igniting his meeting with an equally enigmatic child, Kai Ichinose, who seems to be the only one capable getting sound out of the thought to be broken piano.

Janine Jansen spielt Tschaikowskys Violinkonzert

"Probably the best living pianist" headlined the Berliner Morgenpost's review of Grigory Sokolov's sold-out June 2013 recital at the Berlin Philharmonie. "The four Impromptus could no be interpreted more dramatically... The D 946 Pieces cried out with despair an longing for death." (from DVD cover)

Tom Cat is a concert pianist who plays beautifully until he is interrupted by Jerry Mouse.