Johann Sebastian Bach

J.S. Bach occupies a pivotal place in the history of music. His compositions represent both the height of the Baroque and the beginning of the Modern Age of music.
Filmed in Leipzig, London and America – this documentary, both fascinating and authoritative, features specially-filmed extracts with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, performing the Mass in B minor, András Schiff playing the Goldberg Variations, Jacques Loussier improvising on the Toccata and Fugue in D minor as well as demonstrations by Ton Koopman, Tini Mathot, Joanna MacGregor and the Thomanerchor of Leipzig.

Biographical and critical commentary is provided by leading Bach scholars, Christoph Wolff and Robert Marshall, while Charles Rosen and Jonathan Miller discuss Bach’s masterpiece the St Matthew Passion.

Released in 1997. 59 min. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. TV documentary series.

Filmed in Leipzig, London and America – this documentary, both fascinating and authoritative, features specially-filmed extracts with John Eliot Gardiner conducting the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, performing the Mass in B minor, András Schiff playing the Goldberg Variations, Jacques Loussier improvising on the Toccata and Fugue in D minor as well as demonstrations by Ton Koopman, Tini Mathot, Joanna MacGregor and the Thomanerchor of Leipzig.

Biographical and critical commentary is provided by leading Bach scholars, Christoph Wolff and Robert Marshall, while Charles Rosen and Jonathan Miller discuss Bach’s masterpiece the St Matthew Passion.

Released in 1997. 59 min. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. TV documentary series.

Mozart

This program looks at the musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Born in Austria in 1756, Mozart was composing music by the age of five. Performing with his sister Maria Anna Mozart, who was also a child prodigy, Mozart became the darling of aristocratic society. The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, and Don Giovanni.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.

Released in 1997. 59 min. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. TV documentary series.

Beethoven

For many people, musicians and laymen alike, Beethoven is the most admired composer in the history of Western classical music – not only because of the intellectual rigour of his music, but also its expressive power. Beethoven’s struggle to resist being defeated by his deafness has a parallel in his music.

This programme explores all aspects of Beethoven’s life, the music and the man, his views on life, politics and the French Revolution. Contributors include conductors Nikolaus Harnoncourt and Michael Tilson Thomas, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, violinist Peter Cropper from The Lindsays, musicologist Charles Rosen, sociologist Tia de Nora, director Sir Peter Hall, Beethoven expert John Suchet and Beethoven scholars Barry Cooper, Bill Meredith, Basil Deane and William Kinderman.

Released in 1997. 59 min. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. TV documentary series.

Wagner

Musical genius, political hero and racist demon, the life of Richard Wagner reads like the ultimate Boys-own story. The Ring cycle is regarded as one of the finest achievements of the human soul. This documentary examines the connections between Wagner’s own spiritual vision and his art, including coded anti-Semitic references in his music and the techniques he used to mesmerise his audience.

It is filmed in Switzerland, Italy and King Ludwig’s Bavaria. Musicians include the world’s greatest and most controversial performers: Daniel Barenboim, Roger Norrington, Siegfried Jerusalem, Deborah Polaski, Graham Clarke, Falk Struckmann with contributions from Wagner experts John Deathridge and Barry Millington as well as Stephen Hawking, George Steiner and Edward Said. Excerpts include The Ring, Rienzi, The Flying Dutchman, Lohengrin, Tannhäuser, Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal.

Released in 1997. 59 min. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh. TV documentary series.

Михаил Казиник в программе Лица с Сергеем Томашем.