„Prima la musica, dopo le parole?“
At the Richard-Strauss-Tage 1995 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen three of the most important journalistes respectively personalities engaged in the cultural sector discussed around the topic „Musik und Wort - Wort und Musik“ (Music and Words - Words and Music). They were Marcel Reich-Ranicki, Joachim Kaiser and August Everding. The spirited verbal exchange between these brillant minds is not only witty and amusing but also highly informative. Of course there is no definite answer to the eternal question, but many important facets and explanatory remarks.
Directed by Helmut Rost - 120’
My Life with Richard Strauss
Four opera stars tell about their personal encounters with Richard Strauss: Inge Borkh, Christa Ludwig, Hans Hotter and Hermann Prey. August Everding is moderating the symposium that was recorded at the Richard-Strauss-Tage in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Directed by Oliver Becker – 55’
Martin Walser - Women Voices in operas of Richard Strauss
The fascinating speech by Martin Walser opening the Richard-Strauss-Tage in Garmisch-Partenkirchen 2003 is an ode to a "woman's voice" as a medium of beauty and transformation. Narrated samples of operas "Ariadne" , "Agyptian Helena", "Don Giovanni" etc. demonstrate Walser´s thesis, that a "woman´s voice" may overcome the abysms of real life. Music excerpts from the arias of Zerbinette and Ariadne prove the meaning of Walser´s statements.
Directed by Benedict Mirow - 57`
Neil Simon: Sonny Boys
Recording from the Theater am Kurfürstendamm in Berlin. The protagonists are Dieter Hildebrandt and Werner Schneyder.
Direction: Jörg Hube (theatre) and Lutz Braune (TV)
about 90’
Richard Strauss's Guntram with Gustav Kuhn
The tenth Richard Strauss Festival at Garmisch-Partenkirchen saw the first staged presentation in fifty-six years of Strauss's first opera, Guntram, an innovative production using costumes and lighting to great effect. This long-overdue revival of the musically-deserving piece, was the result of the efforts of maestro Gustav Kuhn. He is seen developing this project at the Academia di Montegridolfo – his progressive music education centre in Italy – with the Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana and a cast of excellent singers, headed by Elisabeth Wachutka as Freihild and Alan Woodrow in the title role. The programme then presents extracts from the performance of Guntram at the Olympic Hall.
Directed by Ulrike Westernacher – 45
At the Richard-Strauss-Tage 1995 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen three of the most important journalistes respectively personalities engaged in the cultural sector discussed around the topic „Musik und Wort - Wort und Musik“ (Music and Words - Words and Music). They were Marcel Reich-Ranicki, Joachim Kaiser and August Everding. The spirited verbal exchange between these brillant minds is not only witty and amusing but also highly informative. Of course there is no definite answer to the eternal question, but many important facets and explanatory remarks.
Directed by Helmut Rost - 120’
My Life with Richard Strauss
Four opera stars tell about their personal encounters with Richard Strauss: Inge Borkh, Christa Ludwig, Hans Hotter and Hermann Prey. August Everding is moderating the symposium that was recorded at the Richard-Strauss-Tage in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Directed by Oliver Becker – 55’
Martin Walser - Women Voices in operas of Richard Strauss
The fascinating speech by Martin Walser opening the Richard-Strauss-Tage in Garmisch-Partenkirchen 2003 is an ode to a "woman's voice" as a medium of beauty and transformation. Narrated samples of operas "Ariadne" , "Agyptian Helena", "Don Giovanni" etc. demonstrate Walser´s thesis, that a "woman´s voice" may overcome the abysms of real life. Music excerpts from the arias of Zerbinette and Ariadne prove the meaning of Walser´s statements.
Directed by Benedict Mirow - 57`
Neil Simon: Sonny Boys
Recording from the Theater am Kurfürstendamm in Berlin. The protagonists are Dieter Hildebrandt and Werner Schneyder.
Direction: Jörg Hube (theatre) and Lutz Braune (TV)
about 90’
Richard Strauss's Guntram with Gustav Kuhn
The tenth Richard Strauss Festival at Garmisch-Partenkirchen saw the first staged presentation in fifty-six years of Strauss's first opera, Guntram, an innovative production using costumes and lighting to great effect. This long-overdue revival of the musically-deserving piece, was the result of the efforts of maestro Gustav Kuhn. He is seen developing this project at the Academia di Montegridolfo – his progressive music education centre in Italy – with the Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana and a cast of excellent singers, headed by Elisabeth Wachutka as Freihild and Alan Woodrow in the title role. The programme then presents extracts from the performance of Guntram at the Olympic Hall.
Directed by Ulrike Westernacher – 45
St. Amandus - The Lovable
With Hermann Prey, Leopold Hager, Franz Hawlata, Michael Kaune, Friedrich Bernius
Director: Christoph Ammon - 44’
Schloss Elmau: Nature and Art
Built early this century in the Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau is a very special cultural retreat where guests and artists could come together, perform and gain inspiration from the spectacular environment. Made over the course of a year at Elmau, this documentary shows the unique experience it offers both visitors and performers. It combines highlights from the wide range of music festivals staged during that time with exquisite footage of the surrounding landscape, and comments from Elmau enthusiasts and organisers. Baritone Thomas Quasthoff, Norbert Brainin, the Fontenay Trio, the Jacques Loussier Trio, Chick Corea, Ray Brown, Maria Joao, Michel Petrucciani are among those taking part.
Directed by Oliver Becker – 43'
Dance Impressions with Maya Plissetskaya
This fascinating interaction between dance and music was recorded in studio with prima ballerina Maya Plissetskaya working with pianist Nicolas Economou. Cued by the movements and moods of the dancer, Economou improvises at the piano and together they build a spontaneously expressive experience in sound and vision.
Directed by Fred Bosman - 31'
The Soldier's Tale: Igor Stravinsky
The acclaimed opera and stage producer Ruth Berghaus directs a performance of Stravinsky's jazz-inspired theatre piece The Soldier's Tale, with soloists Kolja Blacher as the soldier, Brigitte Scherzer as the soul, Clemens Tichy as the Devil and Lilly Scheuermann as the princess.
Directed by Ruth Berghaus/Frank Schleinstein - 56'
Peter Ustinov - Beethoven‘s
„Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus“
Recording of an interactive concert at the Prinzregententheater München. Sir Peter Ustinov renders his own words to Beethoven‘s Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus. The Litauische Kammerphilharmonie is conducted by Karl-Anton Rickenbacher.
Directed by Dieter Hens – 82’
With Hermann Prey, Leopold Hager, Franz Hawlata, Michael Kaune, Friedrich Bernius
Director: Christoph Ammon - 44’
Schloss Elmau: Nature and Art
Built early this century in the Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau is a very special cultural retreat where guests and artists could come together, perform and gain inspiration from the spectacular environment. Made over the course of a year at Elmau, this documentary shows the unique experience it offers both visitors and performers. It combines highlights from the wide range of music festivals staged during that time with exquisite footage of the surrounding landscape, and comments from Elmau enthusiasts and organisers. Baritone Thomas Quasthoff, Norbert Brainin, the Fontenay Trio, the Jacques Loussier Trio, Chick Corea, Ray Brown, Maria Joao, Michel Petrucciani are among those taking part.
Directed by Oliver Becker – 43'
Dance Impressions with Maya Plissetskaya
This fascinating interaction between dance and music was recorded in studio with prima ballerina Maya Plissetskaya working with pianist Nicolas Economou. Cued by the movements and moods of the dancer, Economou improvises at the piano and together they build a spontaneously expressive experience in sound and vision.
Directed by Fred Bosman - 31'
The Soldier's Tale: Igor Stravinsky
The acclaimed opera and stage producer Ruth Berghaus directs a performance of Stravinsky's jazz-inspired theatre piece The Soldier's Tale, with soloists Kolja Blacher as the soldier, Brigitte Scherzer as the soul, Clemens Tichy as the Devil and Lilly Scheuermann as the princess.
Directed by Ruth Berghaus/Frank Schleinstein - 56'
Peter Ustinov - Beethoven‘s
„Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus“
Recording of an interactive concert at the Prinzregententheater München. Sir Peter Ustinov renders his own words to Beethoven‘s Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus. The Litauische Kammerphilharmonie is conducted by Karl-Anton Rickenbacher.
Directed by Dieter Hens – 82’
Martin Walser
Maya Plissetskaya