completed programmes

His melodies have been loved by many for over a century, but his story is known to few

Although favoured by the Nazis, because he was one of the most successful musicians of his time, he helped many Jews to escape from Germany, until he too had to escape, risking his life. He immigrated to the US where his music became synonymous with a Germany of better times. After the war, he returned to Vienna and once again rebuilt his career.

On his first journey to Israel in the early 1960s, Stolz controversially insisted on his music being sung in German. The expected uproar about breaking this taboo didn't materialise, the audience were moved to tears hearing the songs they recalled from happier times.

This film from Wunderlich Medien tells the moving story of a musical genius, whose love of music and gift of composition together with his courage and humanity helped heal the wounds of an entire generation.

Interviewees: Udo Jürgens, Max Raabe, André Rieu, Anneliese Rothenberger, Marta Eggerth, Wolfgang Rademann, Renate Holm, Ingrid Wendl, Nigel Douglas, Clarissa Henry (daughter of Einzi Stolz).

Archive footage featuring: Einzi and Robert Stolz, Marta Eggerth, Jan Kiepura, Theo Lingen, Leo Slezak, Sophia Loren, Romy Schneider, Deanne Durbin, Marcel Prawy, Nicolai Gedda and more

Watch Trailer

Diashow

A documentary that explores the role of classical music in the political system of the German Democratic Repubic (GDR) and the musical life which flourished in this challenging environment.

Contempory witnesses recall extraordinary tales some moving, some almost tragi comic of those times. From their memories. It becomes clear, why and how the classical music scene was successful, where other art forms frequently failed when attempting to bridge the gap between East and West.

After the end of the war in 1945 the world fell into two political camps - East and West. The 'Iron Curtain' divided Germany into two. It is as much a cultural divide as a political one between the two systems and the two countries.

Immediately Russian Cultural Officers started to reactivate cultural life in the Soviet sector. Great Opera and concert halls are re built and orchestras and choirs with long traditions and great reputations are resurected.

After the creation of the GDR, besides sports, classical music becomes its most important ambassador. As with all other arts under the communist regime, it is manipulated for ideological purposes. And some of the protagonists enjoy (especially if they are talented enough and not arousing the interest of  Secret Police, the Stasi ) unbelievable priviliges.

Incredible elitism flourishes in this musical environment between art and dictatorship. These riches were not only for the residents of the GDR, the classical heritage was a major export for the regime.The Staatskapelle Dresden, Kreuz- and  Thomanerchor, famous artists like Walter Felsenstein, Theo Adam and Ludwig Guttler as well as artist agencies and record companies were popular and filled pockets on both sides of the Wall, creating a lot of cross border travel, even when the Cold War was at its most intense.

Interviews with: Helmut Schmidt, Kurt Masur, Peter Schreier, Christine Mielitz, Siegfried Matthus and more

Archive footage featuring: Walter Felsenstein, Kurt Masur, Peter Schreier, Theo Adam, Otmar Suitner, Ernst Legal, Tiana Lemnitz and more

 Diashow

The first documentary on the enigmatic opera singer Lisa Della Casa

This intensely moving film includes exclusive interviews with the artist, her first for 40 years. Film shows sensational historical TV material plus private family films.

The return of the misterious diva

She was a gifted singer, though her personality made her appear aloof and unapprochable. The more distant she was to her fans, the more they admired her; She became their icon. At the age of 53 she ended her carreer unexpectedly, overnight, with no explanation to her public. She retired to her castle on Lake Constance, and refused all interviews and appearances in public.  

For this one-hour documentary produced for her 90th birthday, Lisa Della Casa broke her silence. For the first time in more than 40 years, a camera team was allowed to film her, her husband and daughter in their home.

"Love of a Diva" is not only an artist portrait, but also a film about a closely bonded family; a family that overcame intense personal issues.

Interviews with: Lisa Della Casa, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Anneliese Rothenberger, Renée Fleming, Inge Borkh, Rolf Gerard, Francesco Della Casa, Vesna and Dragan Debeljevic.

Archive footage featuring: excerpts from "Don Giovanni" (Salzburg 1954, Interlaken 1970), "Salome" (München 1961), "Arabella" (München 1960), "Der Rosenkavalier" (Salzburg 1960), "Madama Butterfly" (CBC 1957), "Zum Blauen Bock" (1967), "Dalli Dalli" (1972), "Schöne Stimmen" (1973) and more  

watch trailer

 Diashow

See what all the fuss is about!

The first up close and personal documentary on opera's electrifying star tenor Jonas Kaufmann

The film accompanies the tenor at his work and shows how easily he enchants his audience while always keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

With in depth interviews and performance footage.

Since his sensational debut at the Metropolitan Opera New York, the name Jonas Kaufmann is mentioned in the same breath as legendary tenors such as Fritz Wunderlich, Franco Corelli and Plácido Domingo.

Kaufmann is blessed with movie star looks, he is a scilled linguist and an excellent actor. Compared with many in his profession, he ramains refreshingly free of any diva like tendencies.

The documentary "A Perfectly Normal Hero" shows Kaufmann on the operatic stage, as Lieder-singer, with fans and colleagues, and with his family. The film focuses on his performance of Don José in a new production of Bizets "Carmen" at Zurich Opera.

Previously unseen video-recordings from his early years and highlights from his repertoire show why Kaufmann is as famous worldwide for his Italian and French roles as for the German repertoire.

Interviews with: Jonas Kaufmann, Margarete Joswig, Vesselina Kasarova, Franz Welser-Möst, Alexander Pereira, Helmut Deutsch, and more

Film footage from rehearsals/ scenes:
"Carmen" (Zürich 2008), "Fierrabras", "Fidelio", "L'elisir d'amore", "L'heure Espagnol"; "La Bohème", "Martha", "Manon" (Aufnahmesitzungen); Lieder by Richard Strauss (Schubertiade Schwarzenberg 2008) and more.

watch trailer

Diashow

The first documentary on the great tenor Fritz Wunderlich. With previously unseen footage

This is an intimate portrait drawing on family archive material, including rare performance footage and interviews with major artists (Rolando Villazon, Thomas Hampson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau). Available on DVD from Deutsche Grammophon.

Fritz Wunderlich died on September 17th 1966 at the age of 35. Ever since rumours have surrounded the last years of the singer's life. For example, did he foresee his death? Why did he, three weeks before his death sign autograph cards with "in memoriam Fritz Wunderlich"? Why did he live his last years with an intensity as if every day were his last? On stage or in private, everything he did was carried out with an almost obsessive intensity. As is said about Maria Callas, his life is often described as resembling a candle burning at both ends.

40 years later, it has become possible to view the entire personal and professional world of this charismatic singer. This documentary illustrates how the singer became one of the artistic icons of the "Wirtschaftswunder" period. Wunderlich's daily life is shown through his own eyes: He made many 16mm-films, previously unreleased, and these allow a vivid  behind the scenes insight on the glamorous operatic world of the period, when classical music attracted the high flyers of society. Containing rare live and TV recordings together with recollections from his contempories and the present day's generation of singers, this film presents a full and intimate picture of this exceptional artist and his personality.

Interviews with Eva Wunderlich, Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Anneliese Rothenberger, Christa Ludwig, Brigitte Fassbaender, Emmerich Smola, Joachim Kaiser, Karl Löbl, Peter Karger and more

Archive footage featuring: Hermann Prey and Hubert Giesen, excerpts from "Die Zauberflöte", "Eugen Onegin", "Palestrina", "Die Schweigsame Frau" and more; Private films from the family archive

watch trailer

diashow

TV performances with Fritz Wunderlich

This collection of famous and previously unbroadcast TV performances forms an additional programme to "Fritz Wunderlich - life and legend"

including:

Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, "Hier soll ich Dich denn sehen" (SFB 1966)
Strauss, Die schweigsame Frau, "Du süßester Engel" (with Ingeborg Hallstein, BR 1960)
Mozart, Die Zauberflöte, "Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön" (SDR 1960)
Smetana, Die verkaufte Braut, "Komm mein Söhnchen, auf ein Wort" (with Kurt Böhme, SFB 1966)
Schubert, "Der Wachtelschlag" (with Ludwig Kusche, BR)
Strauss, Krämerspiegel, "Die Händler und die Macher" (dto.)
Wolf, Der Sommernachtstraum, Lied des transferierten Zettel (dto.)
Tschaikowsky, Eugen Onegin, Szene des Lenski (BR 1962, live from the Prinzregententheater in Munich)
Pergolesi, Der Musikmeister, "Die besten Sänger sind meine Schüler" (ORF/ARD 1963)
Rossini, Der Barbier von Sevilla, "Ist er's wirklich - Stille stille" (with Erika Köth and Hermann Prey; BR 1959, live from the Cuvilliéstheater in Munich)

Lara, Granada (with private film footage of Fritz Wunderlich)

watch trailer