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Culture

DW's major classical music documentaries

September 25, 2012

Deutsche Welle has a long history of supporting the arts, especially classical music. DW has garnered international praise for its many projects and documentaries of classical music productions.

https://p.dw.com/p/16DhI
The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen during the Schumann at Pier2 project
The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen during the Schumann at Pier2 project

In 2006, the Deutsche Welle series "Monumente der Klassik" (Classical Masterpieces) presented six pieces by six great composers, performed by the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO) and conducted by Kent Nagano. The concert recordings and the documentaries opened up new perspectives for music lovers, and the series won numerous international prizes.

A year later, work on the film "Der Klang der Hoffnung" (The Promise of Music) began. The documentary follows young musicians who make their way from the slums of Venezuela to international concert stages in the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. Viewers watch as the young musicians rehearse in Caracas before they head to Germany to perform at the annual Beethovenfest in Bonn. In 2008, Deutsche Welle TV broadcast the documentary, and the Deutsche Grammophon label released it on DVD.

Deutsche Welle frequently profiles prominent German classical music stars. The documentary "Ein deutscher Dirigent" (A German Conductor), for example, offers intimate insights into the work of Christian Thielemann. "Julia Fischer - Zwei Welten Musik" (Julia Fischer - Two Worlds of Music) accompanies the outstanding young violinist and pianist on and off stage.

In addition, some Deutsche Welle productions memorialize great German composers. These works include "Das Beethoven-Projekt" (The Beethoven Project), which documents a true music marathon. At the 2009 Beethovenfest, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen under Paavo Järvi's direction performed all nine Beethoven symphonies in just four days. The music documentary and accompanying concert recordings won many international prizes and were released on DVD by Sony Music.

Filming of the documentary 'The Promise of Music' during Beethovenfest
Filming of the documentary 'The Promise of Music' during Beethovenfest
The DW series 'Classical Masterpieces' on DVD
The DW series 'Classical Masterpieces' on DVDImage: DW-TV
A promotion for DW's 'The Beethoven Project'
A promotion for DW's 'The Beethoven Project'Image: DW

This collaboration was so successful that it immediately inspired a second project: "Schumann at Pier2." In 2011, Paavo Järvi and the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen performed all four of Schumann's symphonies for an enthusiastic audience in a former shipyard in the city of Bremen. The music documentary premiered in October 2012 and will be presented together with the concerts on DVD.