DW's Classical Music Productions

2006 saw the release of 'Classical Masterpieces': six key works by six great composers, recorded by the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin under the baton of Kent Nagano. The concert recordings and accompanying documentary films opened up new approaches to the music, and won many international awards.

One year later, filming began for the next big classical music film. 'The Promise of Music' shows how young musicians from poor neighbourhoods in Venezuela can make it to the world's great concert halls. The film accompanies the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela from rehearsals in Caracas to performances at the Beethovenfest in Bonn. In 2008, the documentary ran on Deutsche Welle television and was released as a Deutsche Grammophon DVD.

Deutsche Welle has also turned its attention to German classical music stars who have achieved international success. The documentary 'A German conductor' gives a very personal view of the work of Christian Thielemann. 'Julia Fischer – Two Worlds of Music' accompanies an exceptional young musician, who plays both violin and piano at the highest level, showing her both in the concert hall and away from it.

Other productions have been dedicated to the great German composers. 'The Beethoven Project' tells the story of a veritable musical marathon: at the 2009 Beethovenfest, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and their conductor Paavo Järvi played all nine Beethoven symphonies in just four days. The documentary and the concert films won many international awards and were released on DVD by Sony Music.

DW has established a tradition of excellence with its classical music productions which is sure to be continued in „Schumann at Pier2“.