More than thirty years after her retirement, Britain's greatest classical singer of the 20th century, Dame Janet Baker, talks more openly and emotionally than ever before about her voice, her career and her life today. With excerpts of her greatest stage roles (Dido, Mary Stuart, Julius Caesar and Orpheus), as well as of her appearances in the concert hall and recording studio (works by Handel, Berlioz, Schubert, Elgar, Britten and Mahler), she looks back at the excitements and pitfalls of public performance.

Britain's greatest classical singer of the 20th century, Dame Janet Baker, talks more openly and emotionally than ever before about her life

Janet Baker In Her Own Words

Documentaries - Carousel (32:9)

This is the story of how the most famous dancer that England ever produced was decieved and betrayed by those closest to her; of hos a little girl called Peggy Hookham, brought up in Shanghai, told her mother she would one day become the greatest dancer in the world; and of how, in spite of being almost unable to walk, she was still performing when she was 67.

This is the story of how the most famous dancer that England ever produced was decieved and betrayed by those closest to her

Margot

Tony Palmer's film was the first major exploration of the life and career of the great American soprano, Renée Fleming - for many the epitome of the modern-day diva. Share an intimate visit with Renée behind the scenes, at home and on stage as she rehearses and performs in Verdi's Otello and Requiem, and sings Strauss, Mozart, Dvorák, Korngold, Ellington, Gershwin, Puccini, Massenet, and Rachmaninoff.

ony Palmer's film was the first major exploration of the life and career of the great American soprano, Renée Fleming

Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Renée Fleming

Force of Nature Natalia follows a season in the life of dance superstar Natalia Osipova. With unique access to Natalia’s personal archive, we follow her preparations for her fifth season as a principal of the Royal Ballet as she continues to champion contemporary dance with some of the world’s greatest choreographers. We watch the rehearsal process of the new ballet. The Mother by Arthur Pita, a new commission with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and the Royal Ballet’s legendary production of La Bayadère directed by Natalia Makarova. Natalia opens up about her life and history, her childhood in Russia, her time with the American Ballet Theatre and her journey to the Opera House. It is an unparalleled opportunity to get up close and personal with the leading ballerina of our generation and understand why critics and audiences all over the world call her a force of nature of the dance world.

Force of Nature Natalia follows a season in the life of dance superstar Natalia Osipova.

Force of Nature Natalia

The documentary “Taking Risks” follows all aspects of the production of The Rake's Progress.

The documentary “Taking Risks” follows all aspects of the production of The Rake's Progress

Taking Risks

Former principal of The Royal Ballet and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell knows all too well what it takes to make it as a prima ballerina. In Darcey's Ballerina Heroines (part 1 of this fascinating two-part collection) she draws on her vast experience at the top of her game, providing an authoritative history of the best ballets and the finest ballerinas. Accompanying clips, which include some of Bussell’s most lauded performances, provide a feast for the senses and make this a must-watch for enthusiasts.

Darcey Bussell draws on her vast experience to provide an authoritative history of the best ballets and the finest ballerinas.

Darcey's Ballerina Heroines

MUST SEE

November 2020: the audience follows Janine fly-on-the wall from initial research and rehearsals in Stockholm, to a hectic month in London where, accompanied on the piano by Pappano, the legendary Director of the Royal Opera, she becomes acquainted with each of the violins and select works that fit them best. Made by the legendary luthier Antonio Stradivarius, some of these violins have not been played for 200 years while others belonged to the greatest virtuosos ever, including Fritz Kreisler, Nathan Milstein, Ida Haendel and Oscar Shumsky, all featured in the film in powerful archive. Learning their histories, and coming to grips with their foibles, Janine then falls ill with Covid. Nevertheless, in a virtuoso feat of determination, she recovers to rehearse and record this astonishing album with just a day to spare before the first violin must be returned to its owner. This is a nerve-wracking, intense, and hugely exciting film, where, up close and personal, we see not only what makes these the most unique stringed instruments in the world, but also the enormous humour, spark and energy that drives two of the world’s leading musicians at the top of their creative game.

Janine Jansen embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to record a new album on twelve of the greatest violins to have ever been created.

Janine Jansen: Falling for Stradivari

The Royal Ballet’s In Her Hands is part of Marquee TV’s free Summer Shorts series, shining light on new and alternative productions, plus hidden gems. 

Starring Natalia Osipova, the production is set in Paris, 1892, and is inspired by the life and work of French sculptors Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin. 

Set to the haunting melody of Fauré’s Elegie in C Minor Op24, the production includes choreography by the Royal Ballet’s Valentina Zucchetti.

The Royal Ballet’s In Her Hands stars Natalia Osipova and reflects on the relationship between French sculptors, Camille Claudel and Auguste Rodin.

In Her Hands

Bayreuth and Salzburg – the two most famous festival cities in the classical music world. Every year they outdo each other with artistic excellence and social glamour. Until a virus called “SARS-Cov-19” plunged the world into a deep crisis in early 2020 – and with it the festival cities. This documentary examines how Bayreuth and Salzburg dealt with the consquences of the Corona pandemic. How did the “Salzburg model” work, where a way was found to save the festival and limit the economic damage? And what does the cancellation of the Wagner Festival mean for Bayreuth and its artists?

Until a virus called “SARS-Cov-19” plunged the world into a deep crisis in early 2020 – and with it the festival cities.

Festival Cities and the Crisis

Most Popular

The 2016 Grand Prix winner at International Television Festival Golden Prague, The Pianist of Yarmouk tells the true story of Ayham Ahmad - a Syrian refugee musician. Surrounded by ruins in Syria’s capital Damascus, Ayham sings accompanied by an out-of-tune piano about migration, hunger and death, until he is forced to flee to Germany. After his arrival in Munich, we follow the life of a man who sang out against the suffering in his country until his instrument was destroyed. His story is just one of many - one instance out of thousands who have been robbed of hopes and dreams and forced to build a new existance.new existence.

The Pianist of Yarmouk tells the true story of Ayham Ahmad - a Syrian refugee musician.

The Pianist of Yarmouk

When a woman steps onto the conductor's podium, she is always one of "the first": the first to lead a world-class orchestra, the first to conduct the closing night of London's "Proms," the first to win the German Conductor Prize. It seems as though the world of orchestral conducting might finally be ready to change it's attitudes toward female conductors for good.

When a woman steps onto the conductor's podium, she is always one of "the first". Perhaps the times are finally changing.

Maestras: The Long Journey of Women to the Podium

Performance and Politics

Christian Spuck brought one of Verdi’s key works to the stage with Messa da Requiem. In a mega co-production by the Opera and Ballet Zürich, the German choreographer and director portrays a profound interpretation of Verdi’s funeral mass in his scenic-choreographic production.

Christian Spuck brought one of Verdi’s key works to the stage with Messa da Requiem

Stepping into the Unknown

A group of Young Men brought together by the indiscriminate brutality of war struggle to maintain their humanity in an unending cycle of combat and death.

A group of Young Men brought together by the indiscriminate brutality of war.

Young Men

Creative Process

Documentaries

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