How did artists survive in the Soviet Union? How tricky did they have to be in the face of authorities? What kind of danger and difficulties did they have to fear? Sviatoslav Richter and Gennady Rozhdestvensky talk about authorities, watchdogs and the political system in the former Soviet Union. As a bonus, the release includes a recording of Richter playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K271, in 1966 which has never been released on DVD before.

• The Russian Edition: Various documentaries by Bruno Monsaingeon, one of the most renowned directors of music documentaries of our time, presented in one box:

• Conversations with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky: This four-hour documentary forms the heart of this new edition: Abstruse. Reflective. Facetious. A wittily-narrated journey through the soviet history in politics and music. With the former Soviet Union moving ever further into the past each year, first hand witness accounts such as his become ever more valuable. Documentary from 2015.

• Richter. The Enigma: A real cult film for piano enthusiasts! Award-winning documentary about one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century who lived in Russia and survived the dictatorship.

• For the first time on DVD: WA Mozart - Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K271, played by Richter in 1966. Conductor: Lorin Maazel

• The Red Baton: Scenes from the musical life of Soviet Russia. Documentary made in 2003

• Gennadi Rozhdestvensky: Conductor or Conjurer? Documentary made in 2003

• Alfred Schnittke - Dead Souls, reworked and orchestrated by Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Concert film from 2003

• Sergei Prokofiev - Zdravitsa, cantata for choir and orchestra

• Bonus: Andrei Chesnokov. Profile of a Player: from the socialist farmers and workers state to the top ten of the world. Living as a professional in the USSR. Documentary from 1989.

Contents:

DVD 1
Richter. The Enigma, Part 1
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 1998

DVD 2
Richter. The Enigma, Part 2
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 1998
Fêtes Musicales de Touraine
Mozart - Piano Concerto no.9 in E flat major, K271
Directed by: Denise Billon, 1966
Orchestre National de l’ORTF • Lorin Maazel • Sviatoslav Richter

DVD 3
Notes Interdites
Gennadi Rozhdestvensky: Conductor or Conjurer?
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 2003
Gennadi Rozhdestvensky • Rudolf Barshai • Viktoria Postnikova
Schnittke - Dead Souls; Prokofiev - Zdravitsa
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 2002
Capella Symphony orchestra and Choir of Russia • Gennadi Rozhdestvensky • Viktoria Postnikova

DVD 4
Conversations with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Part 1
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 1999, 2002, 2003 und 2015

DVD 5
Conversations with Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Part 2
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 1999, 2002, 2003 und 2015
Andrei Chesnokov. Profile of a Player
Directed by: Bruno Monsaingeon, 1989