These rehearsals and performances pay tribute to the legendary Herbert von Karajan.

Along with his role on the podium, Maestro Karajan was also responsible for the thrilling visual direction. These recordings from the mid sixties offer insight into Maestro Karajan's role not only as a leading conductor but also as a pioneer in new media and filming techniques.

The Schumann film is the only visual record we have of Karajan rehearsing an entire work.

This production set a new standard for the interpretation of Schumann's Symphony no.4 and Beethoven's Symphony no.5 and in terms of music filming in general. Karajan gives early evidence of his innovative approach to film by choosing Henri-Georges Clouzot as his director, a creator of classic "films noirs" such as Quai des Orfèvres and Wages of Fear.

Directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot
Robert Schumann - Symphony no.4 ∙ Wiener Symphoniker, recorded in Vienna, November 1965
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony no.5 ∙ Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded in Berlin, January 1966

Picture: 4:3 NTSC
Sound: PCM Stereo
Language/subtitles: German, English, French
Region code: All (worldwide)
Running time: 140 mins
Production Year: 1965/1966