IDS 101: What Does Music Mean?: Videos

Arrested during the Monmouth Rebellion and falsely convicted of treason, Dr. Peter Blood is banished to the West Indies and sold into slavery. Score by Erich Korngold.

Vivid animation brings the music of the masters to colorful life in this fun-filled movie, picking up where its predecessor, the original Fantasia, left off.

A drama based on the true story of the extraordinary mission for a medical cure begun by Augusto and Michaela Odone when their five-year-old son, Lorenzo, is diagnosed with a rare terminal disease. Adagio for Strings

A New York scandal, a riot on a ship, and an evening of insanity in a concert hall are some of the problems resulting from Groucho's outrageous business schemes. The goal, to bring Milan's finest opera stars to Manhattan.

Mike Church, an L.A. gumshoe with a knack for wisecracks and tracing missing persons, doesn't have a clue when he's hired to help a beautiful amnesia victim tormented by nightmares. Then an eccentric antiques dealer and hypnotist leads Church to believe the source of the nightmares may lie in a past-life connection to Margaret Strauss, a world-famous pianist allegedly murdered by her composer husband in 1948.

Based on a true story, the film examines the complex emotional experiences faced by John Merrick, the "Elephant Man" when he is discovered by a dedicated surgeon. Adagio for Strings

Terry Malloy is a washed-up ex-prize fighter corrupted along with brother Charley at an early age by a ruthless Mob-connected union boss named Johnny Friendly, who runs the waterfront. Musical score by Leonard Bernstein.

The impressionistic story of a Midwestern family in the 1950s that follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years...includes Má Vlast (The Moldau) by Smetana.

Mankind finds a mysterious artifact buried on the moon and with the intelligent computer HAL 9000, sets off on a quest to Jupiter.

Ben and Jo McKenna, are an innocent American couple vacationing in Morocco with their young son. But their simple plans turn into a nightmare after a French spy dies in Ben's arms at a Marrakesh market, and their son is kidnapped and taken to another country. A thrilling tale of international espionage, assassinations and terror, ending at Royal Albert Hall.

Follows young Chris Taylor who arrives in Vietnam and quickly discovers that his worst enemies are not just the Viet Cong, but gnawing fear, physical exhaustion, and the anger growing within himself.
Adagio for Strings

The tale of a composer who sells his soul to Satan to ensure his own creativity, but finds he cannot keep to his bargain to refrain from all close human relationships

A controversial yet comical film, it depicts the turmoil of Italian society through events that take place during a rehearsal gathering set in a 13th century chapel, as the musicians rebel against their conductor. Italian with yellow English subtitles.

Enrique and Rosa are brother and sister Mayan Indian peasants, living in the mountains of Guatemala. When the village attempts to organize for better treatment, Enrique and Rosa are forced to flee as the Guatemalan army is sent in to punish the townspeople. Adagio for Strings

When Mozart arrives at the court of Emperor Joseph II, court composer Antonio Salieri is horrified to discover that the godlike musical gifts he desires himself have been bestowed on a bawdy joker. Mad with envy, he plots to destroy Mozart by any means.

In the 18th century, no man was more famous, more beloved, or more celebrated than the man called Farinelli. The amazing true story of the world famous castrato comes brilliantly to life in a sumptuous and sexy drama of high notes and even higher passions. Includes his relationship with Handel.

Based on the life of Ludwig van Beethoven, the passionate and volatile musical genius who inspired love and hate in equal measure. A thrilling search for the identity Beethoven's one true love-- the unnamed 'Immortal Beloved' mentioned in an enigmatic letter discovered upon his death.

In 1830s France, pianist/composer Frederic Chopin is pursued romantically by the determined, individualistic woman novelist who uses the name George Sand.

Outrageously hedonistic 'rockopera' casts contemporary rock god Roger Daltrey as the world's first music superstar, Franz Liszt. Loosely based on the life of the composer, the film takes a fantastical voyage through rock'n'roll excess and adventure, peppered with cameos from such pop icons as Ringo Starr (as the Pope) and Rick Wakeman (as Thor).

A re-imagined account of the early life of Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozart, five years older than Wolfgang and a musical prodigy in her own right. Originally the featured performer, Nannerl has given way to Wolfgang as the main attraction, as their strict but loving father Leopold tours his talented offspring in front of the royal courts of pre-French revolution Europe. (In French with English subtitles)

Not exactly a fact-based story of the Tchaikovsky's marriage, this is a lavishly produced picture with music played by the London Symphony Orchestra.

19th century pianist Clara Wieck has an unsurmountable passion for music and her father until she falls in love with his student, Robert Schumann. Clara must decide whether her passion for Robert is greater than her love for music and her father. (In German with English subtitles)

The lives of a reclusive 17th century French composer (Marin Marais) and his two beautiful daughters are forever changed by a flamboyant young student.

Covering the years from 1801-1825, this is the story of how Beethoven falls in love with one of his students, Juliette, but she loves another, so he throws himself into his work... (In French with English subtitles)

Tensions abound and the music swells in the story about the famous musical team of Gilbert and Sullivan. The two men who were extremely different in size and stature were even more different in temperament and style. Yet, they still managed to create memorable theater. This is the story of the making of one of their most famous collaborations, The Mikado.

Ken Russell's "Mahler" is a dazzling depiction of the Austrian composer Gustav Mahler's turbulent marriage, passionate affairs, and rejection of Judaism.

An operatic portrait of Ludwig II, the 19th century mad king of Bavaria. Tormented by his unrequited love for his cousin, Empress Elisabeth of Austria, coupled with his obsession for the music of Wagner, Ludwig retreats into a fantasy world. He builds fairytale castles and ultimately loses his already-fragile grip on his sanity. (In Italian with English subtitles)

By the 1920s, Coco Chanel has established herself in the world of fashion. After a disastrous reaction to an early production of his Rite of Spring ballet, Igor Stravinsky has become a penniless refugee living in exile. When the two are introduced, the attraction is immediate and together they embark on a passionate affair, which results in a period of great artistic achievement for both artists.

Un ballo in maschera / La virgine degli angeli / Armide / Jean-Luc Godard, Jean-Baptiste Lully -- Rigoletto / Die Tote Stadt / Les Boreades / Liebestod / Nessun Dorma / Depuis le jour / I Pagliacci /
Ten of the world's best-known film makers were given a free hand to make real any vision based on famous opera arias.

Based loosely on the memoirs of Shostakovich, a classical composer living in Russia during the reign of Stalin, this film traces the relationship between Shostakovich and Stalin and the effect that Stalin had on Shostakovich's life and work.

Thirty-two vignettes, spanning pianist Glenn Gould's life from age four until his death at fifty, give an impressionistic depiction of his life.

In these lectures Leonard Bernstein examines music from every age and place in the search for a worldwide, innate musical grammar. Includes performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic.

The filmmakers demonstrate, through animation and live action, the form of the musical canon

The making of a performance : Tchaikovsky's 4th symphony. features interviews with musicians as it takes the viewer behind the scenes to experience the preparation that goes into a performance of the piece. Also includes a live performance of the complete Tchaikovsky 4th by the San Francisco Symphony, with Thomas conducting.

Michael Tilson Thomas, retraces Beethoven's steps through Vienna's aristocratic ballrooms and Austria's rustic villages, exploring how Beethoven channeled his fears of deafness, his admiration for Napoleon, and his obsession to prove himself the greatest composer of his time and to write the Eroica.

homas then retraces Stravinsky's journey to the cultural crossroads of pre-war Paris, where the composer collaborates with the great impresario Diaghilev and his star dancer Nijinsky to develop the shocking, erotic, and violent evocation of pagan Russia that became The Rite of Spring.

Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony explore the music of Copland and the cityscapes, landscapes, and social and political developments that shaped it"

Herbert von Karajan's recordings of Beethoven's nine symphonies, filmed 1967-1972, show an array of innovative film techniques which set a new standard for music filming and for the interpretations of these symphonies.

Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, Götterdämmerung (The four operas of The Ring Cycle) by Richard Wagner. Metropolitan Opera.

For the third consecutive year, Anna Netrebko starred in the opening production of the season at the Metropolitan Opera, New York; a performance enjoyed by her legion of fans in more than 64 countries, as part of the Met's Live In HD cinema broadcasts. The Met's new staging of Tchaikovsky's passionately lyrical masterpiece is the first video release featuring Anna Netrebko in one of Russian opera's greatest and most demanding roles.

Set in mythical Peking, Princess Turandot declares she will marry any man of royal blood who can solve three riddles she sets him. Failure to solve the riddles will result in execution. ...

Verdi's opera opens in ancient Jerusalem, as King Nabucco of Babylon, whose daughter Fenena is a hostage to the Jews, invades and sacks the Jewish Temple.

Two one act operas: I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo and Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni.

A battle of the sexes, loaded with confusion, mixed identities, a boy dressed up as a girl, and hilarious dialogue with plenty of double entendre. The impending marriage of Figaro to Susanna is threatened by the scheming of Count Almaviva, who desires Susanna for himself, and Marcellina, who wants to marry Figaro herself.

An opera by Mozart, in which a handsome young man is enlisted to rescue the Queen of Night's daughter from an evil sorcerer.