Product Details

• Directors: Tony Palmer
• Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: June 27, 2006
• Run Time: 195 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000FII2FM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,557 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

The Salzburg Festival has hosted every great star of the opera and concert hall, from Toscanini to Anne-Sophie Mutter, from Fischer-Dieskau to Barenboim, from Pollini to Mitsuko Uchida. In this film, the first to tell the story of this remarkable Festival, set in the birthplace of Mozart, director Tony Palmer has been granted unprecedented access to Austria’s film archives. Highlights include performances of Jedermann from 1920 to the present day, featuring actors such as Maximilian Schell and Klaus Maria Brandauer; Don Giovanni (with Furtwängler in ’54 and a controversial performance directed by Peter Sellars in the 1990s); a wealth of footage of Herbert von Karajan, including performances and never-before-seen home movies; and footage of the Nazi hierarchy at the Festival during the Second World War.

Alongside this historical footage the film interviews current stars including Plácido Domingo, Valery Gergiev, Lang Lang, Anna Netrebko, Riccardo Muti and Simon Rattle, who tell their stories and open their hearts about this unique Festival.

"For me, Salzburg was where I felt I belonged, where every musician wants to perform, where every musician should aspire to. I was lucky to have that chance." Plácido Domingo

"It was, quite simply, the most important place in my life. It gave me such happiness, and I hope I managed to give something back in return." Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Extensive History Of The Salzburg Festival., July 3, 2006

By 

J. M WILINSKY (teaneck, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tony Palmer's Film About The Salzburg Festival (DVD)

This very long(193 minutes) movie covers the entire history and politics of the Salzburg Festival(and to a lessor extent, the history of Austria, itself). It covers in great detail the war years involving the Nazi occupation and the influence of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust on the conduct of the festival then and since, and the efforts to reverse the mistakes that had been made as a result. There are many interviews and clips of the performances that have taken place throughout its history. A great deal of time is spent showing and discussing the enormous influence and investment made by Herbert von Karajan, both architectually and artistically, to the festival. Many other contributors are also covered, some quite controversial. Toward the end of the movie, the future plans and aesthetic direction of the festival is dealt with in interviews with those currently at the helm. Those interviewed include politicians, administrators, and performers, both retired and active, so if you are expecting a movie that deals mostly with performance, you will be disappointed. I was somewhat suprised by the emphasis on politics chosen by Mr. Palmer, but was pleased with the overall product.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tony Palmer's gold, February 1, 2007

By 

J. Anderson (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tony Palmer's Film About The Salzburg Festival (DVD)

Another superb film by this master, and first rate in every way. Palmer spends ample time on the war years, with valuable contributions from artists, patrons, and bundles of magnificent footage, among which is auspicious footage of the building of the Grosse Festspielhaus, after Karajan forced the Salzburg government to cut loose with the funds to achieve a hall large enough for the big works. The film naturally converges on Karajan's incontestable influence on the Festival, and presents a wonderful, multi-faceted look at the courageous and controversial conductor. Some of the comments from various historians I found to be off the mark, especially one who snidely insists that Karajan was simply a Nazi. Well... that is hardly a viewpoint able to stand on its own, as a reality unto itself and separate from many contributing factors. Bohm and Furtwangler are not treated in the same way by historians, though the three conductors are generally understood to have suffered in the same way throughout the Nazi period. But Palmer should be lauded for his completeness in surveying Karajan. Christa Ludwig's remarks are funny and pungent throughout, as might be expected from this great singer. I'm always struck by the remarks of viewers who criticize films like this because they are not simply films of performances. Ignore that kind of criticism. Tony Palmer goes deep with every effort he makes, and I think this examination of one of the great music festivals in the world is one of his finest films. The length of the film is but one indicator of the depth of his presentation. It's refreshing to watch something not expected to be fathomed and disposed of in 60 minutes. If you want to really understand the Salzburg Festival, this film is the perfect place to start. Unqualified recommendation.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Palmer's movie stirs controversy in Salzburg......, August 23, 2006

By 

Michael - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tony Palmer's Film About The Salzburg Festival (DVD)

Having visited the Salzburg Festival for the past 20 years, I'm pleased to recommend this DVD.
Although, the festival management have openly denounced the movie as inaccurate and misguided, etc., it is an excellent account of the political and artistic history of the most famous music festival in the world.