Blind or visually impaired musicians (any music genre), women and men from all over the world, share with us the challenges they had to overcome to become professionals as well as accomplished human beings, and their unique practice of music. In Canada, Mexico, Barcelona, Basque country & Madrid (Spain), New York (USA), Belgium and France, (two countries by episode), these outstanding artists who gave everything to achieve their dream, prove that music is the universal and inclusive language by excellence. 

From Italy, France, Canada to Brazil, the history of accordion on the international music scene over the past 50 years is told through the portraits of the most famous accordionists, Paolo Gandolfi and Richard Galliano. Influenced by the best accordionists of that time, they now transmit their art to the younger generations.

Musicians in the documentary:

Richard Galliano, from France

Paolo Gandolfi, from Italy

The Spiritango Quartet, from France

Przemysław Wojciechowski, from Poland

Basha Slavinska, from Poland (living at that time in Paris)
Anne Niepold, from Belgium

In the long version, we also see:

Alekseys Maslakovs, from Latvia (living at that time in Germany)

Hang Liu, from China (passing by)

The extraordinary international violin soloist Gilles Apap distorts the codes of classical music performances to better enhance them. He confronts the value of musicality and emotions to the perfectionism and rigidity of concert representations with energy and humor. He conducts with intelligence and humanity the Nordic Chamber Orchestra musicians (playing the Beethoven Concerto For Violin, Opus 61) and teaches the bright Lausanne Conservatory children by making them find the perfect balance between feelings and technique.

66 women, of different ages and backgrounds, make up the
largest female orchestra in the world: das Frauenblasorchester Berlin. They share with us their passion for music with a contagious cheerful mood, and perform on the stage of the Berlin Philharmonic in front of an enthusiastic audience.

The documentary depicts Jean-Claude Casadesus in his
intimacy: his political commitments, his unusual career, his rare human approach of conducting. To democratize classical music, the maestro regularly plays in prisons, high schools & hospitals.

Thierry Petit, double bassist in the National Orchestra of Montpellier, decides to set sails around the Mediterranean sea to create a multicultural musical work with the help of one main French composer, local orchestras and children's choirs from six different countries: France, Spain, Tunisia, Greece, Lebanon, and Egypt. At each stop, they share their stories and culture further composing & writing lyrics for a part of the final music score.

Two backstage documentaries on the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse (conducted by Tugan Sokhiev) with Bertrand Chamayou, Toulousian piano young prodigy, awarded four times at the Victoires de la Musique, during their tour in South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.) and Japan (in five cities). 1. "South America with the Capitol"

By Franck Chaudemanche 52’: Berlioz's Fantastic Symphony, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Debussy and Mussorgsky Khovanshchina 2. "Movements of Orchestra: the Toulousian Capitole in Japan"

By Valérie Urréa 28’ with Miss Akiko Suwanai, exceptional Japanese violinist: the Firebird by Igor Stravinsky, Fantasticsymphony by Hector Berlioz.

Renaud Garcia Fons is one of the greatest double bass virtuosos, mixing influences from classical music to flamenco, jazz & Middle Eastern flavors. Combining the highest level of dexterity with freedom & creativity, he is a genius revolutionizing how double bass is conceived, played and perceived.

A 60' concert is also available.

This series portrays 3 young emerging talents, who are at the turning point of becoming stars. We follow them for a day through rehearsals and concerts in Barcelona, Zurich, New York and Berlin.

PATRICIA KOPATCHINSKAJA VIOLIN
Native of Moldavia, she is one of the most famous violinists in the world,
appearing in many prestigious orchestras.
JOHANNES MOSER CELLIST
Building his reputation on a variety of repertoire, he performed with many
of the world's leading orchestras.
FRANCESCO TRISTANO PIANO & ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Graduated of Juilliard school, he is a specialist in Baroque and
contemporary music and member of the Aufgang electronic music group.

Hervé Niquet conducts the never-performed since baroque

times 40-voices Mass by Alessandro Striggio. This monumental Mass, up to 60-voices for the finale, was lost and forgotten. Its harmonic sophistication remains unsurpassed. How could Alessandro Striggio achieve such a prowess? The rehearsals, interviews with the jubilant Hervé Niquet and musicologists, the recalls of musical composition techniques of the Renaissance are as exceptional as the piece itself. A 75’ version of the concert by Olivier Simonnet is also available.

Conductor : Hervé Niquet

Orchestra: Le Concert Spirituel

Location: Cité de l’architecture, Palais de Chaillot

Scientists, luthiers and musicians lead an international experimentation to recreate the sound of the famous Stradivari violin. Its perfection is believed to be linked to the density of the wood. They try to find it back using a special fongi. Will they succeed? Will they get to the bottom of it?