In this documentary portrait prepared for the anniversary of Ludwig Van Beethoven's 200th birthday, Leonard Bernstein illustrates his analysis with excerpts from his performances of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major and the Ode to Joy from the Ninth Symphony.
Cast
Leonard Bernstein
Self / Narrator
Theo Adam
Self / Pizarro in 'Fidelio'
Franz Crass
Self / Rocco in 'Fidelio'
Adolf Dallapozza
Self / Joaquin in 'Fidelio'
Plácido Domingo
Self
Gwyneth Jones
Self / Leonora in 'Fidelio'
James King
Self / Florestan in 'Fidelio'
Lucia Popp
Self / Marzellina in 'Fidelio'
Karl Ridderbusch
Self / Don Fernando in 'Fidelio'
Otto Schenk
Self
Martti Talvela
Self
Shirley Verrett
Self
Crew
Humphrey Burton
Director, Writer, Producer
Leonard Bernstein
Writer, Musician, Conductor
Michael Bradsell
Editor
Brian Wiseman
Editor
John V. Ray
Cinematography
James Krayer
Executive Producer
Schuyler G. Chapin
Production Supervisor
Leo Bei
Costume Design
Peter Rann
Sound Recordist
John Jordan
Sound Recordist
Günther Schneider-Siemssen
Set Designer
Otto Schenk
Stage Director