Classical Music and Cold War: Musicians in the Gdr

Synopsis: Through case studies of individuals who lived under the system, the documentary explores the fates of both the privileged and the non-privileged, and delivers insight into the influence of the political system on artistic life.
Documentary about classical music in East Germany following the end of the Second World War. Following the division of Germany, the communist government in the GDR saw the opportunity to create an ideal society of working people who loved culture, to contrast with their Americanized neighbours, and to that end invested heavily in classical music, building opera houses and concert halls as well as creating an environment where composers and musicians, provided they toed the party line, were given extraordinary privileges and their talents were enabled to flourish. This film looks at the cases of individuals who lived under the system, explores the fates of the privileged and those who were not so lucky, showing how music-making worked under a dictatorship. The film includes interviews with contemporary witnesses both from GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). English subtitles.
Language: German (Standard)
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2012
Subjects: History; Music; Politics & government
Keywords: Cold War; composers (music); East Germany; Germany; music - classical; music - German; musicians; political systems

Director: Thomas Zintl
Contributor: Christine Mielitz; Helmut Schmidt; Jochen Kowalski; Kurt Masur; Otmar Suitner; Peter Schreier; Siegfried Matthus; Theo Adam; Walter Felsenstein

Name: Arthaus Musik
Web: http://www.arthaus-musik.com External site opens in new window
Phone: 017 37 64 56 00
Fax: 017 37 64 40 65
Address: c/o Select Music and Video Dist Ltd
3 Wells Place
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 3SL

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