Cast
Herbert von Karajan — Conductor
Ben Maddox — Comments
Ellis Hill — Comments
Jeff Sturgeon — Comments
Program notes
The lasting image of Herbert von Karajan in the public imagination is that of an untouchable genius, a meticulous and commanding figure seeking perfection at the conductor's podium. This documentary by Otto Schwarz reveals another, more personal side of the great artist—who was also a husband and father attempting to lead a simple and peaceful home life.
Archival footage and interviews are collected here to give us a better glimpse of Karajan's offstage personality: a love for the cinema, family vacations in Saint-Tropez, a passion for sporting activities, and the difficulty he found pursuing these activities at the end of his life. Schwarz spoke with people close to Karajan, including two of his wives, to round out and humanize the inaccessible image of this legendary figure.