10 Documentaries about Classical Musicians
Get to know a whole range of composers, conductors and performers in these 10 documentaries about musicians. All of them are on Netflix, YouTube or free on Amazon Prime (at the time of writing). We’re still making our way through them so let us know which you recommend by tweeting us @alterclassical. And if you want more TV recommendations, check out our other article on this subject: Classical Music Films/TV Series on Netflix & Prime. If you enjoy our content, please consider supporting us on Ko-fi, where anyone who feels like it can buy us a ‘coffee’ with no strings attached. Thank you.
Amazon Prime, 1h
Johann Sebastian Bach's majestic Cello Suites are among the world's best-loved pieces of music – but did another Bach write them? Australian musical sleuth Martin Jarvis explosively claims the suites were composed not by Bach, but by his second wife, Anna Magdalena. Jarvis's quest takes him from London to Paris to Berlin and beyond. Using advanced techniques of forensic document examination and drawing on his vast experience as a musician, he sets out to uncover the truth of the Cello Suites. Narrated by composer Sally Beamish.
YouTube, 1h 26 mins
"What would the world be like without Beethoven?" To answer this, the documentary explores how Ludwig van Beethoven's innovations continue to have an impact far beyond the boundaries of classical music, 250 years after his birth. Sarah Willis, horn player with the Berlin Philharmonic, sets out on an entertaining and informative journey in search of answers. She meets people from around the world – musicians, managers and even politicians – to follow the traces of Beethoven’s influence.
Netflix, 1h 40 mins
Based on the remarkable story of deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie, this documentary explores the connections between perception, time, sound and rhythm. While still a student, Evelyn Glennie learned that she was going deaf. Rather than abandon her study of music, in which she had shown such talent, she instead turned her focus toward percussion instruments and developed her ability to feel the sound through her body. This documentary follows her as she performs in New York, Germany and Tokyo, sharing her insights into the nature of music and the ways in which we experience it.
Amazon Prime, 1h 22 mins
Maestro follows Grammy award-winning conductor Paavo Järvi and an array of brilliant musicians (including Joshua Bell, Láng Lang and Hilary Hahn) as they perform to sold-out music halls across the world. This is an exploration of the artistic process through the conductor’s eyes. “A passionate film that reminds us what we call classical music was once the original revolution in music history.” (Ford D'Aprix)
YouTube, 2h
A documentary on the life of American composer Philip Glass (b. 1937), directed by Scott Hicks. It was nominated for an Emmy Award and AFI Award for outstanding sound. Allowed unprecedented access to Glass’ working process, family life, spiritual teachers and long-time collaborators, Hicks gives us a unique glimpse behind the curtain into the life of a surprising and complex man.
YouTube, 1h 35 mins
Martha Argerich (b. 1941) is an Argentine-Swiss classical concert pianist. Her daughter Stéphanie made a documentary about her mother, that is now freely available on YouTube. This moving portrait shows two legends of piano, Martha Argerich and Stephen Kovacevich, through the eyes of their daughter. Bloody Daughter (a nickname given to Stéphanie by her father) is a deeply intimate exploration of the family and their entourage, touching on broader questions about the relationship between musicians' lives and careers.
Amazon Prime, 1h 20 mins
Itzhak Perlman (b. 1945) is an Israeli-American violinist, conductor, and music teacher. Perlman has been awarded 16 Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and four Emmy Awards. Even if you don’t know recognise his name, you will almost certainly have heard him perform, as he is the violinist from one of the most famous film scores of all time: Schindler’s List. The film takes a look at his life, work and religious heritage of violinist Itzhak Perlman. It gets a 7.4/10 rating on IMDb and 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.
YouTube, 1h 54 mins
A documentary on the mysterious and influential Canadian pianist Glenn Gould (1932-1982). “Gould is often caricatured as a crazy hermit somewhere between Syd Barrett and Howard Hughes; he wore overcoats and gloves in hot summer and abandoned the concert stage at the height of his career. This thoughtful bio-documentary rescues Gould from the clichés and re-establishes him as a musician.” (The Guardian)
YouTube, 1h 30 mins
No-one has done more for the cello than Mstislav Rostropovich. As well as being arguably the greatest cellist of the 20th century, he expanded and enriched the cello repertoire by the sheer force of his artistry and his personality and composers lined up to write works for him. In this film by John Bridcut, friends, family and former pupils explore the talents of this great Russian artist, and listen to and watch him making music. The film traces the development of Rostropovich's international career amid the political tensions of the final years of the Soviet Union.
YouTube, 1h 25 mins
A collection of films giving insights into composer John Cage's work and creative process. Included is an interview with Cage entitled '19 Questions', the Ives Ensemble performing compositions by the composer and audio of Cage's spoken performance of his text 'Overpopulation and Art', played alongside recordings of his orchestral composition 'Ryoanji'.
Hannah Fiddy is a creative entrepreneur, developing new audiences for classical music. She has created and promoted numerous concerts outside of traditional spaces, including warehouses, pubs, clubs, museums, hospitals, prisons and even in Primark. Hannah is also an interviewer, writer and guest lecturer, and runs the Avon Chamber Choir in Bristol. In a past life she founded London Flashmob, producing quirky events from wedding proposals to cultural pranks for up to 1,000 people.
Follow Hannah on Twitter @Hannah_Fiddy.