Phil Grabsky’s biographical account of Haydn’s life is a visual and aural extravaganza, including breath-taking performances by some of the world’s most celebrated musicians.

Phil Grabsky’s biographical account of Haydn’s life is a visual and aural extravaganza, including breath-taking performances by some of the world’s most celebrated musicians. By speaking to some of the greatest exponents of Haydn’s music, this film redresses the balance and sheds light on the master and his work.

Haydn’s life spanned from the end of the Baroque period to Napoleon’s invasion of Vienna, outliving his younger friend Mozart. He was one of the most prolific composers,

producing more than 100 symphonies, 64 quartets, 16 extant operas, 51 piano sonatas and the oratorios ‘The Creation’ and ‘The Seasons’.

Through intimate and revealing interviews with experts and detailed extracts from Haydn’s personal recollections, the audience gains tremendous insight not only into Haydn’s music, but an appreciation of the artist himself.

The emphasis of the film is on the performance and interpretation of the works of Haydn – the composer both Mozart and Beethoven looked up to.

Filmed over four years, award-winning director Phil Grabsky follows leading concert pianist Leif Ove Andsnes’s attempt to understand and interpret one of the greatest sets of works for piano ever written: Beethoven’s five piano concertos.

Filmed over the course of four years, award-winning director Phil Grabsky follows leading concert pianist Leif Ove Andsnes’ attempt to understand and interpret one of the greatest sets of works for piano ever written: Beethoven’s five piano concertos.

Considered one of the top pianists of the age, Leif Ove Andsnes offers rare insights into the mind of a world-class pianist and access to his personal and professional life.

Against the wonderful background of Leif Ove playing these five pieces, we also show how these works offer a new and fresh way of examining Beethoven’s life and work.

Leif Ove Andsnes’s own life as a pianist is also revealed, and despite knowing and performing all the great composers, he concludes after this major project with Beethoven’s piano concerti – and a world-wide

sell-out tour – that the greatest composer in history is indeed Ludwig van Beethoven.