The second of three films featuring great voices of today.
Hildegard Behrens - A Working Portrait
Fifteen years ago the name of an unknown singer burst upon the international opera stage when Herbert von Karajan engaged
Hildegard Behrens to sing Salome at the Salzburg
Festival. Since then, her rise to stardom has been spectacular. She has been hailed as one of the great dramatic sopranos of our time and her passionate involvement with her roles has made her a favourite of conductors and directors alike.
A very private person, she has allowed viewers to follow the preparation and performances of some of the most exciting opera productions of the past year: strauss's Elektra at the Paris Opera under Seiji Ozawa ; Marie in BERG'S
Wozzeck at the Vienna Opera under Claudio Abbado and Brunnhilde in WAGNER'S Ring cycle at the Munich Opera under Wolfgang Sawallisch. Interviewed by Peter Adam ,
Hildegard Behrens talks about her extraordinary career and her fascination with these demanding roles: 'I always want to expand to reach the limits of my capacity. I sing Salome and Wozzeck as bel canto as possible and Mozart and Beethoven with as much true expression and guts.' Film editor FRANK BURGESS Producer PETER ADAM