The BEST episodes directed by Phil Grabsky
#1 - Concerto - A Beethoven Journey with Leif Ove Andsnes
BBC Documentaries - Season 2015 - Episode 243
Filmed over the course of four years, award-winning director Phil Grabsky follows one of the world's greatest pianists, Leif Ove Andsnes, as he attempts, in a series of sold-out worldwide performances, to interpret one of the greatest sets of works for piano ever written - Beethoven's five piano concertos. However, Concerto is more than a portrait of a famous musician on tour - it is an exploration into Ludwig van Beethoven's life as revealed by these five masterworks. The relationship between the composer and his world is mirrored by the relationship between the pianist and orchestra in these concertos. The film seeks to reveal Beethoven in a way rarely seen before and bears witness to what is increasingly being regarded as one of the greatest interpretations ever of these five great pieces of music. 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. Andsnes gives an insight into the world of a contemporary classical musician. Against the wonderful background of Leif Ove playing these five pieces, we also peel back the many myths of Beethoven's life - from prodigious talent in Vienna to greatest composer alive by the time he wrote the fifth concerto. Perhaps above all, it is the fresh new biography of Beethoven that is most revealing.
#2 - Julius Caesar: Master of the Roman World
Biography - Season 1993 - Episode 1
BIOGRAPHY examines the life story of Rome's greatest ruler, Julius Caesar. From his several wives to his storied death at the hands of Brutus, this definitive portrait uses countless artifacts, texts, as well as commentary from leading experts and dramatic re-enactments to explore the life and legacy of this singular figure.