Electric Sky (Firm)

In Search of Haydn: Part Two opens with Haydn well-established and middle aged, but confined by his Esterhazy employers and with many of his greatest works still to come. It follows him as he breaks free from his confines with the Paris Symphonies and London Symphonies and travels extensively for the first time, becoming a star in London. It emphasizes his continued innovation into old age, and covers important works including "Missa in tempora belli"...

In Search of Haydn: Part One takes viewers from Haydn's days as a choirboy at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna through his gradual emergence as a composer and growing recognition, and his prestigious employment by Esterhazy at Eisenstadt. We learn how a well-established Haydn began to realize his true genius in middle age, feeling freer to experiment and play with conventions. We learn about his overall goals and approach to writing music. The film...

In Search of Beethoven: Part One traces the life and works of Ludwig Van Beehoven from his birth in Bonn, Germany in the winter of 1770 to the production of Beethoven's only opera: Fidelio Opus 72, completed in 1805. Learn how the musical culture of Bonn and Vienna influenced him, and about the influence of Mozart and Hayden. Hear performances of Beethoven's works of this period and discussion by historians and musicians.

The Courtauld's collection of Renaissance art is one of the most important in Britain and includes works by the likes of Bernado Daddi as well as an enigmatic depiction of the Crucifixion by Sandro Botticelli. The collection is also strong in northern European art of this period, and the jewel of the early Renaissance displays is the Lamentation Triptych by the Master of Flemalle. The triptych is now considered to be one of the greatest masterpieces...

The Courtauld Gallery houses one of the finest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in the world, with an array of outstanding works charting the development of modern French painting from Monet and Renoir to Seurat and Gauguin. World-famous masterpieces are here, such as van Gogh's Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, Manet's great last painting A Bar at the Folies-Bergère as well as an extensive group of outstanding canvases...

The Courtauld houses an important collection of 17th century paintings and drawings and at its heart is a world-class collection of paintings by Peter Paul Rubens assembled by Count Antoine Seilern. The collection features examples of Rubens' sketches and preparatory works, such as The Descent from the Cross, which offers a unique insight into the mind of this great Baroque master. The 18th century collection features fine examples of British portraiture,...

George Stubbs is the greatest painter of horses who ever lived, and so much more - a man who literally dissected his subject before he felt able to paint it. But Stubbs was no dispassionate observer, instead he brought a weight of feeling to his work that sometimes makes the spine tingle. Stubbs' great triumph is "Whistlejacket," a portrait of a horse without a background that concentrates the eye on the beautifully observed body of the greatest racehorse...

In 1991, One Canada Square, the UK's tallest skyscraper, changed the London skyline. But the Cesar Pelli-designed icon did not rise up in the heart of the British capital. As this program describes, the developers undertook a billion-dollar gamble by creating an international financial center, symbolized by this obelisk-shaped tower, in the city's East End docklands. Viewers will learn about the complicated political and economic cooperation that...

Tiziano Vecellio, known to English speakers as Titian, did more to establish the principles of modern painting than any of his Florentine contemporaries. Unlike the Italian masters that had preceded him, Titian painted mostly in oil. His radical approach to light, color and composition, and free brush strokes set him apart. Titian's fame spread far and wide, making him perhaps the first truly international artist. Works featured in this program include...

El Greco's paintings marked a radical departure from the naturalism and careful modeling of the Renaissance, and as result were ignored for close to 300 years. Domenicos Theotocopolous, dubbed by the Spaniards 'El Greco', was born in the Greek Island of Crete and was trained to paint in the Byzantine style. Throughout the course of his artistic career El Greco's style varied enormously. The result was a highly individualistic style of painting. Though...