MMM I Celibidache and the Berliner Philharmoniker

0000: After 38 years of seperation, the 1992 concert marks the reconciliation of legendary conductor Sergiu Celibidache and the Berliner Philharmoniker.

The renowned concert in 1992 came about thanks to a request from then Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker. Legendary Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache and the Berliner Philharmoniker, reconciled for a singular performance. After the war, from 1945 to 1954, Celibidache put together and oversaw the orchestra for over 400 performances. Following the death of long-standing principal conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Wilhelm Furtwängler, the orchestra then chose Herbert von Karajan as his successor, leading to a dispute and a parting of ways with Celibidache. Deeply hurt, Celibidache withdrew and declined all offers of further cooperation.

It would be 38 years until Sergiu Celibidache would stand before the Berliner Philharmoniker again. The performance has gone down in music history as a true “concert of reconciliation”. Celibidache insisted on twice as many rehearsals as his peers – a habit for which he was famous. The programme included Anton Bruckner's 7th Symphony.

Alongside excerpts from rehearsals and concerts, the film also features Celibidache's son Serge Ioan Celebidachi, contemporary witnesses from the Berliner Philharmoniker, horn player for the orchestra Sarah Willis, the young French conductor Marie Jacquot, his most recent student of conducting Rémy Ballo and Romanian conductor Cristian Măcelaru.

The full Symphony No. 7 by Anton Bruckner with the Berliner Philharmoniker under Sergiu Celibidache is available at concert.arte.tv.

Production year 2023
Producer Claus Wischmann
Producer Max Geschke
Executive Producer Christopher Janssen
Director Holger Preusse
Director Philipp Quiring
English title of music work Symphony No. 7 in E major
Composer Anton Bruckner
Duration 43 / 52
Production Company sounding images GmbH
Production Company ZDF/ARTE
Conductor Sergiu Celibidache
Orchestra / Band Berliner Philharmoniker