Great Moments in Music | September 11, 2001: Hélène Grimaud in London

Great Moments in Music September 11, 2001: Hélène Grimaud in London

A film by Holger Preusse & Philipp Quiring, ZDF/arte, 43 min., 2022

On September 11, 2001, two planes flew into the World Trade Center in New York and the world seemed to stop for a moment. This film about the concert by Hélène Grimaud and the Orchester de Paris conducted by Christoph Eschenbach at the Royal Albert Hall tells the story of how sadness and dismay became a pinnacle musical moment and underlines the unique ability of music to provide comfort in tragic moments.

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For the young French pianist Hélène Grimaud, September 11, 2001, was going to be a day of joy. She has travelled to London from her adopted home of New York to make her much-anticipated debut at the BBC Proms – the world’s biggest and perhaps best-known classical music festival. She is set to perform Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Orchester de Paris conducted by Christoph Eschenbach.

But after the dress rehearsal in the Royal Albert Hall, everything changes in a single moment. In her hotel room, Hélène Grimaud watches the horrific images coming from New York. A plane has flown into the World Trade Center. “I thought it was the latest Hollywood horror production,” she remembers.

The conductor of the upcoming performance, Christoph Eschenbach, is having lunch with the French ambassador in London when he hears about the terrorist attack. He and the organiser of the Proms, Sir Nicholas Kenyon, have a decision to make: Can you really put on a concert on a day such as this?

Sir Kenyon remarks: “Cancelling a Proms concert is no minor undertaking. Even after the death of Lady Diana, we chose to go ahead with the performance. And the people came.” Christoph Eschenbach and Hélène Grimaud are also prepared to perform.

The hall begins to fill. The mood is sombre. For Hélène Grimaud, the events have laid a leaden cloak of sadness and shock over the evening “They gave a concert of peace,” comments pianist Sophie Pacini. And indeed, after sounding the opening G major chord with trembling fingers, Hélène Grimaud begins to play increasingly freely. “This moment of catastrophe and tension and questioning inspired her to a musical moment that was increasingly captivating.”

In the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s concerto, her playing is even vocal. The Royal Albert Hall is charged with excitement. The Proms audience holds its breath in shared emotion. It is a collective and communal experience that Orchester de Paris violist Estelle Villotte recalls more than two decades later. “I cried on my viola during the concert. But Christoph Eschenbach and Hélène Grimaud carried me through.”

The dance-like and playful third movement is a liberation. For a moment at least, the terrible images from New York appear outshone by Hélène Grimaud’s playing. And the mood changes. At the close of the piece, the audience responds with a standing ovation.

Stella Könemann

Author and Producer

Contact:

+49 30 44 03 169 – 72
stella.koenemann[at]berlin-producers.de

After completing her Bachelor’s in Maastricht, Stella Könemann discovered her passion for filmmaking and documentaries while working for ZDF Zoom. She moved to Berlin in order to acquires a Master’s degree in European Studies. During her studies, Stella realised TV segments for ZDF’s investigative flagship programme. After her graduation, she worked as a freelance journalist for Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle and as a documentary filmmaker for ZDF. Since April 2020, Stella has been part of Berlin Producers where she mostly implements documentaries dedicated to constructive journalism for ZDF Plan b.

Filmography

Arte „Zu Tisch Kreta“ (2024) (Co-Autorin Chrysanthi Goula)

Arte „Psycho: Ich und die Hypochondrie“ (2024) (Co-Autorin Silvia Palmigiano)

ARD Story „Der Mafiaboss, Präsident Erdogan und ich“ (2024) (Co-Autor Can Dündar)

ZDF plan b „Helfen, wenn es ernst wird” (2024)

Arte „Zu Tisch in Røros“ (2024)

Bundesverfassungsgericht „Meine Grundrechte“ – Kurzfilme zu den Themen „Klimabeschluss“, „Meinungs- und Versammlungsfreiheit“, „Inklusives Wahlrecht“ und „Suizidhilfe“ (2023) (Co-Autorin Antje Behr)

ZDF plan b / Arte Re: „Klima ahoi“ (2023), Producerin

ZDF plan b „Moor for Future” / Arte Re: „Es lebe das Moor“ (2023), Producerin

ZDF plan b „Waldschutz in der Klimakrise” / Arte Re: „Feuer, Flammen, Funkenschlag“ (2023), Producerin

ZDF plan b „Fairohrhasen – Tierisch gute Ostern“ (2022) (Co-Autorin Saskia Geisler)

ZDF plan b „Leben mit dem Ende – Vom anderen Umgang mit der Trauer“ (2022)

ZDF plan b / Arte Re: „Essen für alle – Wie wir in Zukunft satt werden“ (2022) (Co-Autorin Christina Gantner)

Arte „Zu Tisch in Zentralportugal“ (2021)

ZDF plan b „Mit der Kraft der Natur – Die Rohstoff Revolution“ | Arte Re: „Die Rohstoff-Revolution – Neu, natürlich, nachwachsend“ (2021) (Co-Autor Felix Franz)

RBB/Zeit Online „Baseballschlägerjahre – Die Häutung“ (2020) (Co-Autor Paul Buske)

ZDF plan b „Heimvorteil – Sicher produzieren auch in Krisen“ (2020)

ZDF plan b / Arte Re: „Frisch auf den Tisch – Gärtnern für die Selbstversorgung“ (2020) (Co-Autorin Saskia Heim)

ZDF plan b „Konstruktiv durch die Krise – Lösungen in Corona-Zeiten“ (2020) (Co-Autorin Stefanie Fleischmann)

ZDF plan b „Es geht um die Wurst – Genuss mit Verantwortung“ (2020) (Co-Autorin Sybille Koller, Hanna Leissner)

ZDF plan b „Wirtschaft, die gut tut – Wie Unternehmen die Zukunft planen“ (2020) (Autorin Sybille Koller)

ZDF plan b “Patientenwohl vor Profitstreben – Medizin im Sinne des Menschen” / Arte Re: „Patient vor Profit“ (2020)

ZDF plan b „Backen, Sägen, Schneidern – Comeback des Handwerks“ (2019)

ZDF plan b „Smart Cities – Nachhaltig leben in der Stadt“ (2018)

Jessica Krauß

Producer and author

Contact:

+49 (30) 44 03 169 – 71 jessica.krauss[at]berlin-producers.de

After she graduated from Law School in Munich, Jessica Krauß devoted herself entirely to her passion for journalism. She completed a traineeship in print and television in Hamburg and Berlin and first began producing magazine features for ARTE and Deutsche Welle. Later she realised several reports and documentaries for public broadcasters as an author and co-author.

For several years now, the Munich native has also dedicated herself to development. She helped launch Südwild, the youth programme of BR (until 2013), as well as Xenius, the knowledge magazine on Arte. Since May 2013, Jessica Krauß has been working at berlin producers as producer.

From October 2018 until the end of 2019, Jessica Krauß also worked at their subsidiary company Yellow Table Media GmbH. In Leipzig, she developed digital products and serialised television formats.

Back in Berlin, Jessica is devoting herself to psychology in two ways: she is participating in a correspondence course in Göttingen and supervising the ARTE format “Psycho”, which deals with psychological phenomena and aims to destigmatise them – true to the motto: We are all psycho!

Filmography

2023

Meine Grundrechte, Bundesverfassungsgericht
(4 x 12 Min)

2022

Kühlung für die Erde: Wie bekommen wir das CO2 aus der Luft?

SWR, arte (52 min, 44 min und 6 x 8 Min)

2021

Projekt BioNTech: Mit Lichtgeschwindigkeit zum Impfstoff
ZDF, arte (52 Min)

2020 – 2022

14 Folgen der Arte-Reihe Psycho
rbb, arte (26 min)

2020

Nikotin – Droge mit Zukunft
ZDF, arte (90 Min)

2018

plan b: Mein Geld tut Gutes
ZDF, arte (30 Min)

Marx und seine Erben (Mitarbeit)
WDR (45 Min)

2017

Macht.Mensch.Steinmeier
ARD (60 Min)

Ackern für den Lebenstraum
ARD (30 Min)

Mein Mistjob. Die neue Lust auf Landwirtschaft
WDR (45 Min)

Die Faktenchecker: Grillen
RTL (45 Min)

Die Faktenchecker: Fisch
RTL (45 Min)

2016

Handgemacht Berlin
arte, rbb (30 Min)

2014

Landträume Amalfi (Co-Autorin)
ZDF (45 Min)

Landträume Niederösterreich (Co-Autorin)
ZDF (45 Min)

Landträume Südtirol (Co-Autorin)
ZDF (45 Min)

Landträume Havelland (Co-Autorin)
ZDF (45 Min)

Landträume Masuren (Co-Autorin)
ZDF (45 Min)

Landträume Schwarzwald (Co-Autorin)
ZDF (45 Min)

2005-2012

Schau in meine Welt: Ein wildes Leben
KIKA, 2012
(Mark Kaczmarczyk, Jessica Krauß)

(K)ein Morgenland – Drei muslimische Frauen in Berlin
3sat 2008
(Jessica Krauß, Marie Stavermann)

Politik.Macht.Sucht.
SWR für ARD 2007
(Jürgen Leinemann, Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

Mount Everest – der Friedhof meiner Freunde
SWR für ARD 2007
(Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

Hoch und heilig – der Aufstieg der Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner
WDR/ARTE Entdecken 2007
(Victor Grandits und Jessica Krauß)

Ma vie mit Paul Auster
ZDF/arte 2006
(Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

Romy – Die Chronologie einer Entführung
WDR, die story 2006
(Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

Waffe Kind – Kindheit zwischen den Fronten
WDR, Tag7 2006
(Victor Grandits Jessica Krauß)

Die Lust am Spiel – Baiba und Lauma Skride
ZDF/arte, Musica 2005
(Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

Kampf ums Kind – wenn Eltern zu Entführern werden
ZDF, 37 Grad 2005
(Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

Lohn der Angst – Deutsche Söldner im Irak
WDR, die story 2005
(Victor Grandits, Jessica Krauß)

7 Lives of Music – The Kanneh-Mason Family

A Film by Catharina Kleber, ZDF/3sat, 60 min, 2022

They are a family with seven children, each of them an exceptionally talented musician. The Kanneh-Mason siblings, their enormous success and their incredible energy team up to prove that classical music is not exclusively for those with light skin and financial means. The documentary film “7 Lives of Music – The Kanneh-Mason Family” by Catharina Kleber will be aired on 3sat on February 5^th 2022 at 8.15 PM. It will provide moving, emotional, and surprising glimpses into the private lives and the careers of this incredible family.

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It all started with Sheku: The winner of “BBC Young Musician 2016” was invited to play the cello during the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. He became world-famous overnight and pulled his siblings into the spotlight along with him. The eldest of the seven is Isata. She plays the Schleswig-Holstein-Musikfestival while her sister Jeneba debuts at the Wigmore Hall in London with her brothers, as each of the siblings makes their way through the beginnings of promising careers that will lead them to the height of their fields. Along the way, they meet some of the current greats: Simon Rattle and Christoph Eschenbach, Daniel Hope and Thomas Hampson. Every step of their path is taken together, lifting each other up and showing the younger siblings and the world: If I can do it, so can you. With this attitude, all seven play the BBC Proms and record at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

Their parents are never far from their sides, but they aren’t the drill sergeants one has come to expect from families such as the Bachs, the Mozarts or the Jacksons. Kadie and Stuart are as surprised as anyone at their children’s talent and determination. They are able to support these qualities, without pushing them.

The film is a portrait of all of the family, with glimpses of their dreams and goals but also the barriers and worries along the way. It spotlights rehearsals in the living room, battles on the soccer pitch and glamorous concerts with equal interest. The Kanneh-Mason Family know first-hand how hard it is for people of color and from outside the inner circle to succeed in the world of classical music, but they prove beyond a doubt, that it may not remain that way.

The Lucky Tenor – José Carreras turns 75

A film by Beatrix Conrad, BR/WDR/SWR and C Major Entertainment, 45 min, 2021

The private life of José Carreras was not always as glamorous and undiluted as his international career: his family was persecuted by the Franco regime, his mother dies of cancer when he was only 18, in the late 1980s he is diagnosed with leukemia. At that time a death sentence. Carreras takes on the fight and survives as one of the first patients to be treated with a bone marrow transplantation.

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Especially the handling of tragic moments in his life reveals a lot about the human behind the opera star. He is a tireless warrior, a great communicator, and a merciless optimist. His energy is demonstrated not least in 1990 with the founding of the Three Tenors alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Shortly before their formation, Carreras was part of the first recording of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story”, where he took on the lead role of Tony as the only Spanish person in the production.

The over 30 yearlong dedication for the José Carreras Leukemia Foundation is another proof of the indomitable nature of the Catalan: year after year he invites stars to his charity gala in Leipzig. Over 220 million euros have been donated to date – another impressive lifetime achievement.

The film shows the ups and downs of a grand career – and lets companions, friends and José Carreras himself speak about it. Birthday wishes from Plácido Domingo, Peter Maffay, Klaus Meine, Barbara Schöneberger, and many other stars demonstrate the admiration and respect with what the lucky tenor is met with.