The life and virtuosic work of Russian violinist David Oistrakh, once known as King David in the Soviet Union, is chronicled with depth and detail by filmmaker Bruno Monsaingeon in this intriguing portrait of an artist. Highlights include a range of performance footage throughout Oistrakh's legendary career, as well as interviews with his son, Igor, conductor Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and violinist Yehudi Menuhin.

David Oistrakh, People's Artist?

A series of three concerts performed by violinist Gidon Kremer and the Kremerata Baltica ensemble in Salzburg during "Mozart Week" at the Mozarteum on 31 January and 2 February 2002. On the program: Mozart's "Sinfonia concertante" and "Serenata notturna"; Arvo Pärt's "Mozart-adagio"; Alfred Schnittke's "Moz-Art à la Haydn"; and Teddy Bor's "McMozart's Eine kleine bricht Moonlicht Nicht Musik".

Gidon Kremer & Kremerata Baltica: Mozart, Pärt, Schnittke

Russian-born composer Sofia Gubaidulina entered the international spotlight at a relatively late age, when the 49-year-old came forward with her premier violin concerto, "Offertorium," in 1980. Gubaidulina authored that piece for Gideon Kremer. Curiously, it would be another 12 years before Gubaidulina received a commission (from Paul Sacher) to author her second violin concerto, and another 15 years after that until the notes fell on ears ripe with anticipation. For the debut of the "Second Violin Concerto," Gubaidulina insisted that no one other than German violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter perform it. That Mutter performance from August 2007 appears, in its entirety, in this classical concert film. Jan Schmidt-Garre directs.

Sophia: Biography of a Violin Concerto

In April 1981 violinist Gidon Kremer performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons leading the English Chamber Orchestra recorded in the baroque library of the monastery in Polling, near Munich. It is, as one would expect from a master violinist, a superbly insightful performance. The sound is resonant and satisfying although surely not true 5.1, and those who wish to have this music on video might well investigate it.