In this documentary portrait prepared for the anniversary of Ludwig Van Beethoven's 200th birthday, Leonard Bernstein illustrates his analysis with excerpts from his performances of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major and the Ode to Joy from the Ninth Symphony.
Leonard Bernstein
as Self / Narrator
Theo Adam
as Self / Pizarro in 'Fidelio'
Franz Crass
as Self / Rocco in 'Fidelio'
Adolf Dallapozza
as Self / Joaquin in 'Fidelio'
Plácido Domingo
as Self
Gwyneth Jones
as Self / Leonora in 'Fidelio'
James King
as Self / Florestan in 'Fidelio'
Lucia Popp
as Self / Marzellina in 'Fidelio'
Karl Ridderbusch
as Self / Don Fernando in 'Fidelio'
Otto Schenk
as Self
Martti Talvela
as Self
Shirley Verrett
as Self
