TV Documentaries

Living the Dream (aka Stepping out) - 2005

Produced, directed and filmed by Ken Howard

Released on 13th August 2007 by EMI on DVD

A documentary following Maxim through the period of his sabbatical in 2005. It takes us from his last concert at the end of 2004 in Istanbul, through his return to his childhood home in Novosibirsk in the depths of a Russian winter, to his premiere performance of a brand new commissioned concerto in Hannover.

During this time he is working and preparing for the new concerto, composed by Benjamin Yusupov, which involves him playing viola, improvising rock on an electric violin, and dancing the Tango to the last movement. We see him having improvisation lessons from the jazz violinist Didier Lockwood, taking Tango lessons with Sebastian Misse and Andrea Reyero in Paris, devising the Tango choreography with his partner Christiane Palha in Amsterdam, and finally the performance to wild acclaim of the "Viola Tango Rock Concerto" with Eije Oue in Hannover.

Maxim also reflects on how the experience of his sabbatical has impacted on his recording and interpretation of the Beethoven concerto with the LSO and Maestro Rostropovich.

This film has won the US International Film and Video Silver Screen Award and been nominated as Best Arts Documentary at Banff, and Classique en Images at the Louvre and shortlisted for the Grierson Award in London.

HOLOCAUST - A Music Memorial Film from Auschwitz - 2005

A BBC film to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in memory of those murdered in the Nazi genocide. Maxim is seen playing the Bach Chaconne as he walks out from the remains of the concentration camp, down the snow covered railway tracks, and out through the gates.

Playing by Heart - 1998

A documentary made when Maxim was 24. Now regularly shown on Artsworld and Ovation channels.

Director - Simon Broughton

Contributors -Daniel Barenboim, lgor Uryash

With music from

Brahms : Violin Sonata No 3

Bazzini : La Ronde des Lutins

Tchaikovsky : Violin Concerto

Saint-Saëns: Introduction et rondo capriccioso

Kreisler : Tambourin chinois

Masterclasses:

Maxim Vengerov - Masterclass - 1998

Interestingly the participants in this programme are now all well known as violinists.

Philippe Mesin, who later became one of Maxim's students at Saarbrucken, and now has his own successful performing career

Alexander Sitkovetsky, who now has a solo career

Corina Belcea, who is the leader of a well respected and excellent string quartet (the Belcea Quartet)

Chloe Hanslip, who is now very well-known as an outstanding soloist

In Amsterdam for the Sonja Barend programme - 2004

Three young talented violinists attend a Masterclass with Maxim in 2003: Mathieu van Bellen (15), Lisa Jacobs (18) and Sanne Hunfeld (20).

You can watch this programme on line here. Select the "Maxim Vengerov" programme. BB is better quality.