First release in any format! Not just a biographical film, Karajan uncovers the true, personal essence of the unique artist behind the public figure, a portrait of a man who was full of contradictions and remained a mystery until his death. On the occasion of the 100th birthday of Herbert von Karajan, Academy Award® nominee Robert Dornhelm has mined the archives of Unitel, for more than two decades the great conductor s production home, for previously unreleased material including rehearsal footage, and interviews with members of the Karajan family, plus such music world luminaries and colleagues as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Seiji Ozawa, Christian Thielemann, René Kollo, Christa Ludwig, Brigitte Fassbaender, Gundula Janowitz, Sir Simon Rattle, Mariss Jansons, Joachim Kaiser and Helmut Schmidt. The greater understanding of this legendary artist to be experienced by seeing this film will certainly transfer to a greater appreciation of his recordings, and is a must not only for Karajan lovers, but for anyone who loves symphonic music.