Private Project

CRAZY FOR OPERA

BEST OPERA HOUSE, BEST ORCHESTRA, BEST CONDUCTOR, BEST OPERA PRODUCTION, BEST YOUNG SINGER… for decades the Bavarian State Opera has been showered in international awards.

CRAZY FOR OPERA is the first film about this unique establishment. We meet prominent figures like Jonas Kaufmann and Anja Harteros, both on stage and behind the scenes, acting General Music Director Kirill Petrenko, his predecessor Zubin Mehta, Conductor Ivor Bolton, and acting Artistic Director Nikolaus Bachler along with his predecessor Sir Peter Jonas. The Bavarian State Opera world consists of roughly 800 permanent employees and 400 freelancers from 47 nations. They all play their part in this extraordinary family – from the orchestra pit, the backstage crew and in various opera workshops.

The audience witnesses how three opera productions come to life: Richard Wagner’s DIE MEISTERSINGER VON NÜRNBERG, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s LES INDES GALANTES and Giuseppe Verdi’s UN BALLO IN MASCHERA and is introduced to the Bavarian State Ballet and its new director, Igor Zelensky.

The Bavarian State Opera: always sold out, one of the oldest opera houses in the world and home to an audience that has been “crazy” about opera since back in the 19th century.

In an entertaining and humorous way, CRAZY FOR OPERA also attempts to reach viewers who are less than familiar with the opera realm - a declaration of love for an art form that is so often unjustly characterized as elitist. and for the people who so passionately practice that art.

  • Toni Schmid
    Director
    Haindling - und überhaupts...
  • Toni Schmid
    Writer
  • Jörg Bundschuh
    Producer
    The Fencer, To Tulsa and back - On Tour with J.J.Cale, All you need is Klaus...
  • Moritz Bundschuh
    Producer
    Only New Orleans, Haindling - und überhaupts..., Good Enemies
  • Jonas Kaufmann
    Key Cast
  • Kirill Petrenko
    Key Cast
  • Zubin Mehta
    Key Cast
  • Sir Peter Jonas
    Key Cast
  • Anja Harteros
    Key Cast
  • Ivor Bolton
    Key Cast
  • Nikolaus Bachler
    Key Cast
  • Igor Zelensky
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    GANZ GROSSE OPER
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Music, Opera
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    March 15, 2017
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    English, French, German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • NFP
    Country: Germany
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Theatrical, Video / Disc, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
    Country: Austria
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Theatrical, Video / Disc, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
    Country: Switzerland
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand, Pay Per View, Hotel, Airline, Ship, Theatrical, Video / Disc, Paid TV, Console / Handheld Device
Director Biography - Toni Schmid

born in Munich as an artistic mix: father Bavarian, mother Austrian – just like Mozart. He started his career as a journalist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and the Bayerische Rundfunk. Since 2002, he has been working as a freelance author and director for more than 14 documentaries, among others portraits of Dieter Dorn, Lothar Günther Buchheim and Haindling - und überhaupts...

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