The Making of a Maestro is a moving film of the life of conductor Sir Georg Solti, completed by producer/director Peter Maniura shortly before Solti's death in 1997. One of the most dynamic conductors of the 20th century, Solti gained something of a reputation as a tartar on the rostrum--"like playing for Mephisto," as one member of the Chicago Symphony puts it. Yet it's theatre director Sir Peter Hall's phrase, "a deeply lyrical soul", that comes to the fore watching this beautifully photographed film from the BBC's Omnibus series. Solti may have driven his orchestras and singers to a point where some of them felt cajoling became bullying, but it was always at the service of the music. This documentary sensibly does not take a view on Solti's ranking in the hierarchy of great conductors; instead Maniura wisely lets the conductor's words tell the story, making this film a very personal one.

Over half the running time is devoted to Solti's upbringing and post-war years in Munich, where he built up the bombed-out opera house from scratch. Solti's friendship with Richard Strauss makes for a poignant interlude. His initial unpopularity at Covent Garden, where the opera posters were frequently daubed "Solti must go", his achievement at raising their orchestral standards, as well as his later starrier role as conductor of the Chicago Symphony, are also given their full due. Maniura handles the musical soundtrack with sensitivity, pointing up many striking images with music to create indelible impressions. The film concludes with Solti at his grandparents' grave reflecting without bitterness on those relatives--such as his father--who were never buried but disappeared in the Holocaust. The Making of a Maestro is an inspirational film from which the viewer cannot but help take heart.

On the DVD: No special features to speak of, although the DVD trailer promotes other ArtHaus Musik productions, including their award-winning Damnation of Faust, the Penderecki choral work The Seven Gates of Jerusalem, Claudio Abbado conducting a New Year's Gala and Herbert Blomstedt a performance of Beethoven's Fifth.--Adrian Edwards

A box set comprising of 'West Of The Pecos' based on the novel by Zane Grey. This is the story of Colonel Lambeth and his daughter Rill who head west and become lost in the desert. They are saved by Pecos and Chito and soon become involved in Peco's troubles... and 'Nevada' which is the story of Nevada who wins seven thousand dollars, this is then taken by Ben Ide who uses the money to buy mining equipment...