Programme

As a prelude to its 80th edition, the Concours de Genève invites you to a weekend of documentary film screenings dedicated to the art of conducting. Through four films, discover the many facets of this fascinating discipline and immerse yourself in the world of the upcoming competition.

PROGRAMME

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBRE

5 PM « Celibidache. You don’t do anyting – you let it evolve » by Jan Schmidt-Garre (1992)
Portrays conductor Sergiu Celibidache, exploring his unique philosophy of music making. The film reveals his rejection of conventional conducting techniques, focusing instead on patience, perception, and the unfolding of musical experience in real time.
1h40, original version in German with French subtitles

7:30 PM « The Conductor »by Bernadette Wegenstein (2021)
This film follows acclaimed conductor Marin Alsop, offering an intimate portrait of her artistic journey and groundbreaking career. It highlights both her musical vision and
the barriers she overcame in the traditionally male-dominated world of conducting.
1h30, original version in English with English subtitles

SUNDAY, 4 OCTOBER

3 PM « Nous l’orchestre » by Philippe Béziat (2026)
How can musicians play together without feeling like they disappear into the crowd? How can they coexist for so long without the group falling apart? What role does the conductor truly play? For the first time, cameras and microphones venture among the 120 musicians of the Orchestre de Paris at the Philharmonie, under the baton of their young prodigy conductor, Klaus Mäkelä.
1h31, original versions in French and English with French subtitles
Meet the Director Philippe Béziat following the screening

5:30 PM « Joana Mallwitz – Momentum » by Günter Atteln (2025)
This documentary follows conductor Joana Mallwitz over two years, from her international breakthrough to her appointment as chief conductor of the Konzerthausorchester
Berlin. An intimate portrait of a rising artist, exploring her musical commitment, career, and personal journey.
1h28, original versions in German and English with French subtitles

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La Cité Bleue Genève, Studio Bleu
Av. de Miremont 46 – 1206 Geneva