Mein Bruder, der Dirigent

Mario Venzago literally puts his livelihood on the line when he decides to conduct Othmar Schoeck’s monumental opera “Penthesilea” for a one-off concert at the 1999 Lucerne Festival. During the highly demanding two-week rehearsals Mario is accompanied by his brother Alberto. In intimate black and white pictures Alberto Venzago records his brother’s work with the orchestra and the singers. The rehearsals become increasingly strenuous and take their toll on everybody involved. The whole enterprise oscillates between creative urge and total exhaustion.