This magnificent film includes some of the most fascinating historical and musical footage which has been selected from film and television archives around the world. From Ignace Jan Paderewski in 1936 to Claudio Arrau in 1970, the programme illustrates a broad mixture of interpretative styles, as also displayed by Horowitz, Rubinstein, Cortot, Gilels, Richter, Michelangeli and others. Fascinating and revealing commentaries on all eighteen artists are given by present-day figures such as Tamás Vásáry, György Sandor and Colin Davis.

Narrated by John Tusa.