Barbara Hannigan conducts the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France performing works by György Ligeti and Igor Stravinski.

From Canada to Europe’s great opera houses, soprano Barbara Hannigan builds a fearless career defined by risk, precision and emotional intensity.

Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan conducts and sings with the French Radio Orchestra in a sensual programme celebrating the city of lights: gay Paris. Mezzo-soprano Julia Dawson, tenor Ziad Nehme and bass-baritone Douglas Williams also perform. Programme: Igor Stravinsky – Pulcinella Kurt Weill – Youkali Jacques Offenbach - La Gaîté parisienne

Barbara Hannigan is a renowned soprano and exceptionally talented artist and musician from Canada, who recently has begun an international career as conductor. Making its North American premiere, Taking Risks shows Hannigan preparing to conduct her first opera, Stravinsky’s masterpiece The Rake’s Progress. From auditions to opening night, we follow the journey of a dedicated, passionate, and perceptive woman, taking a behind-the-scenes look at her creative process, with many moments of excitement and magic.

The film follows Canadian singer, conductor and actress Barbara Hannigan backstage in an attempt to reveal the secret behind this wild, fearless and remarkably versatile woman.

This documentary is an informal portrait of the great modern composer Igor Stravinsky. Proudly American, though still very much an Old World figure with a long and alert memory for people and events in music, literature and art, Stravinsky is depicted here conducting the CBC Symphony Orchestra in a recording of his Symphony of Psalms.

Barbara is a young girl who makes the painful discovery that she is just like everyone else. Her one dominant desire is to “be somebody”, but she really doesn’t know how this can be done. She tries to be “a leader”, but becomes dissatisfied with that and then tries to separate herself from the crowd – but soon "the crowd" attempts to be more like her. Sage advice from her uncle – that she is already “somebody” – satisfies Barbara to be herself.

Actress Sally Field looks at the dramatic life and successful career of the superb actress Barbara Stanwyck (1907-90), a Hollywood legend.

London's Royal Ballet performs two of Igor Stravinsky's classic works in this pair of performances choreographed by dance legend Nijinska. Zenaida Yanowsky and David Pickering star in "Les Noces," the stark, percussion-centric tale of a Russian peasant wedding that incorporates traditional folk music into its score. "The Firebird" stars Leanne Benjamin as the mythical creature who brings both a blessing and a curse upon her captors.