The greatest conductor of all time?

David Mellor explores the life and music of Carlos Kleiber. Sunday 31 August, 7pm.

On this week's show, David Mellor is looking at the life and career of the German-born Austrian conductor, Carlos Kleiber. 

Kleiber's rare performances were meticulously rehearsed, but often appeared to be spontaneous and inspired. In the opinion of many of his colleagues and audiences, he was an eccentric genius whom some placed among the greatest conductors of all time despite the fewness of his appearances.

Ten years after the conductor's death, David examines Kleiber’s rise to prominence and asks whether he should still be regarded as ‘the greatest conductor of all time’.