TONSÜCHTIG

"Like a rush" – that's how a young musician describes the experience of being part of such a renowned orchestra. The documentary film "Tonsüchtig" by Iva Švarcová and Malte Ludin offers the first-ever behind-the-scenes look at the Vienna Philharmonic, the guardians of the world-famous "Viennese sound". What makes this film special: it also reveals the dark side of a musician's life, telling stories of fear of failure and loss, and how thin the line between triumph and disaster can be – art as a high-wire act. "Tonsüchtig" also champions more "female power" in this – still – male-dominated world: a woman, Sophie Heinrich, wins the nerve-wracking audition for the position of concertmaster against all competitors. And how can the legendary "Viennese sound" be defined? Chief conductor Philippe Jordan says it has something "sensual," something "light" about it. As the film makes clear, nurturing this sound is by no means "worshipping the ashes," but rather: "passing on the fire."