SKY Arts

They are the exception, not the rule, mastering a skill to rival the most talented adult.

This series takes five children who excel in an area of the arts or sciences and asks: what does it take to be a child prodigy? Does exceptional talent at a young age come from nurturing? Or is it in the blood? What drives them, and what family conditions maximise their potential? This series meets two remarkable musicians, a ballerina, an artist and a young rocket scientist intent on changing the world.

Making Child Prodigies charts the emotional journeys of unique children as they strive to fulfil their potential and discover that being exceptional can be both a joy and a curse.

What are the latest ideas from the world’s most prominent intellectuals? In this unique interview series, great minds of our time discuss arts, politics, literature, economics, and more. Featuring radical French philosopher Jacques Ranciere, German sociologist Axel Honneth, Italian philosopher Umberto Galimberti, and American art critic Jonathan Crary.

This stunningly filmed new series explores the work of some of the world’s most famous contemporary architects – from Santiago Calatrava to Sir David Adjaye - and examines how art influences their extraordinary designs. Focusing on one architectural achievement in each episode, this is towering look at some of our greatest modern buildings and restorations and provides privileged access to projects as diverse as the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC, and Battersea Power Station in London. In Dundee we see Kengo Kuma’s vision for its new V&A Museum, inspired by cliffs and created as a regenerating force for the city, while in New York we visit two modern masterpieces: Calatrava’s World Trade Centre Transportation Hub, with its winged-bird quality and The Vessel, a giant staircase by Thomas Heatherwick, that has become an immediate must-see attraction in the city.

A hilarious profile of some of the world’s favourite comedy stars. Each episode celebrates one artist and includes highlights from their comedy careers while host and comedy writer, Barry Cryer recalls some of his funniest moments working with each them.

The series includes contributions from comedians Tony Hawks, Clive Anderson, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Steve Punt and comedy critic from The Times, Stephen Armstrong. A truly unique perspective of some of the greats of comedy from the UK and USA.

Dramatic decisions. Big personalities. Beautiful artwork. In Home Is Where the Art Is, three very different artists take to their tools in the ultimate creative competition. The prize? A commission from a mystery buyer. Each artist will have to pick up on clues about the client’s taste and personality to prepare the perfect pitch. And when their creations are revealed, whose work will the buyer want? There can only be one winner.

The Louvre is a symbol of the City of Light, one of the world’s finest museums housed in the biggest palace in Europe. Today, some 10 million visitors stroll through its 14 kilometres of galleries and corridors, carefully laid out to contemplate more than 40,000 works of art. The museum covers 210,000m2, has 22 escalators, 75 elevators, and more than 10,000 steps. And yet, the Louvre was originally simply a fortress built to protect the capital.

What were the main changes which transformed this chateau into a museum over the past 800 years? And how did the Louvre’s pyramid come about – this soaring structure of 95 tons of steel and 673 glass rhomboids designed by the visionary architect, I. M. Pei?

Thanks to 3D reconstructions, CGI, and interviews with leading architects including I. M. Pei’s son, the film retraces this unprecedented architectural saga and takes us behind the scenes in what was one of the main residences for a series of kings and emperors on the throne of France.

Born in Congo, Alina Amuri arrived in Switzerland at the age of two. She loved dancing even as a child, learnt to play the flute and joined the children’s choir of the Zurich Opera House. She became a sought-after backing vocalist, singing with outfits as diverse as Namusoke, afro-funkster Professor Wouassa, reggae group Kid Jango and the Scrucialists, and rapper Stereo Luchs. She also contributed some of her own tracks to a number of compilation albums before she recorded her full-length debut “Be One With Me” in 2015.

Born in Congo, Alina Amuri arrived in Switzerland at the age of two. She loved dancing even as a child, learnt to play the flute and joined the children’s choir of the Zurich Opera House. She became a sought-after backing vocalist, singing with outfits as diverse as Namusoke, afro-funkster Professor Wouassa, reggae group Kid Jango and the Scrucialists, and rapper Stereo Luchs. She also contributed some of her own tracks to a number of compilation albums before she recorded her full-length debut “Be One With Me” in 2015.

The 2018/2019 concert season is Michael Sanderling’s eighth as Principal Conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic. His name is associated with a great musical and technical ambition, concentrated rehearsal work, and concert events of unforgettable intensity. The focus on Dmitri Shostakovich continues, and this concert recording captures a flawless performance of his Symphony No. 15.

Renowned for his advocacy of modern composers, Seiji Ozawa founded the Saito Kinen Festival Matsumoto in 1992. As of 2015 it is better known as the Seiji Ozawa Festival. Seiji Ozawa appeared on stage himself with 63 Saito Kinen Orchestra members, passionately conducting Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 and No. 7.

1929: The biggest economic crisis of the 20th century brought an abrupt end to the euphoria of the Roaring Twenties. Driven from their land, the farmers of the Great Plains were forced to abandon everything they had. They became migrants in their own country and were treated as such by the vast Californian estates. They became the symbol of an America confronted by its own reality.

Built on the work of the iconic photographers of the Great Depression - Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Arthur Rothstein – this archive documentary analyses the consequences of the economic collapse in the United States and provides a unique take on the failure of the American model.

Nicole Bernegger has got soul in her blood, an electrifying voice and she's well on her way to becoming one of the big names in soul music. Already in her early teens, Nicole knew that music was going to be her life. On tours through countless small clubs, she made her first stage appearances in front of tightly packed soul audiences before winning The Voice Of Switzerland and gaining nationwide popularity.

Her debut achieved gold status and her solo albums sold more than 20,000 times and were streamed about 710,000 times. With her impressive voice and a charisma that's reminiscent of soul-icons like Sharon Jones or Amy Winehouse, Nicole has since been captivating audiences all over.