This extraordinary documentary was a product of NBC in the mid-1950’s. In 1956, the Vienna State Opera, which had been destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, reopened with a gala production of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio. This special, hooked around that event, covers the previous 1000 years of Austrian and Viennese history using Beethoven’s opera as a jumping off point, moving the the Golden Age of Viennese splendor in the late 19th century and then into the Nazi era, when the city and the country were taken over by Hitler’s minions. From there, we see the return of the surviving Austrian soldiers (still in Soviet hands 10 years after the end of the war) and the celebrations surrounding the rebuilding and reopening of the opera house. The history is exciting enough, but it is intercut with priceless footage (about 30 minutes’ worth scattered throughout the program) of the actual opera performance, which includes such legends as Karl Bohm conducting, and Imgaard Seefried and Anton Dermota in its cast.