Studs engages the former Chicago Symphony Orchestra conductor, Sir Georg Solti, in a wide-ranging conversation about his life and career. From his early studies in Budapest with Béla Bartók, his string of good-luck opportunities before, during, and after World War II, meeting Toscanini in Lucerne, and starting on top conducting in Frankfurt, London, and finally Chicago. He discusses his many German and European musical influences and contemporaries, and stresses the importance of education, arts funding, and hard work.
While in Munich, Studs speaks with Berthold Spangenberg about postwar cultural reconstruction of Germany through the lens of Spangenberg's mid-sized publishing house. Spangenberg notes international influences and regional variances among German cities and the significance of a divided Berlin. Terkel ends with musings on his travels in Germany.
English actor, director and writer Victor Spinelli discusses several aspects of Joan Littlewood's production of "Oh, What A Lovely War!", including the origin of the songs, slides and quotations used in the musical. The two also discuss the World War War I, blind patriotism and what an Italian drill sergeant might sound like. Includes as a reading of "Watchers Along the Mall" by Spinetti.