This absorbing documentary follows the brilliant Dutch violinist as she attempts to record an album with 12 of the most exquisite Stradivarius violins in existence
There’s such intelligence and connoisseurship in this documentary about the Dutch violin virtuoso Janine Jansen and her recent mission to record an album with 12 of the most exquisite Stradivarius violins in existence – that is, violins made by the great Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), of which perhaps around 500 are now extant. The 12 that Jansen records with are a veritable European Super League of Strads, and the film absorbingly tells us about the great musicians who used to own them.
It’s impossible not to be overwhelmed by Jansen’s mastery of her instrument, and the fineness and the delicacy of her response to each Stradivarius; from each she conjures vivid stabs and blocks and twines of sound. Jansen is a rather remarkable personality; brilliant but...
There’s such intelligence and connoisseurship in this documentary about the Dutch violin virtuoso Janine Jansen and her recent mission to record an album with 12 of the most exquisite Stradivarius violins in existence – that is, violins made by the great Italian craftsman Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737), of which perhaps around 500 are now extant. The 12 that Jansen records with are a veritable European Super League of Strads, and the film absorbingly tells us about the great musicians who used to own them.
It’s impossible not to be overwhelmed by Jansen’s mastery of her instrument, and the fineness and the delicacy of her response to each Stradivarius; from each she conjures vivid stabs and blocks and twines of sound. Jansen is a rather remarkable personality; brilliant but...
- 9/2/2021
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
The BBC Proms is presenting music by Mendelssohn at “Concerto at the BBC Proms: Mendelssohn Violin.” The performance can be viewed for free on FilmOn’s BBC Four television channel. The performance features one of the world’s most popular violin concertos. Here’s more about what you can expect from the televised performance. “Another chance to hear a live performance from the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall of one of the most popular and frequently performed violin concertos of all time, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, recorded at the first night of the BBC Proms in 2005. Exciting and versatile violin soloist Janine Jansen performs with the BBC Symphony [ Read More ]
The post Concerto at the BBC Proms: Mendelssohn Violin now on FilmOn appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Concerto at the BBC Proms: Mendelssohn Violin now on FilmOn appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 2/11/2015
- by monique
- ShockYa
Direct Cinema
NEW YORK -- More rewarding musically than cinematically, Phil Grabsky's exhaustive documentary chronicling the life and times of Mozart, made to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth, is more appropriate for the History Channel than theatrical release. Nonetheless, "In Search of Mozart" no doubt will secure a permanent niche among classical music buffs, with a long ancillary life to be expected. It is playing an exclusive theatrical engagement at New York's Cinema Village.
Most people's image of Mozart no doubt stems from the Oscar-winning film "Amadeus", the many historical inaccuracies of which this documentary takes great pains to point out.
Tracing the composer's life from his child-prodigy beginnings to his premature death -- not from poisoning -- at age 35, the film employs extensive excerpts from the composer's letters. It also features interviews with numerous music scholars, performers and figures like director Jonathan Miller, who provides an amusing explanation for Mozart's tendencies toward the scatological.
But what really gives this film its distinction are its musical excerpts from the composer's works, presented chronologically and performed by a gallery of classical music stars, including Lang Lang, Ian Bostridge, Renee Fleming, Magdalena Kozena, Janine Jansen and numerous renowned orchestras.
Featuring narration by British actress Juliet Stevenson, the film is somewhat drier than it needs to be and, running more than two hours, feels overextended. And the filmmaker often is at a loss to provide stimulating visuals to accompany the sublime music. Nonetheless, "In Search of Mozart" is a valuable cinematic history lesson for those unwilling to crack a book.
NEW YORK -- More rewarding musically than cinematically, Phil Grabsky's exhaustive documentary chronicling the life and times of Mozart, made to celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth, is more appropriate for the History Channel than theatrical release. Nonetheless, "In Search of Mozart" no doubt will secure a permanent niche among classical music buffs, with a long ancillary life to be expected. It is playing an exclusive theatrical engagement at New York's Cinema Village.
Most people's image of Mozart no doubt stems from the Oscar-winning film "Amadeus", the many historical inaccuracies of which this documentary takes great pains to point out.
Tracing the composer's life from his child-prodigy beginnings to his premature death -- not from poisoning -- at age 35, the film employs extensive excerpts from the composer's letters. It also features interviews with numerous music scholars, performers and figures like director Jonathan Miller, who provides an amusing explanation for Mozart's tendencies toward the scatological.
But what really gives this film its distinction are its musical excerpts from the composer's works, presented chronologically and performed by a gallery of classical music stars, including Lang Lang, Ian Bostridge, Renee Fleming, Magdalena Kozena, Janine Jansen and numerous renowned orchestras.
Featuring narration by British actress Juliet Stevenson, the film is somewhat drier than it needs to be and, running more than two hours, feels overextended. And the filmmaker often is at a loss to provide stimulating visuals to accompany the sublime music. Nonetheless, "In Search of Mozart" is a valuable cinematic history lesson for those unwilling to crack a book.
- 7/26/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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