Rostropovich Documentary

[Boilk]

Rostropovich: The Genius of the Cello



Friday evening BBC Four, details here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b015j8g5

[MrGongGong]

I saw this at Aldeburgh this year
really worth watching

[Mary Chambers]

Thank you for the reminder. I did know it was on, but I'd forgotten and would probably have missed it. There's always iPlayer, I know, but it's not the same.

[Ventilhorn]

ROSTROPOVITCH on BBC4 TV

Did anyone else watch this 90 minute programme?

Fascinating but heart rending. Those of us who saw him and heard him play saw only a happy man, totally absorbed in and commited to his music. But how many of us knew of the torments that he endured; from the unbelievable treatment by the politicians to his own loneliness and self doubt.

Watch it if you can on iPlayer. It gave me an insight into the problems that all Soviet artists faced during those dreadful times.



VH

[Barbirollians]

I agree - another excellent programme produced by Bridcut with fortunately rather less of the talking head listening to a recording than in the VW and Elgar documentaries.

[Richard Tarleton]

Did anyone else watch this 90 minute programme?

Fascinating but heart rending. Those of us who saw him and heard him play saw only a happy man, totally absorbed in and commited to his music. But how many of us knew of the torments that he endured; from the unbelievable treatment by the politicians to his own loneliness and self doubt.

Watch it if you can on iPlayer. It gave me an insight into the problems that all Soviet artists faced during those dreadful times.



VH

Amazing programme, one of the great human beings. What you say applies to me ventilhorn - the one time I saw him live was the first ever performance of the Lutoslawski cello concerto in 1970 [which was with the Bournemouth SO in Exeter, cond Downes - I think it was a try-out before the official first perf., and Lutoslawski was there] I had no idea what he was going through, but the element of struggle and oppression in the piece was evident in his performance - he acted it as well as played it. He played the Rococo Variations after the interval.

Actually I did see him again, at the funeral of Benjamin Britten, looking grief-stricken - perhaps Mary (and others) were there.

[EdgeleyRob]

Watched this morning.Some wonderful footage

[Ariosto]

A very moving and fascinating programme.

He taught in the true Russian style, as tough as hell on his students, but they still seemed to love him. A complete contrast to the way we pussyfoot around the spoilt brats of today. But maybe the modern method works OK for those with big talents.

It is a great shame that the British have little or no respect for Ben Britten whereas the Russians including Prokofiev, Shostakovitch, Richter, Slava, Oistrakh, the lot - aboslutely idealised him for the genius he was. When will we lilly-livered lot realise that he is the greatest composer we have ever had, or ever likely to get?

Slava was a phenomenom, and totally unique. A one off really. I heard his short 15 minute live BBC TV debut in about 1960/1961 and we could not believe the cello playing, and where he had already taken it. I am always grateful that I experienced him live at the RAM when he and Benjy gave the first public performance of the cello sonata, in about 1962. After playing Bach, he jumped down from what was the then quite high Dukes Hall platform to mingle and talk with the students, followed by his two heavyweight minders.

He was truly much, much larger than life.

[Curalach]

A very moving and fascinating programme.

Seconded.

[Mary Chambers]

Actually I did see him again, at the funeral of Benjamin Britten, looking grief-stricken - perhaps Mary (and others) were there.

No, I wasn't there, alas, but I've seen photographs. I did bump into Rostropovich once (almost literally) in the Aldeburgh music shop.

This was one of the best programmes I've seen for a long time, utterly absorbing from start to finish. I was fascinated to see his daughters as adults, having read about them as youngsters in Peter Pears's diaries.

(Oh dear - we now have two threads on this subject.)

[aeolium]

Yes, some wonderful insights into his life and his collaboration with great C20 composers. The archive footage was fascinating, especially where they matched the silent film of Britten conducting Rostropovitch and unidentified orchestra in Moscow with the Russian radio tape of that concert.

I am glad they devoted some time to discussion of the Britten/Rostropovitch recording of the Schubert Arpeggione sonata. For me that is one of the finest chamber music recordings I have ever heard. I recommend even those who would rather hear this work played on fortepiano and arpeggione to listen to this performance - I cannot imagine it being better played.

[Ariosto]

Yes, some wonderful insights into his life and his collaboration with great C20 composers. The archive footage was fascinating, especially where they matched the silent film of Britten conducting Rostropovitch and unidentified orchestra in Moscow with the Russian radio tape of that concert.

I am glad they devoted some time to discussion of the Britten/Rostropovitch recording of the Schubert Arpeggione sonata. For me that is one of the finest chamber music recordings I have ever heard. I recommend even those who would rather hear this work played on fortepiano and arpeggione to listen to this performance - I cannot imagine it being better played.

I have that CD, and it is something I treasure. Britten was not only a great composer but a wonderful pianist and musician. I've played the arpeggione a lot in the past (when I had to serve time as a viola player) and I've never heard the Britten/Rostropovich version equalled, or in truth, anyone else come anywhere near that interpretation. It is testimony to Britten as a pianist, that Richter wanted to perform Schubert duos with him, and that is another CD I treasure.

And of course Britten was an excellent conductor as well, having a complete understanding of musical form, and the needs of instrumentalists. You can't say that about more than a handful of conductors, but let's not open that can of worms.

[Ariosto]

It is ridiculous to have two threads, can ff join them up?

[remdataram]

A wonderful programme.

What a man, what a talent, what determination, what sense of purpose!

He deserves much more widespread fame, he is a fantastic role model for so many people, not just in the musical world.

One programme that should be repeated - on BBC1.

Richard and Ventilhorn sum up my reaction to the programme.

[salymap]

I've watched the first half hour and add my praise for a wonderful film of a great musician and man. Will watch the rest later.