Product Overview
Tony Palmer's Film About Menuhin: Family Portrait /
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 Ounces
- Item model number : USD-DV-1360
- Director : Tony Palmer
- Media Format : Color, Multiple Formats, Classical, NTSC
- Run time : 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Release date : July 14, 2009
- Actors : Yehudi Menuhin, Stphane Grappelli, Ravi Shankar, Diana Menuhin, Hephzibah Menuhin
- Language : Unqualified (DTS ES 6.1)
- Studio : Tony Palmer Films
- Number of discs : 1
Directed by Tony Palmer, this in-depth documentary chronicles the life and career of Yehudi Menuhin. Beginning his career as a child prodigy, he soon became one of the world's most respected musicians. Through archival performance footage and interviews with Menuhin's family members, the film features a compelling look at the composer and violinist's approach to his craft. 105 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.
Yehudi Menuhin made his debut in Paris at the age of eleven. At fifteen he recorded the definitive performance of the Elgar Violin Concerto, conducted by the composer. Menuhin is acclaimed as one of the great violinists of the century. He was the first artist to play with the Berlin Philharmonic after the overthrow of the Nazis, and the first major Western classical soloist to play jazz and Indian music. A dedicated teacher, the former child prodigy established his own school where he coached young musicians. In this profile of Menuhin, filmmaker Tony Palmer keeps pace with the busy violinist: conducting the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra; working with his own chamber orchestra in Greece; recording with his son Jeremy. Newsreel footage of nine-year old Menuhin and interviews with his family offer an intimate view of a virtuoso.
Menuhin, a name that was legendary for over 60 years, and remains so today. A good man and a great violinist, whose childhood was blessed with happiness and success unparalleled even among child prodigies. At least, that was the legend. The truth was painfully different. The violinist who inspired Einstein to remark; "Now I know there is a God in heaven", was also a man of whom his sister could say: "We have done more harm to people we love than we ever believed ourselves capable of doing to people we didn't love".
Filmed in Berlin, Dresden, Vienna, Moscow, New York, San Francisco and Switzerland, and using much material not seen previously from Menuhin's own archive, this heart-rending and multi-award winning film included all the members of Menuhin's family living at the time, who struggle to piece together what had really happened to the son of Russian/ Tartar parents who was defiantly named Yehudi - ‘the Jew'.
