With a film like this, everything we've learned about the "music being an universal language" gets sullied, in the worst possible way.
While the film contains very usefull information about Rachmaninoff's life, and amazing performances, it tries to sell us a unique vision of how -and most important- WHO, can play his music "the right way".
So you get this parade of Russian pianists -amazing virtousos, let's acknowlege- talking about the beauty of their country, which it is impossible to contest.
But from there, the director builds a narrative where you HAVE to be Russian -or at least European- to understand THE WAY Rachmaninoff's music should be played.
And as a proving point, he will portray asian pianist like Yuja Wang or Lang Lang, "looking to the sky", like if they are superficial, or theatrical, hence, they don't know how to dig inside, deep enough...
It is so obvious, and so disgusting.
I am a musician myself. And I've seen Japanesse orchestras playing Latin American salsa like the best Cuban's. And Germans playing PIazzolla like the angels.
Trying to prove the contrary has a smell that reminds us of fascist positions from times that we thought were gone forever.
A standing ovation for all the Russian pianists depicted in the film. A standing ovation for all Asian pianist too. And a final ovation for all others -like Baremboim, Argerich, Freites, Arrau- left out, for what seems to be obvious reasons.
While the film contains very usefull information about Rachmaninoff's life, and amazing performances, it tries to sell us a unique vision of how -and most important- WHO, can play his music "the right way".
So you get this parade of Russian pianists -amazing virtousos, let's acknowlege- talking about the beauty of their country, which it is impossible to contest.
But from there, the director builds a narrative where you HAVE to be Russian -or at least European- to understand THE WAY Rachmaninoff's music should be played.
And as a proving point, he will portray asian pianist like Yuja Wang or Lang Lang, "looking to the sky", like if they are superficial, or theatrical, hence, they don't know how to dig inside, deep enough...
It is so obvious, and so disgusting.
I am a musician myself. And I've seen Japanesse orchestras playing Latin American salsa like the best Cuban's. And Germans playing PIazzolla like the angels.
Trying to prove the contrary has a smell that reminds us of fascist positions from times that we thought were gone forever.
A standing ovation for all the Russian pianists depicted in the film. A standing ovation for all Asian pianist too. And a final ovation for all others -like Baremboim, Argerich, Freites, Arrau- left out, for what seems to be obvious reasons.
