From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China
Encyclopedia
From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China is a 1980 documentary film about Western culture breaking into China
produced and directed by Murray Lerner
. It portrays the famous violinist and music teacher Isaac Stern
as the first American musician to collaborate with the China Central Symphony Society (Now China National Symphony Orchestra). The film documented Mr. Stern's rehearsals and performances of Mozart and Brahms violin concertos with the famous Chinese conductor Li Delun
, who also acted as his guide and translator on his trip. The film also included footage of Mr. Stern's visit to the Central Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he lectured to the Chinese music students on violin playing and the art of musical expression. Most of those musicians were playing mechanically, especially the String section, prior to the human improvements, concerning the qualities of the orchestras. One conductor was imprisoned in a closet, for playing Beethoven, during the great Proletarian Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, when Western music was prohibited under Mao.Among many others talented players, young cellist Jian Wang
(at the time only ten years old) is featured briefly, Jian Wang has gone on to international stardom. The film won the 1980 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It was also screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival
.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
produced and directed by Murray Lerner
Murray Lerner
Murray Lerner is an Academy Award-winning American documentary and experimental film director and producer.1967 saw the release of the film Festival...
. It portrays the famous violinist and music teacher Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern
Isaac Stern was a Ukrainian-born violinist. He was renowned for his recordings and for discovering new musical talent.-Biography:Isaac Stern was born into a Jewish family in Kremenets, Ukraine. He was fourteen months old when his family moved to San Francisco...
as the first American musician to collaborate with the China Central Symphony Society (Now China National Symphony Orchestra). The film documented Mr. Stern's rehearsals and performances of Mozart and Brahms violin concertos with the famous Chinese conductor Li Delun
Li Delun
Li Delun was a Chinese conductor who devoted his life to the promotion of classical music in China. In 1946, with support from Zhou Enlai Li Delun took an assortment of donated musical instruments to the city of Yan-An and became the founder, instructor, and conductor of China's first...
, who also acted as his guide and translator on his trip. The film also included footage of Mr. Stern's visit to the Central Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music where he lectured to the Chinese music students on violin playing and the art of musical expression. Most of those musicians were playing mechanically, especially the String section, prior to the human improvements, concerning the qualities of the orchestras. One conductor was imprisoned in a closet, for playing Beethoven, during the great Proletarian Cultural Revolution of the 1960s, when Western music was prohibited under Mao.Among many others talented players, young cellist Jian Wang
Jian Wang (cellist)
Jian Wang began to study the cello with his father when he was four. While a student at the Shanghai Conservatoire, he was featured in the celebrated documentary film From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China...
(at the time only ten years old) is featured briefly, Jian Wang has gone on to international stardom. The film won the 1980 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It was also screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival
1981 Cannes Film Festival
- Jury :*Jacques Deray *Ellen Burstyn *Jean-Claude Carrière *Robert Chazal *Attilio D'Onofrio *Christian Defaye *Carlos Diegues *Antonio Gala...
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External links
- From Mao to Mozart at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...