Solti: Journey of a Lifetime:
A film by Georg Wübbolt (2012) [52.00]
Bonus Concert [54.00]: Mussorgsky Prelude to Khovanshchina; Prokofiev
Classical Symphony; Shostakovich Symphony No.1: Chicago Symphony
Orchestra (1977)
Sound Format: PCM Stereo
Picture Format: 16:9 (Documentary), 4:3 (Bonus Concert), 1080i
Region: A,B,C
Documentary Subtitles in English, German, French, Spanish and Korean
ARTE/UNITEL CLASSICA 711 804 Blu-ray [106:00]
This disc contains two items, the documentary film and the so-called
'bonus' which is a concert by the CSO conducted by Solti
and recorded in the Chicago Orchestra Hall in October 1977.
The documentary is the reason to purchase this Blu-ray so it will be dealt
with first. It is mainly the story of his life and growing reputation
told in archive film and through interview clips with Solti himself, speaking
in German, plus family and professional colleagues such as his second
wife Valerie Solti, conductor Valery Gergiev and theatre director Sir
Peter Jonas.
Contributions are intelligent and interesting and there is thankfully
little by way of padding. There is some linking narration and the occasional
musical extract. The archive film is sometimes in the wrong aspect ratio
which seems strange for an otherwise very professional production. The
onscreen titling is largely very clear and appropriate except for the
members of the 'Vienna Phil. Orchestra' whose truncated
appellation seems completely unnecessary when the full name would fit.
The one questionable aspect of his story as told here is the assumption
that the Chicago years were somehow better than the rest and that prior
to him the CSO was not a very significant orchestra. 'What about
the 'minor' figure of Fritz Reiner who led them in the 1950s
and 1960s?' I found myself asking the screen. A UK viewer may also
ask what happened to all those superb recordings and concerts with the
London Symphony Orchestra, of which there is no mention. Despite this
I found the 52 minutes of this film compulsive viewing and was only sorry
there wasn't more of it.
The bonus concert is a superfluous add-on because it is oddly uninteresting
musically and looks and sounds what it is, a rather old TV film. The performances
are efficient but not one of these performances couldn't be bettered
elsewhere. The main work, Shostakovich's 1st Symphony, comes over
as brisk and rather literal. What is left is a lengthy opportunity to
watch Solti at work, the which is not half as interesting as watching
him in rehearsal in the documentary film.
The insert has a readable short essay on Solti's life and career
by James Jolly.
Dave Billinge
A fascinating but too brief documentary that left me wanting more. The
bonus concert is of little interest.
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