Piano Forum



Enfant Terrible or Childishly Innocent? – Prokofiev’s Complete Piano Works Now on Piano Street
In our ongoing quest to provide you with a complete library of classical piano sheet music, the works of Sergey Prokofiev have been our most recent focus. As one of the most distinctive and original musical voices from the first half of the 20th century, Prokofiev has an obvious spot on the list of top piano composers. Welcome to the intense, humorous, and lyrical universe of his complete Sonatas, Concertos, character pieces, and transcriptions! Read more >>

Topic: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?  (Read 3342 times)

Offline transparently

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post, but I'd like to watch some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers. I've only seen these ones so far: "The Pianist", "Amadeus", "Bloody Daughter", "The Genius Within: the Inner Life of Glenn Gould", and "Chopin: the Women Behind the Music". Any recommendations?

Offline liszt1022

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 659
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #1 on: December 26, 2014, 04:00:10 AM
The Art of Piano: Great Pianists of the 20th Century

Offline wrongnotes

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 9
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #2 on: December 26, 2014, 04:46:05 AM
If you don't mind some fun and light hearted comedy/drama about some music students in college, then check out the japanese drama, Nodame Cantabile. It has a lot of piano/classical music repertoire.

Offline bronnestam

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 716
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #3 on: December 26, 2014, 02:54:35 PM


Sorry about the weird format, it looks better if you look directly at YouTube.

Offline bonesquirrel

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #4 on: December 26, 2014, 03:10:09 PM
Immortal Beloved is quite good if your into Beethoven. I believe there is a good one about Liszt, Song Without End. An for Chopin, A Song To Remember. Both have the same director if I recall. I haven't watched either of them though, but plan too.

Offline coda_colossale

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 278
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #5 on: December 26, 2014, 03:51:59 PM
The Harvest of Sorrow.

Offline ted

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 3986
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #6 on: December 26, 2014, 08:12:29 PM
"Song of Summer", by Ken Russell about Delius is an excellent dramatisation, as is his documentary about Elgar. Both are on youtube. "Richter the Enigma" is a unique documentary and well worth watching.
"Mistakes are the portals of discovery." - James Joyce

Offline thalbergmad

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16730
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #7 on: December 26, 2014, 08:52:25 PM
I believe there is a good one about Liszt, Song Without End.

You might have a different opinion when you have seen it.

Thal
Curator/Director
Concerto Preservation Society

Offline emill

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1061
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #8 on: December 27, 2014, 02:24:02 AM
AAhhh.. this might be considered "blasphemous" by some
but - Do or Die: Lang Lang's Story  - as done by the BBC
is good & informative viewing.  The dark side of Langlang's
relationship with father is revealing.

member on behalf of my son, Lorenzo

Offline emill

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1061
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #9 on: December 27, 2014, 02:37:02 AM
sorry ... double post
member on behalf of my son, Lorenzo

Offline bonesquirrel

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #10 on: December 27, 2014, 03:28:59 AM
You might have a different opinion when you have seen it.


Do you know any better ones about Liszt then? Also is the Chopin one still good?

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #11 on: December 27, 2014, 04:33:31 AM
Do you know any better ones about Liszt then? Also is the Chopin one still good?

You could try Ken Russell's Lisztomania. I can't guarantee it's better, but it is undoubtedly an experience.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline transparently

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 18
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #12 on: December 29, 2014, 03:05:28 AM
Thank you everyone for all the replies! I ended up watching Lang Lang's documentary recently, and I quite enjoyed it. As such, I don't get why everyone seems to hate Lang Lang so much. Also, I plan to watch more of your picks soon, so thanks again!

Offline Petter

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1183
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #13 on: December 30, 2014, 12:51:10 AM
A Song To Remember is awful and sexist.
 I recommend Five Easy Pieces with Jack Nicholson, although it's probably a bit depressing.
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline bonesquirrel

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #14 on: December 30, 2014, 03:01:52 AM
sexist. 

So? I watched Django Unchained and its one of the most racist movies of modern time, but its a great movie. Discrimination against a race, gender or religion doesn't indicate a bad movie.

Offline Petter

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1183
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #15 on: December 30, 2014, 03:02:34 PM
There's a difference between depicting racism and if a movie is inherently racist and a casualty  of institutionalised racism. An example of the latter would be Ghostbuster (1984) where there are no black people (except Winston who's scenes got cut out to make room for Bill Murray et al.) until the jail scene. Everyone detained is black.
 As for a Song to Remember; it victimise Chopin and the point of the film is that his demise is basically George Sands fault, for forcing him to play when he should be in bed.
"A gentleman is someone who knows how to play an accordion, but doesn't." - Al Cohn

Offline bonesquirrel

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 181
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #16 on: January 01, 2015, 12:00:25 AM
There's a difference between depicting racism and if a movie is inherently racist and a casualty  of institutionalised racism. An example of the latter would be Ghostbuster (1984) where there are no black people (except Winston who's scenes got cut out to make room for Bill Murray et al.) until the jail scene. Everyone detained is black.
 As for a Song to Remember; it victimise Chopin and the point of the film is that his demise is basically George Sands fault, for forcing him to play when he should be in bed.

As quite a dark person myself I understand how that jail thing would be discriminate, because its the illusion that all black people are thugs/criminals/whatever you call it.

But in my opinion your either racist or your not, racism is either part of your character/personality or it isn't. The only thing that may influence it is for example if your family is extremely racist and your bought up to believe that a certain race is scum or inferior. But that Goosebumps scene isn't going to make anyone any more racist then they already are. Its why it doesn't bother me much.

Offline chopinlover01

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 2117
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #17 on: January 02, 2015, 03:03:36 AM
Don't know how you couldn't have seen it already, but the documentary of Horowitz "The Last Romantic" is a fabulous one. It also has some hilariously harsh comments from his b***h of a wife, Wanda. For example;
(Horowitz plays a piece)
Horowitz to the Steinway Technician: What did you think of it? Was it good?
The Steinway Technician back to him: So much color, in each note!
Wanda: Even the wrong ones?

Offline Bob

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 16364
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #18 on: January 02, 2015, 05:48:07 AM
Shine

Legend of 1900  (I think that's it.)  It's all on youtube.



They don't have to be great movies or even accurate.  It's good just to see them if they exist though, so you know what's out there, likes Amadeus. 

Good post.
Favorite new teacher quote -- "You found the only possible wrong answer."

Offline j_menz

  • PS Silver Member
  • Sr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 10148
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #19 on: January 02, 2015, 09:33:35 AM
It's good just to see them if they exist

Rather more brownie points available if you seer them when they don't, though. Or at least a nice warm white long (veeeerrrry long) sleeved jacket.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline richardb

  • PS Silver Member
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 77
Re: Recommend me some movies/documentaries about pianists/composers?
Reply #20 on: January 05, 2015, 02:15:07 PM
Here's another one I found, about my favorite composer:

Very much appreciate finding these movies/documentaries.  Thank you!
For more information about this topic, click search below!
 

Logo light pianostreet.com - the website for classical pianists, piano teachers, students and piano music enthusiasts.

Subscribe for unlimited access

Sign up

Follow us

Piano Street Digicert