Product Description

In 1979, as China re-opened its doors to the West, virtuoso Isaac Stern received an unprecedented invitation from its governernment to tour the country. This extraordinary experience became the landmark, Oscar-winning documentary FROM MAO TO MOZART--a be

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18875 in DVD
• Brand: New Video
• Released on: 2001-02-27
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 84 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Murray Lerner's Oscar-winning film From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China chronicles with affection and intelligence the great violinist's 1979 visit to China. Stern had accepted the government's invitation to attend a rehearsal and give one recital but instead wound up playing a formal concert, touring two cities, and teaching many master classes due to his overwhelming love for music and even more so for the musicians he met, some as young as 10. Communicating his instructions less through the translator than his energetically gleeful gestures and plosive vocalizations, Stern offers a wealth of technical tips, bowing techniques, and motivational nuggets that all boil down to one theme: don't play the music, live it.

Not every moment is joyous; filmed shortly after the final dismantling of the Cultural Revolution, From Mao to Mozart offers a brief but harrowing portrait of Tan Shuzhen, a violinmaker imprisoned for over a year for the crime of crafting Western instruments. But after this remembrance of the past, the movie ends as it should, eyes and ears on the future, as adolescent cellist Wang Jian serenades the appreciative audience. A fascinating postscript, Musical Encounters, follows Stern's return to Beijing two decades later and catches up with Wang, now a successful recording artist, as well as others from the original film. Especially heartening is conductor Li Delun, wheeled onto the stage but still magisterial as he reteams with Stern to once again perform Mozart's Concerto in G; and through the music, two men raised a world apart who have met only twice in their lives are again made the best of friends. --Bruce Reid

Customer Reviews

20 years later and I'm still stunned
I saw the original video production of "From Mao to Mozart" 20 years ago as a graduate student in Music. I was stunned! Insightful musical instruction, excellent segues of countryside, people, culture, cities.... I vividly remembered scenes from movie...and was thrilled to see them again when PBS aired the new release in mid-Feb, 2001. It spoke to me both as an Asian and as a musician all the more.

Stern's admonitions and instructions continue to add to my musical life. His advice is timeless and worth considering at all points of a musician's life. While technique is basic and necessary, expression is everything--and to carry this torch to future generations is the legacy of this video.

The scenes from China: I appreciated the transitions and poignancy all the more after 20 years. Many of the scenes were buried in my memories. I didn't know from where I had picked up those images, but when I saw this reprise of the movie, there they were! Such is the strength of this documentary. Stern's return in 1999 is less compelling. He seems a bit more impatient and the footage does not include much by the translators--an important facet of understanding the cultural differences. Maybe it's because in 1999 the musicians speak English. Maybe it's because the film's editor(s) chose to omit the translations. We'll never know.

Quite interesting is the footage of various musicians who met Stern 20 years ago and then appear and perform in 1999. Very strong musicians with vivid memories of their encounters! And their performances are excellent, full, rich, expressive!

Another interesting facet is Stern's son, David, who also visited 20 years ago and now appears as the guest conductor in the 1999 footage. His comments and conducting are insightful.

The producer's techniques of overlapping the 1979 footage and the 1999 footage is good, but maybe overdone. I found myself impatient to "get on with it" at some times during the 1999 footage. Too much comparison, especially since we just saw the entire movie earlier.

BUT....a great work. I'm thrilled that it is now being re-released and may inspire another generation, as Stern continues to inspire past, present, and future generations.

Highly recommended for young students.
I had the opportunity to watch this on PBS before it came out on DVD. I'm an elementary music teacher and there is a condensed version of this documentary on VHS in our textbook series. I showed this to my fifth grade class and they were in awe. They had so many questions to ask and were so intrigued. I never had the fine opportunity of seeing or hearing Mr. Stern live, but I strongly live by the quote he says at the end of the documentary. It truly is a touching and moving one.

Truly a Remarkable Documentary of Music's Power
We recently had a wonderful privilege to hear Jian Wang perform with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra where became aware also of this video.

Truly captivating is the trip of Mr. Stern to China and his involvement there with the musicians and the people. He truly is a delightful man and his abilities to express and transmit his passion for music is captivating.

There are too many poignant scenes to recall, but the additional offerings here on this special DVD are truly bonus! The return trip after twenty years and the interview with Tan are magnificent and touching.

Luther had it right: next to the Word of God nothing is as powerful as music --- good music. It's universal and across time and cultures.