In search of Beethoven

In Search of Beethoven Written and directed Phil Grabsky

Release Date May 14

Just on 200 years ago on December 22nd1808 Beethoven presented one of the worlds greatest concerts, certainly the highlight of his career to that point. In one, four hour concert he premiered his fifth and sixth symphonies as well his fourth piano concert. He was also at the keyboard as soloist in what was to be his last public performance before deafness forced him to end his career as a pianist.

This episode is one of the major features of a new film on the composer’s life produced by Phil Grabsky who is one of the UK's leading film-makers of art programmes.

In Search of Beethoven has brought together the world’s leading performers and experts on Beethoven to reveal new insights into this legendary composer. The line-up of performers and interviewees includes Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Roger Norrington, Riccardo Chailly and Claudio Abbado among others.

The unique research process makes this a fascinating and intelligent documentary on the composer, one which gives a real understanding of the Beethoven and his music..

Whether it is his Fur Elise, his Fifth Symphony or the grand Ninth, In Search of Beethoven delves into and beneath the music attempting to find out what motivated and inspired the composer. It is a film which will appeal to music lovers and cinemagoers alike.

The film documents Beethoven’s life using many of his compositions as well as diary notes, letters and contemporary commentaries as well as observations by leading musicians.

At times the talking heads are a bit over enthusiastic in their (understandable) praise of Beethoven, wasting valuable screen time when they could have been more analytic about the music. They do however present varied approachs to the composer and his life.

We get to understand something of the day to day struggles of the compser, his depressing love life and his Promethean desire to create a new music.

We see how the music he created was affected by his personal life, his emotional and his political life.

The film examines the romantic myth that Beethoven was a heroic, tormented figure battling to overcome his tragic fate, struck down by deafness, who searched for his ‘immortal beloved’ but remained unmarried. It delves beyond the image of the chaotic, tortured, cantankerous personality, to reveal someone who produced cerebral and controlled music.

We gain an understanding of why his music changed the nature of composition while he was alive and shaped music for the following one hundred years as well as contributing to the idea of the romantic, bohemian artist.

Grabsky travelled across Europe and North America to interview historians and musicians between rehearsals and performances and was able to film 55 performances for the film including Claudio Abbado’s performance of Beethoven’s opera Fidelio.

There are other performances from Frans Brüggen’s Orchestra of the 18th Century, the Salzburg Camerata with Sir Roger Norrington, Leipzig Gewandhaus with Riccardo Chailly.

Among the soloists are violinists Vadim Repin, Janine Jansen and pianists Leif Ove Andsnes, Lars Vogt and cellist Alban Gerhardt who reveal their unique approach and share their passions.

Theatre Locations include
Auckland Rialto, Hollywood, and Bridgeway
Dunedin - Metro
Christchurch rialto and Hollywood
Nelson - State & Suter
Wellington Paramount