Composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Igor Glebov Russia 1923

Release Date: May 27, 2008

Antonia Souranova

The majestic music and fascinating life of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky are evocatively presented in this Academy Award-nominated film by writer/director Igor Talankin and celebrated composer Dimitri Tiomkin. Tchaikovsky demonstrates the inseparability of the composer's music from his life, as each moment of happiness and tragedy is expressed through the magnificent ballets, operas, symphonies and love songs that flow from his pen. These masterpieces become an integral part of the film, given cinematic expression through Talankin's sure-handed direction and the lavish resources afforded him by Mosfilm Studios. The resulting film evokes such spectacles as Amadeus and Doctor Zhivago, a lavish cinematic symphony of choreographed sound and image, filmed at great expense in Russia, France and England. For composer Tiomkin (1894-1979), Tchaikovsky was a project of great personal significance. Acting as producer and executive producer, while also arranging and conducting the score, it took four years for him to bring the Russian-American co-production to fruition. It would be the final motion picture project from the man who penned the scores for such classic films as Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt, Hawks' Red River, and Capra's It's a Wonderful Life.

Full Version, Platform(s): PC, Mac; Package Type: Retail, CD-ROM, MPN: LZGRCHAYDJ

The majestic music and fascinating life of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky are evocatively presented in this Academy Award-nominated film by writer/director Igor Talankin and celebrated composer Dimitri Tiomkin. Tchaikovsky demonstrates the inseparability of the composer's music from his life, as each moment of happiness and tragedy is expressed through the magnificent ballets, operas, symphonies and love songs that flow from his pen. These masterpieces become an integral part of the film, given cinematic expression through Talankin's sure-handed direction and the lavish resources afforded him by Mosfilm Studios. The resulting film evokes such spectacles as Amadeus and Doctor Zhivago, a lavish cinematic symphony of choreographed sound and image, filmed at great expense in Russia, France and England. For composer Tiomkin (1894-1979), Tchaikovsky was a project of great personal significance. Acting as producer and executive producer, while also arranging and conducting the score, it took four years for him to bring the Russian-American co-production to fruition. It would be the final motion picture project from the man who penned the scores for such classic films as Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt, Hawks' Red River, and Capra's It's a Wonderful Life.

Ruscico, 2 DVD's, No zone restriction, Widescreen, DD 5.1 The film is dedicated to the great Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840-1893). It tells of the last twenty years of the great master's life, of his friendship with Baroness von Meck, an outstanding woman of her time, who for many years was Tchaikovsky's guardian angel. The film also includes retrospections of the composer's childhood and adolescent years, with Tchaikovsky's life poetically recounted against the background of fragments from his operas and ballets performed by the best Russian musicians. Awards: Prize for Best Actor (Innokenty Smoktunovsky) and Jury Diploma to the film at the San Sebastian IFF, 1970; Oscar nominations for Best Foreign Film and for Best Musical Adaptation, 1971 Director: Igor Talankin Script: Budimir Metalnikov, Yuri Nagibin, Igor Talankin Camera: Margarita Pilikhina Music by: Dmitry Tyomkin - musical supervision and conductor Cast: Innokenty Smoktunovsky, Antonina Shuranova, Yevgheny Leonov, Maya Plisetskaya, Vladislav Strzhelchik, Alla Demidova, Kirill Lavrov, Yevgheny Yevstigneyev, Lilia Yudina, Bruno Freindlikh Languages: Russian, English, French Subtitles: Russian, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese Special Freatures: Pictures and filmography of the film's authors; Candids from the shooting ground; Maya Plisetskaya in ballets of P.I. Tchaikovski; Interview with Innokenty Smoktunovsky; Biography and Documentary about P.I. Tchaikovsky; Teasers of the films coming next.

''Tchaikovskys Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra is a cornerstone of the cellos repertoire. Tchaikovsky demonstrates his skills as a composer by taking the simple line of the theme and spinning it into soaring romantic lines and show-stopping technical feats. The notorious seventh variation is a true test of a cellists musicianship! This particular edition is edited by renowned pedagogue and performer Leonard Rose. While Rose passed away some time ago, his legacy lives on through his pupils like Yo-Yo Ma and Lynn Harrell.'' - Heather Hanson, Shar Apprentice (Cello) Edited by Leonard Rose, Published by International Music Company. Difficulty: ASTA Grade 6

''Tchaikovskys Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra is a cornerstone of the cellos repertoire. Tchaikovsky demonstrates his skills as a composer by taking the simple line of the theme and spinning it into soaring romantic lines and show-stopping technical feats. The notorious seventh variation is a true test of a cellists musicianship!'' - Heather Hanson, Shar Apprentice (Cello) Peters Edition Difficulty: ASTA Grade 6