Search - Andreas Scholl: Countertenor - A Portrait on DVD

Andreas Scholl - Countertenor

Duckhee ODonnell | Montgomery County, Maryland | 03/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recommend this highly. The video was made in 2002 and it gives insights into the life of performers like Andreas Scholl. He is booked ahead for two years and he on the road a lot for recitals. For operas he may be away from his home base in Basle for 2-3 months at a time which means he gives up a lot in his personal life.

Besides being a superb singer, Scholl is an excellent communicator. What he says is substantive and he expresses himself very well. You can also see that he is a nice person. The scene of him with the student Alex Potter is very revealing. He immediately accepts Potter's interpretation of the song and suggests a way to communicate it. Another revealing scene is when his interview is interrupted by a telephone call and he handles it very graciously.

The DVD contains samples of Scholl singing interspersed with interviews with him and a 3 minute segment showing his father talking about Scholl growing up. The description of St. Valentius Church in Scholl's hometown of Kiedrich makes one want to visit it for the Sunday Latin mass."

A Life Devoted To Music

Miz Ellen | Bovine Universe | 07/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The plot is weak and for the most part, the visual palate is muted: the performers in brown or black in settings that may be baroque but also austere. There are some beautiful shots of the German countryside in the full lushness of summer, but the "action" focuses on one young man talking about his musical training, his craft as a classical singer and his monkish existence which is dictated by the demands of his art.

But if to folks of a certain mindset, the young man at the center of the camera focus is bigger than a rock star.

Welcome to the world of Andreas Scholl, star countertenor of our modern era. The date on this DVD is 2002 and this captures him at the height of his youthful appeal and in full voice as a singer. We see his modest apartment where he rests between engagements and he talks about the demands and rigors of travel. He shows us his home recording studio and his attempts at pop music. We see and hear him performing recital after glorious recital and he and his chamber group intelligently discuss the music they play.

His father talks about Scholl's early education and how he came to be trained at a choir that is about 650 years old.

If you like Baroque music than you will enjoy this DVD documentary but if you are a fan of the countertenor voice then this is a must-have. I just discovered that one of my favorite vocal performances is also featured here and I am enraptured. This disc has not left my DVD player since it arrived...time to play it again."