Search - Paul Tortelier on DVD

Hark & Hear the Angel Sing

BLee | HK | 03/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Casals once remarked: " When Tortelier is playing, his cello speaks".

After seeing this film, you will see why Tortelier is fairly and squarely is one of the greatest cellists of the century and why De Pru went all the way to Paris to study with him even after she herself was quite a big name.

This film covers Tortelier's musicianship in full: as a cellist, an accomplished pianist, quite a composer (and he is quite good a singer too). Above all, he is a most inspiring cello teacher as the clips will show you how he taught his pupils. But as a starter, it tells you the difference between German music schools and French music schools-- complete reverse of "Verdi' Life" as told by Hampton which is rather poor in comparison.

The film covers a great deal of Tortelier's views on music: the relationship between music and nature; the descriptiveness of music; the scent in music e.g. Beethoven's Pastoral; breathing and phrasings; his views on contemporary and classical music, including composers like Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Shostokovich... He demonstrates in a way which is very much to the point. All in all, this film will probably tell you more than one can learn from any music academy in a whole year.

About 1/3 of the two hrs running time, we will have Tortelier talking about music and doing some demonstrations where necessary; for the rest, we can just relax and see what a wonderful cellist Tortelier is.



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Paul Tortelier

Alemarh_León | Leon, Guanajuato, MX | 12/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although Paul Tortelier was a musician "conservative" (as defined himself), he paved the way to a whole new generation of interpreters for Cello, developed tools for that instrument, as the support bracket that is used by many players of that instrument . He was a worthy follower of the school of the great Pablo Casals.

This DVD shows some of the facets of this great musician, he is listed as a servant of the musical art. It contains three episodes - interviews conducted by the excellent musician Bruno Monsaingeon realized to Mr. Tortelier. In the three episodes, Mr. Tortelier exposes their musical ideas, respond intelligently to the questions that made Mr. Monsaingeon, also interprets some complete pieces, or fragments of them, composed of the same Tortelier, and others of Faure, Ravel, Bach et al. In the second episode (Water), for example, shows a fragment of a class in the German music conservatory where Mr. Tortel taught classes. Discovers him with his students, seeking the "correct" interpretation of the Prelude of the Suite for Solo Cello No. 1. The media and the results they get are great.

After these, certain portions of concerts where the family is involved Tortelier (Maud Tortelier, Yan Pascal Tortelier) with other good players (Sergio Lorenzi and Maria de la Pau). He gives examples of the differences in French and German schools of music. Declared follower of the music of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, Fauré and several others, Mr. Tortelier shows something of contempt for the Jazz and many contemporary music. The album is very musical and pedagogically valuable speaking, I think."