It is difficult for us nowadays to imagine the prestige that Nadia Boulanger enjoyed. In the wake of Aaron Copland in the early 1920s, it seems as if the whole of musical America travelled to Paris to benefit from “Mademoiselle’s” advice. Her world was made of rigour and intransigence, but it was also a world in which, once all matters of musical technique had been mastered, she could abandon herself to the mystery of inspiration. If she was imperious and strict – towards herself as much as to others – she also radiated tenderness, humour and the joy of making music. Nadia Boulanger did not like to take others into her confidence. In the case of my film, I was not in any case interested in questions of a biographical nature. Rather, I wanted viewers to sense for themselves the force and flavour of a woman who had exerted a considerable influence on the musical life of the 20th century as it drew to an end. These, then, are the framework and the limits of this film (which is not free from the faults of a first opus), but also no doubt the reason why she gave it her approval. (Bruno Monsaingeon)
Format: Black & White, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number of Discs: 1
DVD Release Date: November 20, 2007
Run Time: 79 minutes
January 2008
****
“…Boulanger was Bruno Monsaingeon's first documentary. It captures Boulanger as she approached ninety, a living legend, and showing few signs of age. Although filled-in a little by the booklet, the lack not just of biography, but also context is frustrating, but that does not prevent this being a thoroughly absorbing film.”
CD Review
“Nadia Boulanger has to be counted among the most influential teachers of the 20th century” Andrew McGregor”
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