Product Details

• Actors: Isaac Stern, David Golub, Ching-Ling Soong, Leonard Woodcock
• Directors: Murray Lerner
• Producers: Murray Lerner, Walter Scheuer
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Studio: New Video Group
• DVD Release Date: February 27, 2001
• Run Time: 84 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000524FI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,286 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "From Mao to Mozart - Isaac Stern in China" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: New Video Group Release Date: 02/27/2001 Run time: 115 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for musicians!, January 1, 2003

By 

R. Rockwell (Angwin, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Mao to Mozart - Isaac Stern in China (DVD)

I received this DVD for Christmas (thanks to the wish list!) and I found it to be wonderful on many levels. First of all there is Stern's fine playing but this is only a part. There is also the warm interaction between Stern and the eager people of a newly opened China. Stern's engaging personality itself is also enjoyable and his wisdom about music and people is refreshing. This man obviously enjoys life and is very open to all kinds of people, activities and experiences. The film also provides a glimpse into the culture of China that was enlightening including the cultural revolution. The movie has depth and richness. I think most people seeing this movie would feel it was time well spent.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 20 years later and I'm still stunned, February 14, 2001

By 

Christopher L. Lee (Corvallis, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Mao to Mozart - Isaac Stern in China [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I saw the original video production of "From Mao to Mozart" 20 years ago as a graduate student in Music. I was stunned! Insightful musical instruction, excellent segues of countryside, people, culture, cities.... I vividly remembered scenes from movie...and was thrilled to see them again when PBS aired the new release in mid-Feb, 2001. It spoke to me both as an Asian and as a musician all the more.

Stern's admonitions and instructions continue to add to my musical life. His advice is timeless and worth considering at all points of a musician's life. While technique is basic and necessary, expression is everything--and to carry this torch to future generations is the legacy of this video.

The scenes from China: I appreciated the transitions and poignancy all the more after 20 years. Many of the scenes were buried in my memories. I didn't know from where I had picked up those images, but when I saw this reprise of the movie, there they were! Such is the strength of this documentary. Stern's return in 1999 is less compelling. He seems a bit more impatient and the footage does not include much by the translators--an important facet of understanding the cultural differences. Maybe it's because in 1999 the musicians speak English. Maybe it's because the film's editor(s) chose to omit the translations. We'll never know.

Quite interesting is the footage of various musicians who met Stern 20 years ago and then appear and perform in 1999. Very strong musicians with vivid memories of their encounters! And their performances are excellent, full, rich, expressive!

Another interesting facet is Stern's son, David, who also visited 20 years ago and now appears as the guest conductor in the 1999 footage. His comments and conducting are insightful.

The producer's techniques of overlapping the 1979 footage and the 1999 footage is good, but maybe overdone. I found myself impatient to "get on with it" at some times during the 1999 footage. Too much comparison, especially since we just saw the entire movie earlier.

BUT....a great work. I'm thrilled that it is now being re-released and may inspire another generation, as Stern continues to inspire past, present, and future generations.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring movie!, October 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: From Mao to Mozart - Isaac Stern in China (DVD)

This movie has opened my eyes and got a new perspective in playing violin. I'm most inspired by Isaac Stern's saying "there's a life in every note", and he had successfully demonstrated what he meant by that. He made the little girl sang the music out loud for the piece that she was playing, and after that she really played it much better and you could feel a life in it. For all the amateur violinists that don't have a chance to meet with the best violinists in master classes, this is truly a very good teaching material to inspire your playing. It's also very touching to see the 3 musicians joined Isaac after 20 years and see how they have grown in music. I especially like little Jian Wang's performance at the end of the first part of the movie (the part that filmed in 1979).