Product Details

• Actors: Georg Solti
• Producers: Peter Maniura
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: October 9, 2001
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005OCLJ
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,466 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #8 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > Biography
  #12 in	Movies & TV > Music Video & Concerts > Biography
  #28 in	Movies & TV > Musicals & Performing Arts > Classical > By Performer > Solti, Georg

• For more information about "Sir Georg Solti - The Making of a Maestro" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This too-brief but informative and insightful documentary was finished soon after Maestro Solti's death in 1997 at age 85, a title card informing us that the very last interview was filmed five days before he died. In only 90 minutes, Solti's extraordinary life and career are vividly recounted, from his upbringing in Austria to his clash with the Nazis while in his late 20s; from his days leading the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden to his shaping of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra into one of the world's greatest musical ensembles. Solti himself engagingly discusses his techniques and musical influences (including his analytical account of Richard Strauss as a conductor) while colleagues like soprano Kiri Te Kanawa and director Sir Peter Hall and his widow Lady Solti give their own personal takes on the man. The Making of a Maestro is a richly satisfying glimpse at a seminal musical artist. -- Kevin Filipski

Product Description
This definitive profile of one of the greatest conductors of our day captures the remarkable man's amazing energy and passion for music. Filmed with Solti in Budapest, Bavaria, Chicago and London during the last year of his life, and filled with a wealth of archival footage and music, this documentary charts Solti's amazing life and illustrious career.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Visual version of Solti's "Memoirs", October 26, 2001

By	Eddy Oquendo (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a competent and occasionally captivating profile of perhaps the most famous conductor of the second half of the twentieth century. Sir Georg Solti's life was inspiring and dynamic, filled with musical experiences spanning eight decades. For this reason, I agree with one reviewer that the film feels "too-brief." But the brevity of the piece helps to keep the material as dynamic as the man himself.

The documentary is basically divided into five segments that flow into one another seamlessly: Solti's early life, up to and including his stint with the Munich Opera; his controversial engagement with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden; the historic studio recording sessions of Wagner's "Ring" cycle with Decca; Solti's encounters with composer Richard Strauss; and Sir Georg's later years with the Chicago Symphony. Of these sequences, I found the famous studio sessions to be the most interesting. As one would expect, interviews with family, friends and colleagues are liberally sprinkled throughout the program. Added to these are numerous location shots of several cities and their music halls, with a trip to the home of Richard Strauss as one of the highlights. Essentially, the film follows the same format as Solti's "Memoirs," which appears to have been worked on simultaneously. The maestro showed great timing to the end, for both works were finished very shortly before his death.

Though this documentary is obviously the work of professionals, it lacks the electricity of more creative minds. Nevertheless, the filmmakers managed to produce a fairly engaging film on a limited budget. It appears that a digital camera was used in the process; while the video quality is not film-like, it is generally very sharp and clean. The audio is pleasing, as it should be for material that is musically pregnant. There are no supplements included, not even subtitles. Captions would have been useful, as some in the film, including the subject, are occasionally hard to understand due to their accents.

Fans of Solti, and classical music in general, should be interested in considering purchase of this DVD. Those that have read his autobiography may want to pass, since the film covers little that isn't discussed in the book. Some who haven't may prefer to watch the film instead. In any event, this DVD respectably chronicles the life of a great musician.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars brisk but memorable, September 25, 2006

By	J. Anderson (Monterey, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

An efficient introduction to Solti's life and legacy, on the lean side, but not an ungenerous film. Quite a bit of Solti's own comments gets lost between the echo of his accent and his expressive way of speaking - subtitles would be useful. I wanted more on his personal and professional relationship with Bartok, and more of his Mozart, but overall, the performance footage was interesting, providing a keen look at Solti's conducting, and a worthwhile look at a consistently compelling musical intellect along the way. The best thing about Solti's musicanship is his exacting rhythmic prescriptions - it's what makes his Mozart something special - and that unique aspect of his work is accented in the film with precision. His whole body teaches a kind of rhythmic concision, even his walk. It's interesting. Funny thing is - that intense concision is just what this film lacks. It lacks Solti's rhythmic spark. Too bad, but the documentary is well made, Solti is credibly revealing, and the candor of his music making comes through loud and clear. There's also some fine footage of an early Wagner recording with Nilsson. Any Solti fan will be satisfied with Making of a Maestro.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Maestro Speaks!, January 23, 2003

By	Albert Lynd (Edmond, OK) - See all my reviews

Another must for all Solti fans as well as those who want to know more about this unique conductor. Sometimes brief, the various segments trace a quick yet interesting picture of this extrodinary musician and the events that put him center stage in the classical music world.