Art FIFA 2013: In Search of Haydn

In Search of Haydn

United Kingdom | 2011 | colour | 102 min | English, German, French, English subtitles

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director: Phil Grabsky
Cinematography: Phil Grabsky
Sound: Phil Grabsky, Chris Wright
Editing: Phil Reynolds
Narration: Juliet Stevenson
Participation: Walter Reicher, Bayan Northcott, Theresa Gabriel, Zsuzsanna Vörös, David Wyn Jones, Rupert Ridgewell, Camilla Tilling, David Ward
Cast: Sir Roger Norrington, Gianandrea Noseda, Frans Brüggen, Christophe Rousset, Ian Page, Ronald Brautigam, Sophie Bevan, Emmanuel Ax
Producer: Phil Grabsky
Production: Seventh Art Productions
Distribution: Seventh Art Productions

Official description of the film:

A biographical account of the life of Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) presented chronologically, with breathtaking performances of his music by some of the world’s most celebrated talents: Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Roger Norrington, the Orchestra of the 18th Century with Frans Brüggen, the Endellion String Quartet, Christophe Rousset and Les Talents Lyriques, Ian Page and the Classical Opera Company, Ronald Brautigam, Sophie Bevan and Emmanuel Ax, among others. Through revealing interviews with musicologists and experts and excerpts from Haydn’s memoirs, the film provides insight not only into the music but an appreciation of the composer himself. The emphasis is on the performance and interpretation of Haydn’s music, with recordings of concerts by some of the world’s greatest musicians and orchestras.

For those who love classical music this film will be a true delight. It features some superbly interpreted extracts from Haydn's work, it explains the composer's humble beginnings, and presents his meteoritic and unforgettable musical career.

Hayden taught both Mozart and Beethoven and had a tremendous influence on the composition choices of both of those music giants. And although Mozart's and Beethoven's music now, in popular mind, seems to overshadow that of their teacher, for the music connoisseurs Haydn will always remain the musical genius that he truly was. His musical innovations, which might be lost on contemporary audience, were truly significant in his epoch, coming from under very structured Renaissance as well as subsequent Baroque music periods. Haydn truly ushered in the classical music style that was further developed by Mozart and Beethoven. During Haydn's lavish 76th birthday celebrations, Beethoven had publicly expressed his appreciation of Haydn by kneeling down in front of the older composer, surrounded by all the dignitaries, and kissing his forehead. 

Haydn is also renowned and remembered for creating such musical forms as Symphonies and Sonatas, which offered a perfect platform of creative expression for many subsequent music geniuses.

I invite everybody to see this film as it offers a delightful and vast understanding of Haydn's creative genius and his musical journey.

Photo above courtesy of FIFA,  © Seventh Art Productions