From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China (1979)

Isaac Stern's cultural tour of China is seen, with the master violinist performing and mentoring young Chinese musicians. He visits rehearsals of the Peking Opera, meeting with their ... See full summary »

Director:

Murray Lerner

Stars:

Isaac Stern, David Golub, Delun Li

Won 1 Oscar.

Cast

Credited cast:
Isaac Stern	...	Himself
David Golub	...	Himself - Pianist
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Delun Li	...	Himself
Ching-Ling Soong	...	Herself (as Madame Sun Yat-Sen)
Leonard Woodcock	...	Himself

Storyline

Isaac Stern's cultural tour of China is seen, with the master violinist performing and mentoring young Chinese musicians. He visits rehearsals of the Peking Opera, meeting with their musicians who use traditional Chinese instruments, and also visits a sports academy and other venues. The lingering effects of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), which opposed any western influences and oppressed those who introduced western approaches, are evident in the lack of skill development among many of the young musicians and the emphasis on technical skill rather than artistic interpretation.

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Plot Keywords:

musician | chinese | cultural revolution | china | country name in title | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

The Four Oaks Foundation

Country:

USA

Language:

English Mandarin

Release Date:

1979 (China)

Also Known As:

De Mao a Mozart

Filming Locations:

Beijing, China

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into The Music of Strangers (2015)

User Reviews

excellent, sensitive coverage of the effect of the cultural revolution on musicians in China

This is one of the most moving films I have ever seen. The 'language of music' gets a lot of mileage in general, but here you see it as the common voice of people who have no other mutual language. It is a film of great sensitivity and honesty, showing the depths of tragedy people experienced under the Cultural Revolution in China, as well as an engaging whirlwind tour into the rich world of traditional and modern (well, 1980s) China. Stern's master classes with young Chinese students are delightful - humorous, enlightening and beautifully human. Well worth seeing or owning.