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Rating: 
Summary: Worthwhile.
Review: This is a good DVD about Stern's life. It is greatly aided by interesting comments made by a varied group of famous people, violinists and otherwise. These include Eugene Istomin, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Pinchas Zukerman, Zubin Mehta, Jack Benny, Sarah Chang, Gregory Peck, Henry Kissinger, Shimon Peres, Itzhak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma. I watched this DVD after I had seen the excellent one "From Mao to Mozart" which has more depth and many more great extras (this has no video extras). Otherwise I might have given it 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Help!
Review: This is a plea for a DVD release of the Oscar-winning documentary: From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China (1980). The documentary recounts Stern's famous visit to China in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution, during which the listening to, and performing of, Western classical music was a capital offence.(It's now 2002 and all's forgiven! The DVD is finally here and it's even better than the original since it contains footage of Stern's reprise visit to China in 1998. The producers managed to track down some the children Stern trained in 1979. We see them practicing again with the master, this time as adult professionals. Stern's earlier insights into the true abilities of his proteges are revealed. In 1979 Stern asked one struggling child violinist to sing, rather than play, a difficult passage. The child grew up to become a professional singer. How did Stern know?! It was very interesting to contrast Stern's teaching style of children with that of adults. With the children he was most forgiving; almost indulgent. With adults he was unforgiving; almost harsh. I formed the view that Stern was a man of great compassion. His students, young and old, desired as much instruction as could be absorbed in the short period of time each had with the master. Stern maximized the learning, based upon the age, experience and psychological fortitude of each of his tutees. PS You get one last glimpse of Stern by buying/renting an entertaining popular film starring Meryl Streep entitled Music of the Heart.)
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