Friedrich Gulda

Piantist Friedrich Gulda performs with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in this video, which features highlights from two separate concerts. Gulda is the soloist for Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, op. 73", which comes from a recital recorded in 1989. In 1995, Gulda and the Berlin Philharmonic teamed up for another videotaped performance, this time offering three pieces by Mozart -- "Fantasia in D minor, K. 397", "Sonata in B flat major, K. 333", and "Sonata in D major, K. 576". ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

From the late 1940s until his untimely death in January 2000, Austrian-born Friedrich Gulda qualified as one of the world's most unique pianists. Initially one of the leading experts in the compositions of Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart, Gulda toured Europe and South America as a prodigy in his late teens, then took his Carnegie Hall bow a short time later. Gulda gained an offbeat reputation, however (and a wholly deserved one) for his equally pronounced interest in jazz, and his proclivity for performing classical and jazz interchangeably - often within the same concert, which led some to brand him a "terrorist pianist." Ergo, the musician represented one of the only figures in contemporary music who could simultaneously hold court with the likes of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea and Karl Böhm. Gulda also staged slightly outrageous and absurd events from time to time, such as faking his own death and resurrection to shock and arouse the ire of listeners. The documentary Friedrich Gulda: So What - A Portrait pays homage to the late Gulda's life and career, by telling his story with a combination of rare archival and concert footage - all set to prerecorded narration by Gulda and Ulrich Mühe. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide