Peter Rosen Movies
- 2008
- Add Garrison Keillor: The Man On the Radio in the Red Tennis Shoes to QueueAdd Garrison Keillor: The Man On the Radio in the Red Tennis Shoes to top of Queue
Regarded by many as America's foremost humorist and likened by others to a late 20th century reincarnation of Samuel Langhorne Clemens and Will Rogers, Minnesota-based Garrison Keillor commenced his popular public radio series A Prairie Home Companion in 1974. In each weekly three-hour broadcast, Keillor utilizes folk music, often parodistic playlets, satirical product endorsements and gentle short stories to both send up old-time radio programs and conjure up an enchanting view of middle Americana. Created as an episode of PBS's popular American Masters documentary series, Peter Rosen's Garrison Keillor: The Man On the Radio in the Red Tennis Shoes looks beyond the mythos of A Prairie Home Companion to profile Keillor biographically and examine his unusual litany of contributions to American pop culture. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 2008
As helmed by Peter Rosen, this documentary chronicles the diaspora of intellectual artists driven from Nazi Germany to new residences in the United States at the onset of World War II (c. 1939). As the program explicitly denotes, many of these exiles resettled in Southern California, forming a veritable bohemian community on America's west coast and permanently altering the landscapes of art, music, literature, film and philosophy in the U.S. Interviewees include Thomas Mann, Fritz Lang, Bertolt Brecht, Erich Maria Remarque and many others. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Henry Geldzahler was one of the most important figures in 20th Century American art, even though he was not an artist himself. Geldzahler was a collector and historian who helped establish the role of artists such as Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, George Segal, and Roy Lichtenstein within the canon of contemporary art with "New York Painting and Sculpture: 1940-1970," a groundbreaking show at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art which made the case for pop art while the gallery establishment was still favoring the more accepted but less accessible abstract expressionists. A passionate man who was a friend, confidante, and collaborator to many of the painters and sculptors he championed, Geldzahler assembled the "New York Painting and Sculpture" show himself, and while it caused no small amount of controversy at the time (especially among his colleagues at the MoMA), it established a consensus that the pop movement and its leading figures were here to stay, and Geldzahler continued to be a mover and shaker in the world of contemporary art until his death in 1994 at the age of 59. Who Gets to Call it Art? is a documentary which celebrates and chronicles Geldzahler's life and career and features interviews with a number of his friends and associates, including Andy Warhol, Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, Jonas Mekas, Larry Poons, John Chamberlain, and many more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Frank Stella, Jasper Johns, (more)
- 2004
In 1835, French composer Jacques Fromental Halevy created a sensation with his opera La Juive, which told the story of Eléazar, a Jewish merchant who rescues and adopts a Gentile daughter, but is later forced to choose between his child and his religion. The show was widely acclaimed, and the legendary tenor Enrico Caruso once declared Eléazar his favorite role. But after La Juive was banned in Europe during the Nazi occupation of World War II for its condemnation of anti-Semitism and intolerance, the opera fell out of favor until celebrated classical vocalist Neil Shicoff took it upon himself to bring the work back into circulation. After spearheading a production of La Juive at the Vienna State Opera, Shicoff was cast as Eléazar in a production at New York's famous Metropolitan Opera House, with filmmaker Sidney Lumet agreeing to make a music video based on one of the show's arias. Finding Eléazar: Portrait of a Tenor and a Role offers a behind-the-scenes look at the Met's production of La Juive, as well as Shicoff's often temperamental relationship with his collaborators and his own convictions about the opera as the son of a cantor. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Television producer Peter Rosen directs the feature-length documentary Khachaturian, a profile of the Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian. Born June 6, 1903, in Georgia, Khachaturian became one of the leading composers of the Soviet era. He was president of the Composer's Union of the Soviet Union and gained respect from the Communist party. At the same time, he was allied with artistic composers like Shostakovich and Prokofiev. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- 2001
This program takes an in-depth look at the legendary venue known as the Hollywood Bowl, home to countless famous performances by celebrated artists. In addition to info on the history of the structure, the program features numerous performances by people like Itzhak Perlman, Debbie Reynolds, Bernadette Peters, John Williams, with detailed looks back stage to see how the shows came together. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
- Add The Cliburn: Playing on the Edge to QueueAdd The Cliburn: Playing on the Edge to top of Queue
Documentary filmmaker Peter Rosen directed this incisive backstage look at one of the world's most prestigious musical competitions, the Eleventh Annual Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The Cliburn: Playing on the Edge captures the excitement, energy, and anxiety of a handful of gifted young people vying for honors which could help launch their careers, pitted against other young pianists with similar hopes and ambitions. Along with the drama of the competition, this film also includes extensive performance footage from these talented young musicians, some accompanied by a full orchestra led by James Conlon. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Leroy Anderson's career as a composer, arranger, and conductor is chronicled in this program featuring many of his hit songs. Back in 1952, this son of Swedish immigrant parents saw his instrumental tune "Blue Tango" shoot to the top of the record charts. He went on to create a number of great dance tunes, as well as many melodic, upbeat pieces. Anderson worked for the Boston Pops and did some work on movie and television projects. "Sleigh Ride," "Syncopated Clock," "Jazz Pizzicato," and "The Typewriter" are all included in this documentary. Anderson's most devoted fans may also recognize "Fiddle Faddle."
~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
~ Elizabeth Smith, All Movie Guide
- 1998
This program tells the story of the man who many feel was the greatest singer who ever performed: Enrico Caruso. The film follows the life of the singing idol, who thrilled both the sophisticated opera enthusiast and the common people with his singular voice and charisma. Despite the technical shortcomings of the recordings from the early days of broadcasting, the magic of Caruso comes through. The biography presents archival photographs, film clips, and personal recollections of family and friends. Interviews with opera stars, such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, offer insight into the genius of the singer, whose untimely death was mourned around the world. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Classical pianist Catherine Wilson performs five selections, including Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" and Frederic Chopin's "Berceuse." In between pieces Wilson chats with various other musicians. Unfortunately poor sound and video quality hinder the musical performances. ~ Andrew Olthuis, All Movie Guide
- 1997
- Add First Person Singular: I.M. Pei to QueueAdd First Person Singular: I.M. Pei to top of Queue
Architect I.M. Pei leads viewers through some of his more famous creations such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Miho Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the Bank of China. He also speaks candidly about his life, his early years in China, his schooling at both Harvard and MIT, and his approach to architecture and design. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Acclaimed concert pianist Van Cliburn opens up to documentary filmmakers in this release that offers an intimate look at Cliburn's life and career presented through a collection of interviews with the pianist himself as well as those who know him best. Performance footage not previously broadcast or commercially available offers something new for Cliburn fans who think they've seen it all, and revealing conversations with such contemporaries as Marilyn Horne, Leontyne Price, and others offer a look at the side of Cliburn rarely seen by the public. An accompanying audio compact disc offers complete performances of songs heard in the documentary. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1993
- Add The Ninth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Life in Music to QueueAdd The Ninth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Life in Music to top of Queue
Enjoy the piano performances of some of the world's best in the 1993 International Piano Competition along with an interview with Van Cliburn. ~ All Movie Guide
As part of Carnegie Hall's 100th anniversary season, violin virtuoso Midori performs in this live concert recording with pianist Robert MacDonald accompanying her. Compostions performed include Ludwig von Beethoven's Sonata for Violin and Piano no 8 in G major, Op. 30 no 3, Richard Strauss' Sonata for Violin and Piano in E flat major, Op. 18, Frédéric Chopin's Nocturne for Piano in C sharp minor, B 49, Claude Debussy's Beau soir, Maurice Ravel's Tzigane for Violin and Piano, and many more. It's a musically lush video filled with vibrato from the masterful Midori. ~ Forrest Spencer, All Movie Guide
- 1991
- R
- Add Carnegie Hall at 100: A Place of Dreams to QueueAdd Carnegie Hall at 100: A Place of Dreams to top of Queue
Everyone in New York City knows that for over a century the definitive venue for classical and popular music has been Carnegie Hall. The so-called "temple of high art," Carnegie Hall's warm acoustics have drawn some of the most popular acts in music history. Now viewers at home can hear the whole story of this cultural Mecca in a documentary that details the history of a venue that has hosted such luminaries as Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis, and Leonard Bernstein. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The popular artist Yo Yo Ma is presented in a live concert performance at the renowned Tanglewood Music Festival. The personable cellist plays a wide range of music, from Bach and Brahms, to Beethoven and Gruber. He manages to entertain, inform, and delight his audience on a warm summer night in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
- 1989
This film from producer/director Peter Rosen documents the events of the eighth installment of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition with performances of works by Chopin, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and others. Rosen was given the 1989 award for Best Documentary Director by the Directors Guild of America. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
An episode of PBS's American Masters series, the hour-long documentary program Rubinstein Remembered paints a biographical portrait of one of the 20th century's musical giants -- Artur B. Rubinstein (1887-1982), the Lodz-born Polish classical pianist known for his interpretations of Granados and Villa Lobos, and for his frequent musical collaborations with such luminaries as Henryk Szeryng and Gregor Piatigorsky. With precious, incredibly rare footage from Rubinstein's home movies and vintage archival performances, vis-à-vis interviews with Rubinstein's family members and colleagues, the program offers a multifaceted image of this complex, talented, and dynamic individual. The program is narrated by Arthur Rubinstein's son, John Rubinstein, the noted American musician, conductor, and character actor who became a cast staple of such
television series as Family and Crazy Like a Fox. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
television series as Family and Crazy Like a Fox. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
A documentary that covers the life and works of Arturo Toscanini. Includes some rare color home movies of Toscanini at work and play. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1978
This in-depth interview with legendary composer Leonard Bernstein walks through the musician's influences and inspiration, as well as stories from his childhood in Boston, his time at Harvard and the Curtis Institute, and his development as an artist. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- 1971
- R
This documentary of the Yale protests against Nixon's bombing of Cambodia (1970) was filmed by its director while he was a student at the Yale Drama School of Filmmaking, using funds that were part of his fellowship. He is able to illustrate what is happening quite clearly without having to use a voiceover narration, and he allows people of all persuasions to speak for themselves. This includes alumni arriving to attend a homecoming football game, student protest leaders and radical activist Abbie Hoffman. Another issue the filmmakers explore is student reaction to the arrest of Bobby Seale and other Black Panther leaders in New Haven. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
