Carnegie Hall

Great video!!!

I first saw this film over 60 years ago and in many respects it was my introduction to classical music. The DVD was a perfect reminder of that experience. I sent a copy of it to my sister-in-law, who is an admirer of Artur Rubinstein, and she also liked it immensely although the film was recorded in black-and-white.What I didn't like - and this is purely personal and probably no reflection on the film - is that when Jascha Heifetz was playing a most beautiful part of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto the camera produced a soppy scene of a lady, all misty-eyed, when I would have very much preferred to see Heifetz in action.What there is to like about the film is the sights and sounds of not one, but many, first-rate musicians in action, and that makes up for everything.

The only reason I have not given this movie 5 points is the plot. However, the plot is a very minor component in this movie... This 1947 feature, shot inside Carnegie Hall is about a mother whose only dream is that her only son will become a famous concert pianist. As he grows up, he's fortunate enough to see the greatest names performing right across his home, at Carnegie Hall. The first 40 minutes focus on the plot and there's hardly any music in them. But then the direction changes - the plot moves to the backround while the focus is on Jascha Heifetz (1st movement from Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto), Artur Rubinstein (Chopin and De Falla), Jan Peerce, Rise Stevens and more. It's a unique chance to see these great names performing live! The picture and sound are, I guess, what can be expected from a movie made in the 40s not by a big Hollywood studio; nevertheless, if the artists and music in general are the focus, it's a treasure.

Coloratura soprano LILY PONS was a friend of mine for over 30years. She was a delightful, vivacious and funny artist. Offstage,she was totally as "down-to-earth" as one could imagine. I havea copy of this DVD in the VHS mode and, before that becomes history, wanted to replace it with the up-dated DVD version. Onstage, no artist could come near her physical beauty, gloriouscoloratura vocal acrobatics. She reigned as the "World's MostFamous Coloratura Soprano for years. It is a distinct pleasure torecommend "Carnegie Hall" to those interested in the artistry ofMiss Lily Pons. The brillliant mezzo-soprano Rise Stevens also addsa great deal with her beautiful singing. Richard Kendall, Hollywood Hills, CA

Memories of great artists of classical music in the 20th century - Jasha Heifetz, Artur Rubinstein, Gregor Piatigorsky. Lily Pons, Rise Stevens, Jan Peerce, Ezio Pinza, Leopold Stokowski, Arthur Rodzinski, Bruno Walter performing some of their favorite classics.The Bel Canto Society's version of this movie is good. The audio sound and video quality does not compare with today's standards.However, the performances of these great artists is incomparable.MAS

While today's younger viewers may think this movie is a waste of time, it is far from that. The plot is a bit so-so for my taste, but the list of the world's greatest performers is impressive. We get to witness performances and get to see these artists interact. "Carnegie Hall" combines music history in America with entertainment and helps preserve the once highly respected status classical music once enjoyed in America.

I bought this to have the Heifetz shortened version of the 1st movement of the Tschaikovsky Violin Concerto in my collection. Remember when in 1980 Perlman interrupted his concert to say to the audience "Today is the birthday of the greatest violinist who ever lived?" He was referring to Heifetz and his comment took in a lot of territory as no one alive had ever heard, for example, Paganini. Well I feel the same way about Heifetz. So get this one to hear Heifetz at his best. Forget the rest.

Much to my delight, I was so overjoyed to know that such a wonderful movie existed.Seing this 1947 movie with live performances in Carnegie Hall, such as Artur Rubenstein, concert pianist, Lily Pons, Enzio Pinza and many other great artists perform was and absolute joy.I deeply wish to thank AMC movie channel for introducing this outstanding movie to the viewers. I give this a rating of 5+. LW

Fils d'un violoniste amateur, j'ai vu Carnegie Hall à sa sortie... en 1947. J'avais six ans, ce fut ma première expérience du cinéma... Je me suis aperçu en revoyant hier le film que je n'avais jamais oublié l'image des harpes accompagnant Piatigorsky... ni la voix de Lily Pons. Une intrigue charmante (celle d'une femme qui veut faire de son fils un artiste, et a du mal à admettre qu'il choisisse sa propre voie) sert de prétexte à l'évocation de cette salle de concert mythique. Ce n'est pas un "film musical", ce n'est pas un divertissement, l'image n'est pas toujours à la hauteur du son, mais c'est une succession de grands moments musicaux, comme Rubinstein jouant la Grande Polonaise et la Danse du Feu ou l'interprétation par Jascha Heifetz du concerto de Tchaïkovsky. La présentation, symbolique, par Stokowsky, du "Brown Danube" de Hal Brown, ouvre une porte d'espoir vers les compositeurs américains contemporains. Pour les jeunes musiciens, une initiation, sérieuse et grave, à l'histoire de la musique. Pour les amateurs, un album de souvenirs à ne laisser perdre à aucun prix. Merci à ceux qui ont su conserver ce film culte.

ワルターの”マイスタージンガー”で始まるこの映画に出てくる演奏家のなんと豪華な顔ぶれであろうか！私はルービンシュタイン大好きの人なので、「英雄ポローネーズ」と「火祭りの踊り」のために買いました。ルービンシュタインお得意中のお得意だけど、もしかしてそうなったのはこの映画のせい？アンコール・ピースのタイトルも「火祭りの踊り」だし・・・ハイフェッツのチャイコのヴァイオリン・コンチェルトのカデンツアのすごいこと！ハープと一緒に奏でられるピアティゴルスキーの「白鳥」の美しいこと！ええと、一応オハナシはあって、[夫に死に別れたステージママ志望のお母さんがカーネギーホールで掃除婦して息子をこのホールで演奏できるようなピアニストにしようと懸命なんだけど、息子はジャズに魅かれていてママはがっくり、ところがある日のコンサートで大ストコフスキー先生がご紹介するのは・・・自作を弾き振りするトニー君、ママは感激の涙！皆、感激！」とまあ　いかにもアメリカン・ドリームというか・・・でもこのＤＶＤ買う人、誰もこのオハナシは無視（たぶん）それにこの曲ってあんまりよくないのね・・・ガーシュインばりと言いたいとこだけど…残念ながら。詳しいテクは知らないけど、デジタルリマスターするより良い映像と音にするPCMとかの処理で映像も綺麗だし、音も良くなったDVDですね。それでも、時々ピンボケ映像が入るけど・・・昔、音楽好きの父に教えられて、ビデオ借りて何回も観たけど、その時よりは良いです。しかし、これだけの顔ぶれ揃えられちゃった「強いアメリカ」だったんだなあ一体ギャラいくら？なんせ「百万ドルトリオ』全員出演ですから・・・その他にマエストロ、オペラ歌手・・・なんて下世話なことを考えてしまったりします。ストコフスキーは映画慣れしているけど、ルービンシュタインやハイフェッツが下手くそなセリフしゃべるのもご愛嬌の映画です。今は世界一コンサートの多い東京だけど、昔の人はこの映画観て、憧れの溜息をついたのでしょうね。その「憧れのカーネーギ・ホール」だって行こうと思えば簡単に行けちゃうし・・・でも、そういう「憧れ」持っていた世代というのも良いものではないか・・・と思ってみたりもしました。何でも簡単に手に入る現代って・・・ちょっと哀しいかも。追記これは4のヴァージョンがあって、それを全部合わせた完全版だそうです。

This B&W film, directed by Edgar Ulmer and starring Marsh Hunt, was made in 1947 (the year that Marsha Hunt flew to Washington CD with some 30 other actors, filmmakers, and directors to protest the actions of Congress and the House Un-American Activites Commission - HUAC). Marsh is a great beauty, whose talent was later suppressed by being blacklisted and therefore found great difficulty finding acting parts. She plays a mother who works hard first as a behind-the-scenes cleaner at Carnegie Hall, where she had been lucky to see Tchaikowsy conducting at the opening of the Hall when she was a child in 1891, and later through her dedicated hard work and kind supportive personality, finds her way into the office management, where the great violinist Jascha Heifetz admires her support for young promising musicians, and comments the she "IS Carnegie Hall". This film is a vehicle for some 14 planetary musicians to present their styles, technique, and musicianship. It is a romance, between Marsha Hunt's son and a jazz band singer, and a story of young musical creativity arising from a deep and thorough immersion in music and technique. The opportunity to see Artur Rubinstein blaying with bravura display in Seiber's Ritual Fire Dance, and to see Heifetz displaying a human and warm side whilst dazzling with his scintillating technical and musical mastery, and to see Stokowski's showmanship, Lily Pons' breathtaking soprano style, Piatigorsky playing one of only 4 Stardivari cellos in playable condition in the world, all of these are reasons enough to watch this film. I sat through it spellbound, and greatly moved by some of the performances. It would be a great education for any young musician to watch and study these performers, at the height of their powers when this film was made, and a highly pleasurable way to learn.See this film.

What awonderful experience to be able to see all these outstanding names of the classical music world performing in this gem of a film.The story is a standard Holywood story of the 1930s/40s with a wee bit overacting by the main characters but what musical cameos by such top names both in playing and acting.together with an awesome insight behind the scenes of the Carnegie hall where we are treated to superb playing of,for me, favourite musicians and composers.This is one of these films which will be brought out to watch again and again to enjoy of people still remembered as being 5***** musical geniuses and will continue to be so for many,many more years.

watakusiga tyuugakusei no toki mimasita,gennzai 75 sai ni narimasuga, sonotokinoomoidega wasuraremasenndesita.ookiniiridesu.