The Bolero

Bolero is a wonderfully haunting work which Maurice Ravel, the composer, actually disliked. Zuben Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic render a glorious performance of the work after giving us a look into the inner workings of the orchestra and how the work is prepared.

I've commented previously on "Bolero" and have tried to locate a DVD. Pyramid Media does have it, however the cost, hundreds of dollars, seemed a bit much. Well, I found "The Bolero" at a web site entitled, "first run features" for only $14. The print is good. It was good watching it again with two of my grandsons. A great teaching/learning experience. Even though the movie is dated (1973), it is still a wonderful tool to explain the workings of the orchestra and the preparation that goes into a polished performance. While teaching in New Jersey, I showed "The Bolero" many times to many classes of students grade 7 & 8.. The students were awed by the piece and the cinematography. I recommend this short movie, which won an academy award in 1973 for best short subject.

Now I can't really blame this documentary for this, but as Rubin Mehta himself says in the preamble, he never wants to hear this piece of music again - and neither did I. His reason is days of practice for this performance, mine is less worthy and more to do with Torvill and Dean's Free Ice Dance routines in 1984. Anyway, to begin with we spend a little time with some of the soloists as they explain the difficulties of playing this piece and of synchronising it within the larger arrangement that Mehta himself is putting together. The flautist, bassoonist and conductor himself give us some interesting insight into just how this piece gently but firmly accumulates to an orchestral crescendo fit to accompany one of the most visceral of Spanish dances. Put in that context and using some intimately crafted direction here, I found myself realising that though I still find this a repetitive piece, I was aware of just how complex the production of such a beautifully rich sound is, and with the conductor lit to look more akin to Rasputin than a musician, I found myself ever so slightly captivated. It's played in it's entirety here and is well worth just letting wash over you for twenty minutes.

I first saw this movie in high school as part of a film appreciation class taught by a teacher who was WAY ahead of his time and much under appreciated. We watched it in class on an old 16mm graflex projector that was "state of the art" back then and it sounded (to us) GREAT at the time... Little beknownst to me, it was to become a landmark in my life... when I, and two friends - after "borrowing" the 16mm print "bagged class" and snuck into the media room where there was an array of equipment at our sneaky fingered disposal. We wired the speaker output through a "stereo system", shut and barred the door, (it was a small room without windows) and fired it up..... WOW!!! Three high school kids in 1974 were freaked out... IT was,and is, a magnificent film.. GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY, GREAT EMOTION, and it IS a documentary... Talk about blowing me away... "WICKED"... I talked about this film to a lot of people over the years, and just recently I had the opportunity to see it again... WOW.....it freaked me out again... WICKED!!! I am not a classical music fan.... nor in any way a musician, but just one who is in love with "the process" Anyone who knows what I am talking about by being in love with "the process" will relate to this, and relate to the LOVE that each of the artists involved with "The Bolero" have for this same process... Is it about classical music?? ....NO WAY MAN!!!! It is about the PROCESS,creativity, leadership and love... It hits the nail wickedly hard, right on the head... peace, JC

If you do not like classical music, avoid this film like the plague. If you do like this music, you should try and obtain a copy - it is available from Pyramid Media. I believe that it should be mandatory viewing for any high school or university student in an orchestra.

The first part of the film consists of short conversations with Maestro Zubin Mehta and members of his orchestra concerning Bolero. This gives insights into how various instruments and sections of the orchestra work together on Ravel's famous masterpiece. The second part consists of the orchestra performing the work. The close-ups of various members gives you a view that simply cannot be seen in a concert hall. This is absolutely one of the best short films I have ever seen, and it fully deserved the Oscar that it won.