The Harvest of Sorrow

A documentary on the legendary composer/conductor/pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff is obviously a worthy addition to film literature. The fact that this is a flawed work is both unfortunate and unworthy of its subject. What are we to do? Be pleased with what we have been given and say nothing critical about it-----or point out what diminishes the film as a work of art?

Permit someone who greatly admires Rachmaninoff to note where he was disappointed by "The Harvest of Sorrow." At the very outset, a most unwise major artistic decision was made to use the then 94 year old John Gielgud as the narrator who gave us Rachmaninoff's voice during the course of the film----reading sections of his journal that were believed apt to the respective scenes then being presented. This may have been one of Gielgud's very last show business efforts----and it surely is one of his least effective ones. At this point, his voice was quite weak, at times unintelligible and consistently irritating. Was he the only choice available? Unlikely.

Rachmaninoff is widely considered to be one of the greatest classical pianists of the first half of the 20th century. This fact is glossed over in favor of numerous references to several of his most famous compositions---some noted many times via excerpts. He had a close friendship with pianist Vladimir Horowitz that was never even mentioned. Why?

Rachmaninoff enjoyed a "special" artistic relationship with the Philadelphia Orchestra----first under Stokowski and then under Ormandy. They collaborated often in the concert hall and in the very significant project of recording all of Rachamaninoff's works for piano and orchestra. This was never mentioned---even though these recordings are legendary historical landmarks. Surely the satisfaction Rachmaninoff must have enjoyed in this collaboration mitigated some of the "sorrow" that was emphasized to an extreme as the motif of this film.

And while "The Harvest of Sorrow" is greatly tilted in the direction of a consideration of Rachmaninoff's compositions, there were (as the other commentator pointed out) some very key omissions. Apart from the fact that the first and fourth piano concertos seemed never to have existed because of their being ignored by the film narrative, the same fate also overtook "The Bells"-----an important early work for orchestra and chorus. Why?

Rachmaninoff allegedly was so disappointed in his first symphony that he vowed to eradicate its existence. Yet it survives. Why?

What happened to his wife and two daughters? We meet a niece and grandson---and that's all we know of his family after he left Russia. Were they part of his "sorrow"?

The many archival clips are valuable and interesting. But given the fact that Rachmaninoff did not die until 1943, is it not reasonable to infer that he had been interviewed at some point while in the USA? Why were we denied the opportunity to hear his real voice?

I am grateful for the gems embedded in "The Harvest of Sorrow"----and there are many of them. However, I am frustrated by the realization of what an even greater film this might have been.

This is a magnificent documentary about the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff directed by the brilliant Tony Palmer. It was made with the assistance of the grandson and niece of Rachmaninoff, and it uses Rachmaninoff's extensive home movies, which were obtained through them. Palmer is such an expert at documentaries about composers that he easily achieves a masterly matching of footage and music throughout the film. The film also features some of the most creative lighting of musical performers that I have ever seen. Also cooperating in the production of this film were the conductor Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Theatre of St. Petersburg, which Rachmaninoff always referred to as 'my beloved Mariinsky Theatre'. It was Rachmaninoff himself who said that his life had been 'a harvest of sorrow'. Central to the film is the long autobiographical letter which he wrote to his two daughters, which is read aloud in installments on the soundtrack by Sir John Gielgud. There can rarely have been made at any time a more satisfying and moving documentary about a composer than this one. After all, the composer himself effectively wrote the narration! And he even wrote the music! The long-dead Rachmaninoff was thus a de facto collaborator with the film maker, and so intimate is this association, that it is difficult to accept that they never even met. The life and spirit of Rachmaninoff are magnificently evoked, and anyone interested in him, or his music, or indeed in classical music in general, should see this. If only young people could also see it. Copies of the DVD should be given to all music students. Why does no one do this sort of thing? This kind of material is of priceless cultural value, and yet it is largely unknown to those who would find it inspiring.

Can't believe FINALLY watching this great DVD. Heard about it for so long and finally rented it from Netflix. It's been due for such a long, long time. I'm 62, and have been listening to SVR since I was in my mother's womb. Surprised how many moving picture's there were of him. To see him smile and enjoy himself with all the children. Rent or buy this DVD and your life will be enriched. In the last few years I've been keen on his solo piano pieces so it was a happy note to see how I missed is orchestrations. One sad note, unless I somehow missed it, the first piano concerto was past over and has been the case for so many years now. How unfortunate. There might be first timers watching this and such a wonderful youthful piece might have been appreciated. Great ending using the 2nd symphony. Considering all the possible paths this do cu could have gone, the one they choose wasn't so bad. Let's say even.. good. But that they made it.. GREAT.

Sergei Rachmaninov is a composer who has been been quickly growing on me over the years. The more works I heard of his, and after watching the incredibly moving Brief Encounter, the more I grew to appreciate his talent. Not that I didn't before, just more so now. So what a treat it was indeed to watch Harvest of Sorrow, which was like a nostalgic, moving and meaningful trip down memory lane.

Harvest of Sorrow is beautifully filmed, loved some of the shots and the locations are gorgeous. It is also very informative, Valery Gergeiev, among others, seem to have a passion about what they're talking about and it comes through loud and clear. For me the real stars are the music, which is just brilliant and very sensitively performed too, and the reading of Rachmaninov's diary entries, the entries themselves are incredibly thought-provoking and take you to another world when you listen with your eyes closed while John Gielgud reads beautifully with just the right amount of ironic distance.

Overall, a wonderfully constructed programme and very informative and interesting. 10/10 Bethany Cox