>>>Hasten Slowly Films>>>

When I started directing The Master and his Pupil, about the renowned conductor Valery Gergiev teaching a master class, I hoped that it would become an exciting, unpredictable, dramatical, comical, lively, instructive, and, above all, human document about an historic encounter between a living legend like Valery Gergiev and his pupils, in an entertaining endeavour to create dignified successors.

'The Master and his Pupil' visualises the transmission
of musical knowledge, the transmission of an art-form,
of a 'métier', of power, of inspiration.

The approach for this feature-length documentary was cinematic; it was not a
TV registration. The transmission from Valery Gergiev to his pupils, seen from
within the orchestra, was 'captured' by three camera's, operated by skillful
directors of photography. They focused in a precise manner on the physical,
psychological and emotional drama that developed between the 'master' and
the 'pupil'. Meticulous editing was performed on the shot material, so that the
filmical language was exploited at the maximum.

A special film score for cello and piano was written by the renowned Dutch
composer Paul M. Van Brugge, in order to add a musical 'inner voice' to the film.

'The Master and his Pupil' is an exciting, unpredictable, dramatical, comical,
lively, instructive, and, above all, human document about an historic encounter
between a living legend like Valery Gergiev and his pupils in an entertaining
endeavour to create dignified successors.

A compelling story of how to fly with music....

Can charisma be taught? Can you teach someone to stand with his back to a thousand people and command every second of their utmost attention, conveying a sense of passion and conviction through the slightest of body movements, and do it all while guiding a group of skilled professionals through a re-creation of a great work of art, shifting your attention from one person to the next every fraction of a second?
This is the question both posed and answered by director Sonia Herman Dolz in her captivating film The Master and His Pupil, a fascinating and involving portrait that reveals the essential secrets of conducting music. Dolz captures two master class sessions in which the acclaimed Russian conductor Valery Gergiev conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City - shares his knowledge, experience and vision with three of the world's most promising young conductors.
In keeping with its subjects, virtually every frame of this beautifully composed film (made in conjunction with the Rotterdam Young Philharmonic Orchestra, who serve as the laboratory for the young conductors' experiments) is imbued with an intense love of and devotion to music. The skillful, graceful and intuitive camerawork places the viewer in the midst of the orchestra and at the foot of the podium, offering a full immersion into the inner workings of an orchestra. As the film progresses, Gergiev's lessons become less about the specifics of conducting an orchestra and more about the composure and focus required to give voice to one's inner passions.

Compelling, enlightening and often very amusing, The Master and His Pupil offers an intimate perspective into the art and philosophy of music and performance.

It was a unique experience for me - a novice of classical music - to be totally spellbound for ninety minutes, following the creative process of three young conductors taking part in a masterciass with the world-famous conductor Valerie Gergiev. The keywords are simplicity and charisma as Gergiev shows the young conductors how he works, as he passes on his wisdom to the next generation with warmth, humour and outstanding educational skill.
Gergiev's profound wisdom is inspirational and can be used in many situations besides conducting, and his general remark that it is all about the way you communicate with others - the way you treat others - makes a huge impact on the young conductors. With an intense gaze and with few, but well-chosen words, such as "co-operate with the atmosphere", Gergiev takes the young conductors to a different level in their work. Simplicity is also the core of the brilliant film that Sonia Herman Dolz has made - and like the work of Gergiev, it may look simple but most certainly is not. It took extraordinary filmmaking skills to make this well-crafted film, based solely on the two meetings the young conductors have with Gergiev.
With beautiful, calm camera work, we are given the time and the space to dwell on the facial expressions and hands of Gergiev and his pupils, and get a unique opportunity to watch a creative process unfold. Furthermore the film successfully meets the immense challenge of fulfilling the needs of both connoisseurs and novices. As a representative of the latter, I feel that I have been gently allowed to enter a magical world of classical music and conducting and feel privileged to be allowed to get so close to this master, Gergiev. As for the connoisseurs, whom I experienced after a screening of the film in Copenhagen, they were equally inspired and stated that the film had uniquely succeeded in grasping and showing Gergiev's brilliance. A film about music, art and communication all told through the universal language of the conductor. And the film and Gergiev's work both emphasise that 'less is more'.
Cecilia Lidin

'Some people think conducting is a science, some people think conducting is an art, and some people think conducting is just magic;' notes a participant in this elegant document of the science, art and magic of orchestra conducting. Just beginning their careers, three young conductors attend a master class in Rotterdam to learn under the baton of the Russian maestro Valery Gergiev. Comparing an early career as a violinist, one notes a conductor's instrument is far more colorful, yet far more difficult, a statement the film quickly proves in riveting detail. To the baton born these pupils may or may not have been, as Cergiev watches, cajoles, corrects and scolds each through a nervewracking test-run of a performance. Conducting is a way of expressing oneself, they confess, but the master guides them towards a more important goal: the music itself, and how to guide the orchestra's musicians towards expressing it. Gergiev's criticisms are tempered with warmth and a magnetic intelligence. Hovering behind them like an artistic father, his depth of feeling and advice reveal the art of conducting not only to his pupils, but to the camera, turning The Master and His Pupil into a master class of the art behind leading an orchestra. Filmmaker Sonia Herman Dolz, whose earlier work Black Tears captured the passion of several Peruvian musicians, wisely allows the charismatic Gergiev to stand front and center, allowing his passion for music, and for those who seek to conduct it, to speak and soar for itself.
Jason Sanders

In this compelling and revealing film, celebrated Russian conductor Valery Gergiev mentors three young conductors in the artistry and passion required to conduct a symphony orchestra, Director Sofia DoIz takes us behind the scenes into a gripping master class, in which Gergiev works with his talented protégés to perfect their guidance of Rotterdam's Philharmonic Orchestra. Gergiev himself is a living legend: an unkempt, eccentric and unpredictable virtuoso who commands respect and attention. Described as a 'madman of music,' he is the chief conductor and general director of St. Petersburg's Krov Opera and Mariinsky Theatre. Dolz eloquently translates Gergiev's complex genius into lucid and accessible ideas. Gripping, comedic and enlightening, The Master and His Pupil presents the creative struggles faced by conductors. For Gergiev's three young protégés, the challenge becomes finessing the magical art of conducting to convey emotion, risk and excitement. Brett Hendrie, In English, Spanish and Dutch with English subtitles.

Recording of a masterciass by the famous Russian conductor Valery Gergiev for three novice colleagues. Gergiev guides his pupils the way he conducts his orchestra: with passion, humour and unimpeachable authority. The gripping drama of the learning process is underscored by the music - not only the pieces performed, but also the specially written score by Paul M. van Brugge.

Winner of the Best Documentary award (for directors who have made more than two features) at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, The Master and His Pupil is an engaging glimpse into the art of acclaimed Russian maestro Valery Gergiev. Recording a master class that the renowned conductor gives to three budding protégés in Rotterdam, director Sonia Herman Dolz (This is Me, MIFF 2000) beautifully captures the passion, humour and authority Gergiev invests in his work. The gripping drama of the learning process is underscored by the scope of music—from the pieces performed, to the brand-new score written especially for the film by Paul M. van Brugge. Hovering behind his pupils like an artistic father, Gergiev cajoles and corrects them towards an ultimate goal: the music, and how to guide the orchestra’s musicians towards its realisation and expression.

Jury report:
The winning programme brilliantly observed a major artist at work with younger performers and invited the viewer to experience the art of conducting at close range. The director of this documentary showed great skill and control in both shooting and editing this wonderful film, creating the perfect situation for the camera and then showing great discipline in allowing the action to happen in the frame.

THE MASTER AND HIS PUPIL - GERGIEV MASTERCLASS
Produced by Paul Hosek and Sonia Herman Dolz

During the Rotterdam Gergiev Festival 2002, the celebrated conductor Valery Gergiev gave a Master class to three talented young conductors: Jason Lai, winner of the Young Conductor prize in BBC Young Musician of the Year 2002 and now assistant conductor with the BBC Philharmonic; Alexis Soriano, conductor from the Hermitage Orchestra in St Petersburg and Otto Tausk, conductor with the Maarten Altena Ensemble. Music performed includes Scriabin's Poem of Ecstasy.