Film: Yannick – An Artist’s Journey

 

 

 

If you love music and opera don’t miss this wonderful documentary about Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the new conductor of the Metropolitan Opera at the Lincoln Centre in New York.

Yannick Nezet-Seguin took over as Musical Director in the 2020-21 season and is only the third to be appointed at the Met in 133 years.

He has authority over the artistic planning which includes the 100 piece orchestra, chorus, casting and music staff of arguably the best opera company in the world, which presents more than 200 performances a year, and transmits ten live to more than 2000 movie theatres in 70 countries.

 

 

He has conducted in all the major opera houses in the world and worked with every major singer. He is a music visionary who has the ability to help them to find the true character they are portraying musically and dramatically.

From an early age he was encouraged by his parents to follow his passions of art, religion and music and they accompanied his on his travels early in his career. At the age of five he learnt the piano, and at ten decided to become a conductor.

 

 

He studied with people renowned in his field and was invited to accompany his idol Carlo Maria Giulini for a year. He began his appearances at the Met in 2009.

He lives in Montreal and Philadelphia with his partner Pierre Tourville who is a violinist at the Met, and has recorded extensively. His energy is prodigious.

 

 

Directed by award-winning Susan Froemke who has had previous collaborations with the Met this not-to-be-missed film shows well-chosen footage from family home movies and rehearsals for La Traviata and Dialogues des Carmelites.

115 minutes.

(Editor: Mea Culpa. Our apologies to readers (and to Ros) for not running this review earlier, but the Starfish team has been busy on the road. If you missed Yannick at Luna Leederville and Luna SX Fremantle be sure to keep an eye out for it on streaming services or other cinema runs. PR.)

I would give it six stars  if I could!     

 

Watch the trailer…