The visuals consist of long, slow panning shots of still photographs, paintings, and the occasional "live" landscape, building, or cemetery scene. Many of these images are certainly lovely and interesting. Put them in a coffee table book, by all means... I just don't want to look at them on my television screen while being lulled to sleep by a guy reading to me.
Eventually, I just turned the narration off and listened to the music, which helped a little - but in that case, who needs this DVD when you'd be better off just listening to the Uri Caine/Mahler CDs while reading the liner notes and looking at the pictures in the booklets?
Overall, Caine's fresh, quirky, engaging arrangements of Mahler's music stand in stark contrast to the bland, stolid, conventional tone of the visuals and narrative in this well-intentioned but unremarkable documentary. Regrettably, traditional orchestral versions of Mahler's music would have provided a far more appropriate soundtrack.
Factor in the super-premium price tag, the standard stereo sound, and a running time of under an hour, and this DVD becomes even less necessary and appealing.
By all means, check out Uri Caine's amazing Primal Light album. Then listen to the inferior but still worthwhile follow-ups, Mahler in Toblach and Dark Flame. But if Gustav Mahler: detaching from the world is any indication, Winter and Winter should stick to films of the audio variety. And I sincerely hope they change my mind about this someday soon.
Article comments
1 - Bill Gallagher
Thanks, Stephen, for your cut-to-the-chase review of this DVD. I was just about to go to eBay to buy it (at $21 with shipping, rather than the premium price, but even so ... ). Now I won't, and you spared me from being disappointed.