VIFF Review: Trip to Asia—The Quest for Harmony

Trip to Asia—The Quest for Harmony
Granville 7 Theatre 7
Sunday, September 28 2008 6:45pm

This is a surprisingly candid, and incisive documentary about the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra filmed on their historic 2005 tour of Asia. The story follows the itinerary of the trip as they visit Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Tokyo. Each city provides a unique experience with different audiences and challenges.

Being out of their regular environment in foreign lands, the orchestra members have their guard down with the filmmakers. Between the jet lag and the communications barrier, there's few other outlets for the musicians to vent other than themselves and the filmmakers. Thus the interviews with conductor Sir Simon Rattle and a selection of the orchestra musicians are an incisive and frank look into the life of a professional musician, and the inner workings of one of the world's best orchestra.

The youngest and newest members are on a year long probation to determine if they will become full members or be released. Being young and inexperienced, they reveal their insecurities and hopes. The oldest members have been around since Karajan and are close to retirement. Being older and wiser they reveal their insights and experiences.

The reaction to the BPO in Taipei is amazing. For the Taiwanese who could not get into the Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Centre's auditorium, gigantic screens and speakers are set up in the open square outside. After the concert the orchestra members are lead onto the outdoor stage to a cheering crowd of tens of thousands. The clear and loud chanting of "Simon, Simon!" when Rattle takes the microphone is an amazing moment.

The modern, sampled and electronic soundtrack is composed by Simon Stockhausen, the youngest son of great 20th-century music composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. It stands in contrast to the BPO's concert repertoire of Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Strauss, and Thomas Adès.

As skilfully realized as this film is, it feels like it runs slightly too long. As interesting as the locales and personalities are, by the end, like the musicians on tour, there is a hope that the journey will wrap up soon.