SCREENING IN THE BERNARD OSHER FOUNDATION AUDITORIUM
“[A] joy to watch.”
57 minutes. Not Rated. Directed by Hal Rifken. In English.
When Mao’s Cultural Revolution ended, China’s door cracked open. Four young, classical musicians seized the opportunity to flee to the West as classical music was banned. The Shanghai Quartet began a lifetime adventure – studying with great masters, attending Juilliard, and performing at major music festivals and best classical music venues like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center.
When the Quartet’s cellist decided to leave, they invited a young American grad student from New York City’s Spanish Harlem. He was a highly praised cellist but also had a New York City “attitude” that the three Chinese musicians had never encountered.
In addition to full-time teaching positions, the Quartet now performs throughout the world with a stressful 180-day travel schedule. That schedule, however, has impacted home life. Two of the Quartet’s wives are classically trained performance musicians who have had to put their professional careers on the “back burner” to care for the kids and keep the home fires going.
Behind the Strings showcases their lives, how they got to the top and the price they pay. And, why China keeps inviting them back to perform their once forbidden music.