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List Price: $24.99Amazon.com's Price: $21.99 You Save: $3.00 (12%)Prices subject to change.
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Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0032031422391
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Label: KULTUR VIDEO
Manufacturer: KULTUR VIDEO
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: KULTUR VIDEO
Region Code: 1
Release Date: July 31, 2007
Running Time: 102 minutes
Sales Rank: 14354
Studio: KULTUR VIDEO
Theatrical Release Date: 1998
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Specially commissioned performances conducted by VALERY GERGIEV with the Kirov Orchestra and Chorus of The Mariinsky Theater
Chorus Master Valery Borisov
Rachmaninoff s letters and other reminiscences spoken by Sir John Gielgud.
Used in films like Brief Encounter and Shine; on TV in The South Bank Show and Panorama; on radio in Semprini Serenade; and including some of the most famous melodies of the 20th century, Rachmaninoff s romantic, passionate music is as popular today as it has ever been. This 100-minute documentary film, shot in Russia, Switzerland and America, is made with the full participation of the composer s grandson, Alexander Rachmaninoff.
Featuring soloists Mikhail Pletnev (with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado, and his own Russian National Orchestra), Dmitri Hvorostovsky and young stars Valentina Igoshina, Peter Jablonski and Nikolai Putilin, the music is specially recorded with the great conductor Valery Gergiev and the Kirov Orchestra and Chorus of the Mariinsky Theater in St Petersburg, with which Rachmaninoff was intimately associated. Tony Palmer s film, with Rachmaninoff s own words spoken by Sir John Gielgud, is a unique and loving insight into a world long gone, but definitely not forgotten.
Extracts from home movies of Sergei Rachmaninoff © Alexander Rachmaninoff used by kind permission of Alexander Rachmaninoff.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Good performances, dubious modern-day material
I agree with the person giving the DVD a one star rating and talking about mockery of the "motherland". While the performances are good and I WOULD buy this DVD again, the footage of modern-day Russia is very misplaced and does not add, rather detracts from one trying to get a sense of Rachmaninoff's Russia and I feel should have been left out. Footage of Rachmaninoff himself however has been extremely interesting to see.
I did not find the narration to be very informative. In conclusion, ... Read More
Rating:  - Music Speaks to the Heart
The Harvest of Sorrow is such a compelling DVD, that I have had guests over to watch it on several occasions. All of them have enjoyed it, and have remarked on its quality.
The dialogue mostly follows Rachmaninoff's own letters. Family pictures and news footage give authenticity. Sir John Gielgud actually becomes the older Rachmaninoff as he narrates. The best part of the DVD, though, is the way the music is handled.
There is no slipshod insertion of themes to grab the listener's ... Read More
Rating:  - Meaningless documentary
Musical performances in this documentary can be rated from decent to excellent. However, their mapping to the different periods of Rachmaninoff's life is often meaningless. The worst parts are the visuals of modern Russia, that look like mockery of Rachmaninoff's love to his motherland.
Rating: - Informative and well made
This is a very nicely produced story of Rachmaninoff's life and work, with charming home-movie footage and period pictures. It really brought home Rachmaninoff's musical genius and also his sadness because he could not return to his beloved homeland. The musical pieces are played and sung by excellent artists who understand and convey the beauty of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Romantic style.
Rating:  - Good music but not impressive DVD
I bought this based on other reviewers' 5 star ratings.
I was somewhat disappointed.
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