The cellist in TÁR lands a DG record deal
OrchestrasThe line between real life and movie hype gets more blurred by the day.
First Deutsche Grammophon issued an album with ‘conductor’ Cate Blanchett.
Now it has another with the UK-German cellist Sophie Kauer, who acts in the film.
Entitled Unsung, it presents works by Nadia Boulanger, Clara Schumann, Anatoly Lyadov and Felix Mendelssohn. Sophie is partnered by pianist Kunal Lahiry, a BBC New Generation Artist. Unsung is set for digital release only.
A good candidate for the “Worst-Record-Cover-Ever” Award.
You must be very young. In the era of classical LPs, there were FAR worse.
OK, feel free to extend the list of candidates!
I think there is already a thread here on SD.
She is a very fine cellist…..has been before Tar.
1: It will have to be better than Rach 3 with that guy from “Shine”.
2: The two albums will likely result in people who hitherto had little or no exposure to classical music listening to Elgar and Mahler, which is all to the good.
Regarding David Helfgott’s infamous Rach 3 recording which sold in huge numbers after “Shine” became a hit, I still remember the reviewer from Gramophone at the time stating “…he skitters and slithers from one crisis to another…”
I think it’s unlikely that anyone with little or no exposure to classical music was tempted to see that movie and wish for albums from it.
Who reads this synopsis and rushes off to the movie theater?
“Renowned musician Lydia Tár is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career. When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia’s adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother.”
Perhaps not, but it seems the writer of the synopsis did not view the movie. WAY off.
It has numerous Oscar nominations. A lot of people who are unfamiliar with classical music will see it and a fair number of them will presumably like it a lot more than I did.
Sounds logical, but I have trouble believing that a ‘digital release’ is going to lead to people discovering Elgar or Mahler (if that was your point). More likely, it’ll be people who saw and liked “Tar”, and would like to have an extension like, souvenir of that experience. Much the same was true for films like “Shine”.
Anecdotal evidence, but I actually know people, not at all knowledgable about classical music (obviously), who purchased the “Shine” CD of Rach 3.
She is primarily a cellist and has chosen that career over acting. In Tar she played the Elgar in the way her character would. She was excited to be able to play the Elgar as herself with her own musicality.
Hear Sophie play a Romance by Clara Schumann: https://youtu.be/U0uBOo77gng
Her role is probably my favorite part of the movie. But the plot where Tar recognizes her high-heels during audition just breaks all the emersion (if there’s any) of the film
Although that seems implausible, I think it’s definitely possible. As a woman tuba player, I was usually doing orchestral auditions against men. I made sure never to wear shoes that would give my gender away, when walking in or out for a blind audition.