Elgar's Enigma: Biography of a Concerto

Available in New Zealand only
Elgar's Enigma: Biography of a Concerto also available

Duration: 52 minutes 
Year: 2006 
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 
Rating: PG 
Director: Annie Goldson

This documentary follows the theory that the English composer, Edward Elgar, was moved to write his Cello Concerto in Em by the WW1 death of a young New Zealand soldier, the son of Elgar’s first great love, Helen Weaver.
The Concerto is one of in the classical repertoire and is known as a powerful war requiem, grieving for a world changed forever by the Great War.
The film interweaves the personal narrative with a superb performance of the Concerto by internationally renowned cellist, Lynn Harrell with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Matthias Bamert.

Awards and Festivals
Best Documentary, Qantas Television Awards 2006
Best Editing, Qantas Television Awards 2006
Official Selection: World Cinema Showcase, Auckland. EIDC Documentary Festival, Seoul, Korea. 44th Intl Television Festival, Golden Prague, Prague. Intl Film Festival on Water, Bangalore, India. Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival, Ithaca, New York.

View excerpt from this title at NZ On Screen