Jordi Savall, the internationally-acclaimed Catalan musician, is a pre-eminent exponent of medieval, Renaissance and baroque music interpretation, and is widely credited with the rebirth of the viola da gamba. His schedule of performances is intense, but he still finds time to teach and to continue his musical research. All these aspects of his work are illuminated in this documentary, which includes a rich variety of performance and rehearsal extracts, exemplifying the musical eclecticism of this exceptional practitioner.
Jordi Savall conducts Mozart’s Requiem
The Catalan old master, conductor, gambist and musicologist Jordi Savall, one of the greatest interpreters of historically informed performance practice, joins the Mozart Music Week with his orchestra “Le Concert des Nations” and his “Capella de Catalunya” choir. Playing exclusively on original instruments or instruments built according to historical specifications, Savall juxtaposes two of Mozart’s most famous and popular works: his Serenade No. 13, K. 525, better known by its nickname “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”, and his Requiem, which remained unfinished and has since been the subject of wildest speculation and mysterious conspiracy theories. “The performers succeed in making the well-known piece sound fresh and by no means banal. […] Despite the many excellent perfor mances available on record, Savall’s interpretation sounded unique.” (Das Opernmagazin)
Jordi Savall – Jerusalem
It is one of the oldest existing cities in the world and at the same time one of the most contested: Jerusalem. All three major monotheistic religions refer to it as the “Holy City”. Jerusalem has been and still is the center of fierce conflicts for centuries. With his ensembles Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya, however, Jordi Savall is already making this wish come true in a musical way. Together with guest musicians from Israel, Palestine, Syria, Armenia, Greece, and Turkey, they trace the history of Jerusalem authentically and in a touching manner. Jordi Savall places Islam, Judaism, and Christianity on equal footing, allowing the musicians to sow a seed of hope for peace.