Good documentary on Carlos Kleiber
On one level, this film must have been a nightmare for the filmmakers to make, because Carlos Kleiber never gave interviews or ran the PR-gamut that musicians now do. Thus the only footage of him in action is the rehearsal footage (also featured on another, separate DVD from another company), or still photographs, including rare shots of him with his wife just as regular folks on the street.
However, where the film scores is in getting people like Kleiber's sister, Veronika Kleiber, to reminisce about her brother, where her memories are quite touching. Likewise, orchestral musicians and opera stage collaborators who aren't big names get to lend their voices, in addition to more celebrated people like Placido Domingo, Brigitte Fassbaender, and Manfred Honeck. There isn't much in the way of criticism or sniping, as one might expect (except perhaps the one gentle allusion that he was quite the ladies' man, even when married). But that is a measure of the huge esteem in...
Carlos Kleiber "Traces to nowhere"
Carlos Kleiber (and also his father Eric) were absolutely great conductors and I always enjoy very much Carlos' recordings (DVD and CD). There is,for me, one unanswered question:
Why did he conduct and record so little? Maybe the answer would be similar to the same question about Glenn Gould. Did "we" not always understand their "souls"? Both biographical DVD about Carlos Kleiber (Traces to nowhere and I am lost to the world) are very good but somewhat repetitive. And their prices are steep if we consider there is relatively little music.
Traces to Nowhere
Generally, this document is accurate and those interviewed are interesting. The whole film seems quite good about not painting a strange picture of the maestro. The photography is excellent. It's a very slim film on a fabulous conductor.
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