Beyond Perfection: The Pianist Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

Syrthos J. Dreher
2020-01-05


8.5
52 min

Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli – a name that provokes almost a sense of awe and intimidation, even among his pianoplaying peers. It is a name that represents the highest degree of perfection, a quest for beauty that surpasses that of any other piano virtuoso. However Michelangeli also had a reputation for cancelling concerts at short notice and was consequently portrayed in the media as a somewhat neurotic artist. This documentary is the result of a 30-year search that has resulted in unusual interviews with those who knew him, and has also uncovered a wealth of new archive material: We get to experience Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli as he has never been seen before – and more importantly, as he has never been heard before. We also witness the maestro’s struggle back to his former perfection after suffering a devastating heart attack.

Cast

Name Character Team
Cord Garben Self Unowned
Vladimir Ashkenazy Self Unowned
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Self (archive) Unowned