Isaac Stern: Life's Virtuoso

Originally airing as part of the PBS series American Masters, this Meryl Streep-narrated bio-doc paints a loving portrait of one of America's greatest musicians. A virtuoso violinist, teacher and humanitarian, Stern has not only enriched the lives of many listeners, he's also influenced the lives and careers of numberless musicians, and made notable contributions to the arts community (such as his successful campaign to save New York's Carnegie Hall from demolition). Capturing the immense spirit of this artist, who seems like anything but a prima donna, the film interweaves commentary from Gregory Peck, Henry Kissinger, Yo-Yo Ma, Zubin Mehta, Itzhak Perlman and some of Stern's recent students throughout the story of his life, with Stern's own commentary providing the most illuminating insights. An engaging and articulate man, Stern's absolute zest for music is the quality that makes him most charming and the program offers generous snippets of the man making the music he so dearly loves. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: the DVD version includes a biographic chronology of Stern's life, a filmography and web links.] Aud: H, C, P. (P. Van Vleck)