The Young Romantic: A Portrait of Yundi

In The Young Romantic, filmmaker Barbara Willis Sweete offers a thoroughly flattering portrait of Chinese concert pianist Yundi (formerly Yundi Li), the epitome of the modern classical music phenomenon. A technical wonder—he won First Prize at the 2000 Chopin Competition in Warsaw at age 18—Yundi is a highly personable, boyishly handsome virtuoso. In the film, Yundi expresses thanks to his family and teachers (some of whose methods might strike viewers as harsh), who in turn offer happy memories of the musician as a child. Yundi is grateful and deferential toward his older collaborators, notably conductor Seiji Ozawa, with whom he's shown rehearsing a Prokofiev concerto in preparation for his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic. And he's acutely conscious of his debt to both his country (he appears at the opening of Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts) and his audience (giving a recital even after injuring his hand so as not to disappoint them), and he works to nurture appreciation for classical music—making a guest appearance onstage with a pop star, for example. Although Yundi is still maturing as an artist, based on the excerpts included here he's already a pianist who merits following. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo, DVD extras include a 44-minute 2004 recital at La Roque d'Anthéron in France, featuring all four Chopin scherzos and Liszt's “La Campanella.” Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)