Vladimir Ashkenazy

In 1963, a year after winning the coveted Tchaikovsky medal in Moscow, and subjected to KGB pressure, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy emigrated to the west, eventually settling in Switzerland. In 1968 his career expanded to include conducting and since 1989 he has been chief conductor of the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin. Interview clips with Ashkenazy commenting on his personal values, his philosophy toward the arts, and his conflicting loyalties toward Russia, are interspersed with brief performance segments, featuring appearances by singer Barbara Hendricks, composer Sir Michael Tippett, and cellist Mats Lidström, as well as informal recording and rehearsal sessions. A profile of an artist whose life journey bridges east and west should have provided enough material for an insightful and engrossing program, but the uneven personal interviews and the too brief performances don't result in a cohesive, focused product. An optional purchase. Aud: H, P. (J. Reed)