From Mao to Mozart

Director: Murray Lerner
Release Date: 10 December 1981 (Australia)
Genre: Documentary - Music
Length: 1:23:09


From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China is a 1980 documentary film about Western culture breaking into China produced and directed by Murray Lerner. It portrays the famous violinist and music teacher Isaac Stern as the first American musician to collaborate with the China Central Symphony Society (Now China National Symphony Orchestra). The film documented Mr. Stern's rehearsals and performances of Mozart and Brahms violin concertos with the famous Chinese conductor Li Delun, who also acted as his guide and translator on his trip.


The film also included footage of Mr. Stern's visit to the Central Conservatory of Music where he lectured to the Chinese music students on violin playing and the art of musical expression. Among many others talented players, young cellist Jian Wang (at the time only ten years old) is featured briefly, Jian Wang has gone on to international stardom. The film won the 1980 Academy Award for documentary feature. It was also screened out of competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival.