Rhythm is it!

Rarely has a documentary about classical music met with such a response or received so many awards as the film Rhythm Is It! which has been shown in cinemas all round the world. This film is not only about great music from the past, but about things that concern all of us: How do young people develop their talents? How can creativity change all of our lives? There are also stunning dance scenes and fantastic music played by the Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

It was in January 2003, Simon Rattle’s first season as principal conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker, when 250 Berlin schoolchildren came together for this unique project. Accompanied by such world-class musicians and trained by choreographer Royston Maldoom, these young people from 25 different national backgrounds danced Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du printemps, one of the most famous ballets of the 20th century.

Rhythm Is It! follows three of the young dancers during the twelve-week rehearsal period. In this time they experience highs and lows, insecurity, self-confidence, doubt and enthusiasm: an emotional journey into new and undreamt-of worlds, discovering sides to themselves they never knew existed. Directors Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch skilfully interweave the workshops with the rehearsals of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Rhythm Is It! offers a unique insight into the educational work of the orchestra which, thanks to the generous support of Deutsche Bank, has set standards on a global scale.

A film by Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch (2004)

Sir Simon Rattle
Suz Broughton
Martin Eisentraut
Royston Maldoom
Olayinka Shitu
Marie Theinert
Berliner Philharmoniker

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Sir Simon Rattle Chief conductor 2002–2018

© 2004 Boomtown Media

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