John's award-winning film, The Full Monteverdi, which is based on his wildly succesful collaboration with I Fagiolini, has been recieved with wide-spread critical acclaim. This film has been transmitted by NRK (Norway), Ceskatelevize (Czech Republic), SVT (Sweden), The Arts Channel (New Zealand) and ARTV (Canada); future broadcasts include S4C (Wales), SKYARTS (UK), YLE (Finland), RTVE (Spain) and SBS (Australia).
The DVD has been released world-wide by Naxos. Available from major retailers, the DVD can also purchased directly from Polyphonic Films. It has been awarded a Choc du Monde de la musique.
Following screenings of The Full Monteverdi in London, York, Lincoln and Berlin, showings in 2008 include Downpartick, N.I. (17th June), Corsham (26th June), Cheltenham (5th July), Dartington (4th August), Worcester, Ambleside (both 5th August), Chichester (August) and Copenhagen (October). Screenings scheduled for 2009/10 include Birmingham, Leeds, Oxford and Paris.
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"La
Bouchardière's concept finds its ideal realisation in film. Brilliant."
Gerhard Persché, Fono Forum ***** (pick of the month)
"The tour de force of the film is... to have given a coherence and dramatic tension to twenty a capella madrigals - the least cinematographic material possible... The recurrent theme of separation is suitable for a contemporary reading but you need John La Bouchardière's talent, a typically British standard of acting and I Fagiolini's musical ensemble to convince and captivate. Fascinating."
Philippe Venturini, Le Monde de la musique (choc du mois)
"This
astonishing film... is based
on John La Bouchardière’s collaboration with I Fagiolini, and charts
the emotional progress of six failing couples through the deeply moving
music of Monteverdi’s Fourth Book of Madrigals. This remarkable,
intricately constructed film is aesthetically beautiful in every
aspect: masterfully shot, sensitively arranged images, utterly glorious
singing, impressive operatic acting, and a terrifyingly involving
narrative flow. This encounter between yesterday’s music and today’s
medium can’t help but deliver Monteverdi’s masterpieces to a new and
deeply appreciative audience in a thoroughly spectacular fashion."
"La
Bouchardiere's verite-style direction, reminiscent of Kieslowski in its
bold opening silence and unrelenting in its emotional delivery, has the
makings of an award winner."
Early Music Today
"This film... demands to be seen."
Classic FM Magazine *****
"This works really well... a fascinating and well-produced lesson in cross genre art."
Muso
"Outstanding directing"
Klassisk
"...truly redefines what is and could be considered cinema."
