Ida Presti - 'Ma Devise' DVD in development

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'The greatest classic guitarist of the 20th Century and perhaps all time' is as yet almost completely unknown. Recently discovered French archive film along with four new CD's reveal the astonishing musicianship of this French-Italian woman virtuoso.

Even at the age of 13 Andres Segovia declared "I have nothing to teach her ... she should not accept the advice of any other guitarist".

This DVD tells her story from the poverty of her Paris childhood, to feature film appearances at the age of 12, marriage to the great French guitarist Alexandre Lagoya, success at Carnegie Hall and a sudden tragic mysterious death during an American tour in 1967.

The DVD Begins on that tragic night of April 27th, 1967, as an aircraft with a sick passenger makes a dramatic landing, to be met by an ambulance in a mercy dash to New York's Grand Memorial hospital. Emergency surgery fails and soon a sad throng of great musicians gather in a Paris church to pay their last homage. The music is François Poulenc's 'Sarabande to Ida Presti'.

Tributes follow from British composer John Duarte, and guitarist Julian Bream, as well as pupils from Japan, Greece, France and The United States.

We mix through to the feature film 'La Petit Chose' and see the 12 year old Ida already performing at concert standard.

Stills of Ida with Andres Segovia accompany his astonished admiring quotes.

Further archive film sets up the Paris of the 1920's and 30's a city at the centre of the artistic world - "... born in 1924 into the Paris of Ravel, Stravinsky, Diagelev and Picasso ... Ida Presti teaches herself guitar with help from the legendary Maccafferi ... first public concert at the age of 8 ... the Salle Chopin-Pleyel at the age of 10 !"

On the event of the Paganinni centenary she is invited to his birthplace to play his guitar and the guitar of Berlioz. We see the guitars and hear excerpts from the recently released CD's.

We now mix to the first of the recently discovered archive and thrill to the young Ida playing a solo prelude composed in Paris at that time by the pupil of Satie and Milhaud, the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa Lobos.

Commentary has been provided so far by the vivacious American concert guitarist Alice Artzt, who has a fund of rich and colourful anecdote relating to their relationship - first as pupil/teacher and later as close friends. She shares with us her many personal photos, letters, private tape recordings, concert programmes and posters.

Ida's international reputation grows, but a rift has developed with (a jealous ?) Segovia how many guitar virtuosos can the concert stage support ? We hear comment from John Duarte, friend and composer to them both - Alice Artzt supplies further evidence - a conspiracy perhaps ?

We hear of the Presti Lagoya duos struggle for recognition and their subsequent international success. We now draw on the wealth of archive again - mostly from French TV recordings of the 1950's and 60's - moodily lit, high contrast black and white film, but with superb stereo sound from recent CD sources. Gorgeous music from Albinoni, Granados, Scarlatti and Debussy (permission has been obtained from the Dutch copyright holders).

Their many international pupils add their anecdotes and perform in the Presti Lagoya style - Ako Ito from Japan, Henri Dorigny from France, Evangelos and Liza from Athens, Alice Artzt from New York. All already tastefully filmed in the beautiful setting of a 10th Century English priory - with candlelight and stained glass windows.

Alice Artzt finally tells her personal account of the tragic phonecall from Grand Memorial Hospital - "... come quickly, bring money, Ida est mort !" Alice draws all her savings and tries to work out what is happening, ... an apparently healthy woman of 42 has suddenly and mysteriously died, ... can this be real ... had something gone drastically wrong in that emergency surgery ?"

It is 1967, the 60's musical revolution is in full swing - this is the year of 'Good Vibrations' and The Beatles 'Sgt. Pepper' - the passing of an 'un-hip', 'square', classical musician, goes largely un-noticed.

The only real acknowledgement of this remarkable musician - a whole issue of the American magazine 'Guitar Review' - completely devoted to tributes and memories from fellow guitarists and composers - that is until now and the discovery of this incredible archive film and the release of these long awaited CD's.

This is the long overdue tribute to one of the great women of twentieth century performance, a feast of period colour and delightful music, with the added spice of intrigue, and a truly international cast.

DVD bonus features including out-takes, director's commentary, and further rare archive audio.