Julian Bream and director Paul Balmer on stage at The Maltings - May 2003

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY:- 'JULIAN BREAM - MY LIFE IN MUSIC'

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE - March 2004

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ - "This film is rather more than the conventional interview-music-interview portrait, and an all-too-rare example of how to maximise the resources of DVD.

… Thoughtful, leisurely paced, unconfined by the time demands of television schedules, the generous and fascinating archive footage …

… complete performances of many works and an exhaustive examination of Bream's wide-ranging musical interests make for an instructive and compelling 120 minutes.

… all in all, an outstanding and comprehensive celebration of a great musician's art."

INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW - March 2004 

"… few would seriously question Julian Bream's reputation as one of the all-time great guitarists,
especially after savouring what's on offer on this packed DVD.

… most poignantly of all, a world premiere commercial issue of … Richard Rodney Bennett's Sonata for Solo Guitar.

… as for the main documentary, there is so much material for nostalgists that one hardly knows where to start.

… the extras alone are worth the asking price.

… perfectly encapsulates a noble musician who takes what he does incredibly seriously … highly compelling viewing."

CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE - FEBRUARY 2004

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ - " … well made, interesting documentary paints an affectionate portrait of perhaps the greatest of living classical guitarists. Director Paul Balmer mixes contemporary interviews with rare footage of Julian Bream. We eavesdrop on his quest to expand the guitar repertoire by commissioning new work, which sees him hassling Igor Stravinsky at a recording session 

…there is also over an hour of performance from his early days through to the present. The DVD culminates in a performance of Benjamin Britten's 'Nocturnal'; one of the greatest pieces of the modern Guitar repertoire."

GRAHAM WADE

"…the finest film contribution to the classical guitar ever "

"While it commemorates the work of a genius of the guitar, this film has its own kind of genius, in its vision, integrity, brilliance, imagination and utter originality. It is throughout profoundly expressive and deeply moving, exquisitely photographed and finely organised into a statement about Julian Bream which is unique and unrivalled. I am quite overwhelmed with admiration at the beauty and authority of this masterpiece.

The (previous) Grappelli film achieved extraordinary heights of intensity, clarity and informative narrative delivered through the art of creative selection of archive footage combined with observation and commentary. But this production about Julian surpasses even such previous excellence and establishes new standards of films about great classical musicians.

The way the film is organically constructed around the magical theme of Britten's Nocturnal, and its unique autobiographical content delivered so spontaneously to camera by the artist himself at his most eloquent and relaxed, ensure that this will rapidly be universally acknowledged as the finest film contribution to the classical guitar ever presented. …..a truly remarkable achievement." 

GRAHAM WADE

Re-Released 25th September 2006 by popular demand