Cate Blanchett Plays Bach: A Breakdown 

At 12:28, Emese should be pronounced Em-esh-eh, not Emeez. Otherwise a very interesting analysis. 👍🏻

Blanchett is a master actor, so I'm not surprised that these nuances punctuate her performance in 'Tar'. Incredible.

Max's nervousness creating a 9/8 polyrhythm is such an amazing detail

I feel like this isn't talked about enough, but the clarinet player/Berlin board member (Knut) and the veteran cellist Lydia passed over for Olga (Gosia) in the movie are in fact REAL MEMBERS OF THE DRESDEN PHILHARMONIC! Both of them had a substantial amount of lines in the movie, and one would think that they were actors by profession. Imagine my surprise when I saw them in the orchestra in a taped performance of Tchaikovsky's 6th on the DW yt channel. Bravo to the Dresden Phil not only for their playing but for their acting too.

You can tell that Cate Blanchett and Nina Hoss are not high-powered musicians, but their approximations are so much better than most movies of this type--and what Blanchett manages to do in this scene is amazing. And so nice that they got Sophie Kauer to really play the Elgar Concerto, having an excellent real cellist as an actor only added to the realism of the movie.

Nuances and layers she brought to this role was astounding. This Juliard lecture scene was all one shot

As someone who has been a lifelong orchestral musician I loved how this managed to show how it didn’t matter how high, or far, you had gone in music & the profession it always found a way of beating you up, of wounding the ego, of showing the genuine concern & secret pleasure at someone else’s pain while ignoring the fact that your turn would come too. Lydia Tar having to make horrendous decisions about other peoples lives masked as genuine artistic decisions was spot on & the almost obligatory need for naked ambition to be able to succeed. Favorite part- when Lydia attacked the musical thief on stage in concert!

I still cannot believe this masterpiece did not win any Oscar, specially for her performance. The Academy is a joke.

What I find really impressive is that Cate is able to not only play but talk at the same time! That's a high level of internalisation of the mechanics of piano playing (and something I have difficulty doing). Incidentally I'd heard that for the Geoffrey Rush "recital" in the café (wasn't it called the Moby Dick?) his hands pretty well approximated the positions and moves for the Bumblebee, but always in the near neighbourhood of the right notes, and the piano was not tampered or silenced. I'd love to hear a raw recording of what he actually played.

Hahah it's nice to have a music 'nerd out' session about Lydia Tar's explanation / interpretation of Bach's C Major Prelude. And knowing music nerds like yourself would go to town breaking down frame by frame Cate's performance in that small segment, it's also very helpful to see where those references allude to. Like I didn't know the Peanuts reference and I wasn't familiar with Gould's interpretation of Bach, and also the 'academic nerd arguments' about music theory. Also really nice to point out why Max's leg keeps doing that anxious leg shake thing and what it means: that basically Max is not on the same tempo as Lydia and thus its a clash of ideologies and ego. I'm definitely for people to appreciate music by master artists as a whole. Even if the master artist wasn't a good person in real life/ their values don't jive with us, if they did amazing music, we all should study why that music is amazing. Vs the counter argument of 'if values of master artist don't jive with me, I'm not willing to listen or care to understand why that music is good.' it just comes off as a very close minded, insular, almost arrogant approach to learning about music. Like Lydia uses the Bach prelude to try to sell Max on why Bach is a genius and his music is good, despite what he thinks. That it honestly is a very simple piece of music, a beginner could play it and it is technically not hard to learn, an expert could play it in different interpretations, but either way, it is a genius piece of writing and it sounds amazing. It emotes so much with so little. But the disappointment comes when Max just goes 'nope, I'm not buying it.' Then of course Lydia didn't want to let it go and then turns into bully mode and berates him and the whole scene ends with Max storming out. But I suppose it is hard to separate art from artist because it is naturally intertwined. If an artist creates a piece of work, its a piece of their unique DNA and personality that is expressed in that art work. When an actor performs, their unique piece of their soul is expressed through the character. And same goes with writers, chefs, or anyone who creates art. Their thumbprints are what makes their work special. Thus why reputation is so important for these people/ public figures. Because the people who admire their work do naturally put these people on a pedestal and expect them to be mini-gods. 'If these people make amazing art, they surely must be amazing people in order to create such amazing art'. But yeah, people are people. People are not gods, they have their weaknesses too, but they also have pluses too. The amazing thing about Cate is Cate really gave herself to the character, she really went 200% with the authenticity of selling that Lydia Tar knows her stuff and she is a genius. Thus she enlisted the help of all the music consultants and wanted to get the conducting and the piano playing right and the coolest thing is the music professionals were very impressed and commended her on how great she did it! I mean sure if you want to reeeaallly nitpick, like maybe the conducting felt a bit too strong for that segment of Mahler 5, (I did watch a live performance recently by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra) but then again, it was for dramatic effect and also meant to show that Lydia was more about the theatrics of her performance as a conductor rather than channel music with the orchestra to express Mahler's intent. Like I love film and I love music and I know that somethings have to be heightened for film even if its not accurate in real life.

Thank you for this excellent commentary and dissection of this most amazing scene. And for your insights into Ms. Blanchett's performance and Bach's music. Really enjoyed it!

As a Cate Blanchett fan and a classical music fan, this is so far the most satisfying review of this film that i love. Thank you!

Your analysis is excellent and Ms. Blanchett’s performance was indeed superb. Thank you.

a bit off topic, but your BWV shirt is impeccable

Cate is a master all the way and she delivered THE performance of 2022... But now I'm terrified of Todd Field. This is an absolute and meticulous masterpiece for contemporary filmmaking. I loved his 2 previous films In The Bedroom and Little Children, but this was an absolute consolidation... Hoping he doesn't wait another 14 years to make another film.

That was one of the most fascinating and probative analyses I have every seen or heard about movies and composers and actors and the interrelationships of all of them. It makes me want to go see Tar this second. Thank you so much for this.

Absolutely brilliant movie. Blanchett provides a master class in acting, and is given a genius script that has so many layers to explore. This video helped me connect some dots on the music and the use of it to elevate Tar's own storyline in it - and the storyline of everyone around her.

Thoughtful and thoroughly intriguing analysis and commentary on Cate Blanchett’s Tar playing Bach. Thank you for this video.

This is the best description of Bach's Prelude I have ever come across. Raises so many more questions and demonstrates how to play. This is why the great Pat Metheny says "beside Bach we all suck"

Thank you for your in-depth breakdown and also the professional editing of your presentation. Appreciated!

This analysis of Bach’s music by way of Tar, was utterly absorbing, thank you, and makes me wish I’d seen the movie. It is incredible that she really played it all herself. Loved the Schroder and Lucy bits and Glen Gould❤️🇨🇦

This is so ridiculously specific and I love it

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This video is pure gold. It has so much work and love in it. I like how you make easy for everyone to understand complex music subjects.

Very helpful both to understand that performing music is somehow not just hitting the notes on a piano in a prescribed way, but also to realize how good an actress Blanchett is with the insight you have provided. Thanks!!

The Prelude in C is the first piece I learned because I HAD TO. It's simple and so complex; transparent and so full. I still play it now when I need comfort, or to calm and focus my mind. Excellent music and film analysis!

Bach had twenty children because his organ didn't have any stops.

Thankyou- I am not a trained musician so loved your insight and wit One of the best films I have seen on Music - art - and performance Great Art / monster artist A phenomenal script Great direction And a phenomenal performance from Cate Blanchet Pivotal to the Film

You have just given me yet another reason to Love Cate Blanchett ~ !!! Gotta go look up that movie now 😀😍

Fascinating analysis! It brings a whole new level of complexity to an already elaborate scene of the movie. Thanks a lot! Btw, loved your BWV tee.

I've been waiting for this video, since it came out.

Wow, what an analysis!!! I have just watched the movie. Cate is great. The movie is great. And after this video I just want to watch it again.

Ben, you're so good at this! Bravo!

Excellent analysis. Thank you for that. It just added a lot more spice to the movie itself.

Thanks, Ben! That was awesome. I have been struggling with that film since I saw it. You have helped me to process it.

This channel is quite enlightening! Enjoyed it! 💙

She is a human miracle. And Bach is SUPREME. Looking forward to watching this movie.

Great analysis, really enjoyed your insights!

Awesome video! Loved the 8 vs 9 and Eric Wen’s cameo!!

Happy we have Tonbase on earth! great Video Ben. Actually a great idea to produce more Videos of piano playing in feature movies! there are a lot of legendary performances!

Thank you for these quality videos, appreciate you

Fantastic video. This is my favourite channel on RU-vid

This is an excellent vid - great analysis

Very insightful, thank you!

I genuinely appreciate that you said the phrase "You're not listening to a piece by Bach, you are listening to a piece by Bach arranged by Glenn Gould." I really enjoyed your video, great detailed analysis of Cate Blanchett's playing. And I absolutely LOVED "Shine!" I drove three hours to a theater in another state to see it because it was released in very limited theaters. Though my two David Helfgott CDs I bought right after seeing the movie I hardly listen to due to the singing. But what an amazing story!

I loved that scene. Her technique and even the message about the artist. Its great

I haven't seen Tar yet, but I enjoyed this analysis. Informed, thoughtful and perceptive. Thank you.

Excellent indeed. Thank you.

Music and film are two of the most precious forms of art to me as well as interpretations, psychological commentary, and anything that questions my own interpretations, beliefs, philosophy, and even personhood. Tár delivered all those. And so did this video. It was, to me, a much needed awakening for the neglected passions of my soul. It was nice to see a professional geek-out of a film about music and the psyche -- some of the things in this universe I feel passionate about. I thank you for that.

Delightful video. Thanks.

Today is March 21 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAESTRO BACH, and thank you for your immeasurable contribution to music that has civilized and inspired humankind for over three centuries!

Lol so grateful you did this. This movie ate my insides.

That was an amazingly interesting video, and quite funny too :) thank you!

As further evidence of CB playing the piano, her DG album also lists: Bach, J S: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, BWV 846-869 Cate Blanchett (piano), Zethphan Smith-Gneist (speaker), Cate Blanchett (speaker) Recorded: 2021-10 Recording Venue: James-Simon-Galerie, Berlin Prelude in C Major, BWV 846 Track length 1:27

Really good summary. Thank you.

Thanks for the insights.

This was super interesting! Thank you!! ☺️

Very interesting video, Ben - thank you!

This video is so insightful, your explanations are accessible to non-musicians but didn’t not try to water anything down.

Great video. I love this prelude. It's a way to find your inner, composer self. Trying to articulate differently like Gould, or even drop this arpeggiaton and invent a new one, change octaves, tonality, instrument, dynamics, anything. It's so versatile in its harmonic composition that it will work anyway you distort it and put yourself in. I love Bach.

Really like the Glenn Gould silver album on the background!

This is a GENIUS analysis! Thank you!

thanks you for this musical analysis, this movie has so much details to analyze, I'll have to watch it a couple of times

Great analysis and interesting insights, but above all, a great film review where I hadn't expected it.

Bach, Mahler 5, talking about music, Blanchett's performance ... can't wait for the TAR movie release finally in Japan May 12th 2023.

Thanks for this background. I found the movie frustrating yet intriguing. Your explanations only add to this intrigue.

great analysis

Very engaging! Funny and interesting. Makes me DEFINITELY want to see Tar. I play this prelude on the organ sometimes as, yes, prelude music in funerals. And on an organ, it really matters that you hold down the two left hand notes while articulating the right hand notes in some way or other. (I usually play them detached, but not staccato).

Thank you for enriching my prior appreciation for "Tar," Blanchett, Bach, and Field! And for your use of levity to tease out some of the layering in this film. I am still reverberating with some of the questions it poses, so I echo what Linus might ask: "Who cares about the Occars?!"

I thought it was out of place that Tar would play Bach's C major Prelude in a masterclass. It would be like singing the ABC's at a college level creative writing class. The "clown face" in the script was put there for music nerds like me. lol. Coincidentally this piece is what taught me interpretation and remains a huge turning point in my growth as a student. I play it everyday as a warmup for years, as I'm sure thousands of others do too. Great writing.

Thank you for perspective on the genius of Bach ..and the artistic genius of Kate Blanche …wonderfull 🙏🙏🏿🎩✨🎵

cate has played the piano before! there’s a clip of her somewhere from a theater production like idk ten years ago and she’s playing the piano and i was sooo impressed

It is quite common to "shake" your leg when confronted by something challenging. My students do it ALL the time. I have never mentioned it. It is a harmless nervous reaction.

Love your T-shirt! And Kate.....of course!

Encore! Fun to see your analysis, had no idea of the nuance and sophistication in this film. Also enjoyed your videos on Glenn Gould and what various professionals are willing to say about his interpretations, including the passionate S. Bernstein. Would love to see how you feel that conductors influence soloists, and vice versa. Abbado, L. Bernstein, Szell, etc...

This is such a great reading of the film.

Ben

I saw Cate's performance of Hedda Gabler, with Nicole Kidman sitting in the audience right behind me!

Amazing interpretation

This episode is really gold! And I am always impressed that actors learn actually many so called "jobs" to be as authentic as possible! What a blessing!!

Another alum here. Nice breakdown (great t-shirt!) and spot on about the complexity of Lydia Tár. Thanks.

Your use of "the architect of your soul" clip at the end made me burst out laughing. Irony is not dead!!

Wow, what a remarkable breakdown! The nuances you picked up are incredible. The movie was just OK to me, but you added much more interest and respect for what Todd did with this. The level of detail you so brilliantly pointed out really took me by surprise. This was extremely well done.

Wow ! Thankyou. I know you don't have time to read these comments .Mr. Laude you are a hero for taking this film seriously and really seeing and CITING the reasons for taking the film seriously on its OWN TERMS. You are one of the few musicians who can "read" a Film ! How much time did you spend to find the cartoon snippet . Ben Laude has a doctorate in piano performance .! I've been listening to him for years but I didn't know he had done the work ! He is so good once you see his posts you know he is worth listening to him ! Thankyou for taking on this important film which many supposedly intelligent female musicians have spoken out against the film not mining its larger depths only looking at it as a diatribe against women in power ;I think the larger idea is about power's effects on people in general . Wow- shereally did the Glenn Gould staccatto thing . Todd Feid makes life in his movies great directors do this ! And you found the Ibsen snippet . You are something !!! I have always been fascinated by Curtis because both JosefHofmann and Godowsky taught there . I was sohappy to hear Eric Wren talk about what endures in what we produce . The true tragedy of life I believe is people do not take creativity seriously - the viewer will not realize how important what the film is telling us as the young student shakes his leg. Teachers have a great labor to do in changing this . people think exposing people to art is important but the fear is of really educating people . Well most people dont know. I'm 50 and I jut found out that ends of phrases esp. in classical period decrescendos. The problem is education. I really believe there would be less violence if we had the best education possible ;obviously we would also perhaps have fewer dishonest entrepreneurs and republicans . Just a joke : our world's problems aren't that simple .

Thank you very much for this analysis. I enjoyed it. Your explaination of "Bach arranged by Gould" allowed me to have some empathy for his "rapid" interpretation of the BWV 869 fugue.

Thank you for this wonderful video and analysis. More proof that Todd Field is a mad genius, TAR is one of the best films ever set in the classical music world, and Cate Blanchett gave (in my opinion) the performance of the decade.

Magnificent performance. Outstanding movie.

Very interesting exploration: I want to go and watch the film now. FYI 'Glen' was how Gould wrote his own name: he said if he wrote two 'n's, he wouldn't be able to stop until he got to three!

I love playing Bach on classical guitar, so much of it is readily transposable/practicable (Lute, Cello, Violin, Keyboard...). This was a great insight into a movie I enjoyed immensely.

This was a fantastic analysis - I really enjoyed the depth of the film and the level of detail within. But I know practically nothing about music formally, which I felt deprived me of a degree of understanding. So hearing this really helps me understand it much better. Thank you very much! :)

In an age where everyone is just interpreting old masters, I appreciate Gould's daring

Oh wow, can’t miss this movie! 😎

Well done

Great video!

Bro your Drunkards walk was Great! 😂❤ I've been a Bach Deciple my whole life! Thank you! ❤️

A real life Schroeder (Yunchan Lim) ended up leading me to your channel and it has enriched my life SO much!! Vielen Danke!! 💚💯🎼🎹🎵🎶🎼🎹🎹🎹🎹

This movie was so well made that as soon as it ended I started it over and watched again. It’s the best film I’ve seen in years.

Great insights here. There is obviously more to this film than meets the eye on first viewing. With Cate Blanchett acting and playing the piano so brilliantly, it a shame the Concert Master wasn't given as detailed coaching/training on playing & holding the violin !

Beautiful ©

You are a genius like Lydia Tar. 🎉👏🏻👏🏻

Great episode! What annoys me the most these days is tendency to mix social trends and politics with art, especially music. I want classical music to be free from “modern” trends and phobias!