Kalamazoo Valley Museum Hosts Gilmore Keyboard Festival Film Series

The Gilmore Keyboard Festival Film Series is presented in the Mary Jane Stryker Theater at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum at noon, April 28 through May 2. Films presented in this series are carefully selected by Festival staff to enrich the Festival patron experience and, in some cases, illuminate lesser-known figures in the world of keyboard music. Admission is free, and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Twin Spirits (2009), will be shown on Monday, April 28. A great love story told in words and music, Twin Spirits was originally staged and filmed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2007. Sting portrays composer Robert Schumann; Sting’s wife, Trudie Styler, portrays pianist Clara Schumann. The movie balances narration and dramatic readings (by Derek Jacobi) with solos and accompaniments from musicians, including 2006 Gilmore Young Artist Natasha Paremski. Directors: Peter Mumford and John Caird, Duration: 206 minutes

Rubinstein Remembered (1987) will be presented on Tuesday, April 29. This film is a biographical portrait of one of the 20th century’s musical giants: Arthur Rubinstein. Narrated by Arthur’s son, John, the movie offers a multifaceted image of this talented and dynamic individual through rare footage from Rubinstein’s home movies, archival performances, and interviews with his family members and colleagues. Director: Peter Rosen, Duration: 58 minutes

Virtuoso: The Olga Samaroff Story (2009) will be offered on Wednesday, April 30. Virtuoso is the true, almost forgotten story of one of America’s great female concert pianists of the early 20th century. Overshadowed by her famous husband, Leopold Stokowski, whose talent she first recognized and career she fostered, this documentary follows her life from Texas as Lucy Hickenlooper to her rise as Olga Samaroff, the celebrated concert star of her time and the “Eleanor Roosevelt of music.” Directors: Donna Kline and Wendy Blair Slick, Duration: 62 minutes

American Grand (2013) is the Thursday, May 1 selection. American Grand captures the transformation of a 1913 Steinway from a wreck – with rusty strings, wood-boring insects, and cat hair clogging the action – to restored, shining beauty over the course of a year by a colorful team of technicians led by renowned Los Angeles piano doctor Richard Davenport. Directors: Mike Snyder and Harry Bromley-Davenport, Duration: 82 minutes

The series concludes on Friday, May 2 with Keith Jarrett: The Art of Improvisation (2005). This documentary portrait of one of jazz music’s legends explores Jarrett’s life and work through performances as well as interviews with many of Jarrett’s past and present collaborators, including Chick Corea, Jack DeJohnette, Gary Burton, Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson, Jon Christensen, Dewey Redman, and ECM label owner/producer Manfred Eicher. Director: Mike Dibb, Duration: 84 minutes

The Kalamazoo Valley Museum is operated by Kalamazoo Valley Community College and is governed by its Board of Trustees. It is located at 230 North Rose St. For more information, go toKalamazooMuseum.