Sophia - Biography of a Violin Concerto

In August of 2007, Anne-Sophie Mutter performed the world premiere of Sofia Gubaidulina's 2nd violin concerto in Lucerne with conductor Sir Simon Rattle and the Berliner Philharmoniker. This piece by the Russian composer (born in 1931) is an important event in many respects. Sofia Gubaidulina is one of the world's leading contemporary composers. Her international breakthrough came in 1980 with her first violin concerto Offertorium that she wrote for Gidon Kremer. Still, it remains her most often performed piece. In spite of all the other pieces she has written in the meantime, it is her second violin concerto that violinists, conductors, and orchestras around the world have eagerly been awaiting, especially since she was commissioned to write it in 1992 by Paul Sacher, the Basel conductor and patron of the arts. It was his wish that Gubaidulina's new violin concerto first be performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter. Fifteen years later, that dream finally came true. The film focuses on the piece - from its inception, through the many stages of the creative process to its world premiere but also features the many great expectations of the music world and the resulting pressure on Gubaidulina. It is not the usual portrait of the composer but concentrates on the work in progress and document the collaboration between Anne-Sophie Mutter, Sir Simon Rattle, and the Berliner Philharmoniker.