Sophia: Biography of a Violin Concerto

Sophia: Biography of a Violin Concerto (2008) blends Documentary elements. Top cast includes Sofiya Gubaydulina, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Gidon Kremer. The narrative builds around escalating stakes, urgent decisions, and action-driven momentum.

Actor: Sofiya Gubaydulina • Provider: Prime Video

Russian-born composer Sofia Gubaidulina entered the international spotlight at a relatively late age, when the 49-year-old came forward with her premier violin concerto, "Offertorium," in 1980. Gubaidulina authored that piece for Gideon Kremer. Curiously, it would be another 12 years before Gubaidulina received a commission (from Paul Sacher) to author her second violin concerto, and another 15 years after that until the notes fell on ears ripe with anticipation. For the debut of the "Second Violin Concerto," Gubaidulina insisted that no one other than German violin virtuoso Anne-Sophie Mutter perform it. That Mutter performance from August 2007 appears, in its entirety, in this classical concert film. Jan Schmidt-Garre directs.