The Red Baton

The Red Baton: The Scenes of Musical Life in Stalinist Russia (France, 2004) Premiere: 9/18 at 9 PM Director: Bruno Monsaigeon Runtime: 60 minutes  Synopsis: From 1917 to 1990 the Soviet Union was the locus of a fascinating paradox: In a context of extreme material, psychological hardship, and even terror, there flowered some of the richest, most intense musical activity of the twentieth century. Brilliant performers, major composers, great orchestras exercised their art during these 70 years in dangerous and precarious conditions that were sometimes grotesque, always gruelling.