Five Days in September: The Rebirth of an Orchestra (DVD)

An absolutely first-rate classical-music docu, "Five Days in September" transcends puffery to work as a truly exciting record of a major arts group in transition" - Variety. "A classical music documentary, focusing on the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and shot on video. "Who would think that some of the most charismatic characters around would be found in a documentary about the TSO? But watching handsome, witty musical director Peter Oundjian - who was star fiddler in the Tokyo String Quartet until sidelined by injury - shape up the band at the start of a new season is a memorable treat. Veteran musical helmer Barbara Willis Sweete takes a verite approach, with only a few spare titles to put the TSO's first week under Oundjian in context. Her handycam visits with front-office mavens, first-chair insiders and rehearsing guests are equally intimate, and an audience comes away with a real sense of what it takes to put on this level of show." - Variety