Mariss Jansons: A Tale of Four Orchestras

Mariss Jansons left behind a distinguished legacy of musical activity. It’s no coincidence that the filmmakers chose to include numerous interviews with those who were guided by the Latvian-born conductor’s baton: the musicians who appreciated and admired him. A musician in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra—one of the four orchestras he led—says the orchestra and Jansons created something meaningful together. Others recount how he knew every musician in the four orchestras by name, and how an orchestra “sounded different” when he conducted it.

Jansons conducted four orchestras simultaneously: the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. When he fell ill at the end of 2019, Jansons remained determined to proceed with a planned tour with the Bavarian Orchestra. After a concert at Carnegie Hall, however, he was rushed to the hospital and flown home to St. Petersburg, where he passed away shortly thereafter. Thousands attended his funeral, with musicians from all the orchestras he led performing in tribute to his extraordinary legacy.

The film presents archival footage of Jansons in rehearsals, concerts, and interviews spanning many years. This portrait captures the depth of admiration he inspires among musicians worldwide.

As conductor Simon Rattle says in the film: “Simply put, he is the best among us.”