or


[02/13/17 - 10:12 AM]
"The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble," An Exploration of Music's Power to Bridge Cultural Divides, Debuts March 6 on HBO
Directed by Morgan Neville, the film follows members of the international ensemble as they gather in locations across the world, exploring the ways art can preserve traditions and shape cultural evolution.

[via press release from HBO]

"THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE," AN EXPLORATION OF MUSIC'S POWER TO BRIDGE CULTURAL DIVIDES, DEBUTS MARCH 6 ON HBO

Over the past 17 years, an extraordinary group of artists from around the world has come together to celebrate the universal power of music. Named for the ancient trade route linking Asia, Africa and Europe, the Silk Road Ensemble was conceived by renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and consists of a diverse, rotating lineup of instrumentalists, vocalists, composers and storytellers. The collective exemplifies music's ability to blur geographical boundaries, blend disparate cultures and inspire hope.

Directed by Morgan Neville (the Oscar(R)-winning "20 Feet from Stardom"), THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE follows members of the international ensemble as they gather in locations across the world, exploring the ways art can preserve traditions and shape cultural evolution. A vivid portrait of a bold musical experiment and a global search for the ties that bind, the Grammy-nominated film debuts MONDAY, MARCH 6 (8:00-9:35 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO.

The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and affiliate portals.

Blending performance footage, interviews, behind-the-scenes film and archival clips, THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE focuses on a few of the ensemble's mainstays, and their moving personal stories of passion, talent and sacrifice.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded Silkroad in 1998. Since 2000, the Silk Road Ensemble has been at the center of the organization's work, recording six albums and performing for nearly two million people in 33 countries. THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS explores Ma's storied life and career, and profiles some of the collective's members, including: Kinan Azmeh, a Syrian clarinet player and composer; Wu Man, a pipa player and composer from China; Kayhan Kalhor, an Iranian kamancheh player and composer; and Cristina Pato, a bagpiper, pianist and composer from Spain.

A family of people from vastly different backgrounds who explore and celebrate their commonality, the Silk Road Ensemble has evolved into an organization of musicians and artists exploring themes of cultural connectivity, history and tradition. "In the process, they model for us a way to understanding the Other," says director Morgan Neville. "If there's anything we should be doing today, it's that, because so many forces in our world want us to be scared of the Other."

These accomplished artists tell stories of exile due to war or political revolution, of being silenced, marginalized or jailed, of being caught between their home cultures and life in the U.S. (where their instruments may not even be recognized) and of their transformative experiences in the Silk Road Ensemble. They explain the struggles that motivate them and the creative relationships that sustain them. The documentary highlights the musicians' connections to their homes and their efforts to extend Ma's vision of art connecting disparate people as they learn from others and share their own experience and expertise.

THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS spotlights gatherings across the globe, and performances spanning more than a decade, both large and small, public and private. The film also includes extensive interviews with Yo-Yo Ma and his son, Nicholas, offering insights into Ma's desire to create an ensemble that would bridge cultural divides and how that vision has come to life since its launch in Tanglewood, Mass. in 2000. Notes Ma, "We started as a group of musicians getting together and seeing what might happen when strangers meet."

The viability of the group was challenged in the wake of 9/11, but the mission was more relevant than ever. It becomes clear that by forming and performing with the Silk Road Ensemble, Yo-Yo Ma has found himself. In addition, Ma says, "This is not just a story about what each of the musicians has done. It is also about the meaning behind what they do. It's about our responsibility to one another. That's a huge part of our story."

The film was nominated for a 2017 Grammy Award in the category of Best Music Film; the film's companion album, "Sing Me Home," received the Grammy for Best World Music Album.

THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE was directed by Morgan Neville; executive producers, Jeff Skoll, Diane Weyermann, Laura Freid, Julie Goldman, William Ackman, Hyun-Sang Cho, Nancy Stephens, Rick Rosenthal; co-executive producer, Cristin Canterbury Bagnall; produced by Caitrin Rogers, Morgan Neville; associate producer, Caryn Capotosto; edited by Jason Zeldes, Helen Kearns. For HBO: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [february 2017]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/04/24 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Zombieverse 2: New Blood" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The groundbreaking K-zombie series returns bolder than ever, with enhanced zombies, new members and wilder quests full of non-stop thrills and laughter.

[11/04/24 - 02:01 PM]
"Outer Banks" Renewed for Fifth and Final Season Following Fan Celebrations at Poguelandia and Multi-Country Pogue Tour
The news comes two days after the second Poguelandia: An Outer Banks Experience, held November 2 at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

[11/04/24 - 01:31 PM]
Acorn TV's Hit Detective Crime Drama "Dalgliesh" Returns with All-New Episodes Monday, December 2
Season 3 is made up of three distinct mysteries, each two episodes long.

[11/04/24 - 12:01 PM]
NBC Unveils Lineup of New and Returning Beloved Holiday Programming
New programming for 2024 includes "Jimmy Fallon's Holiday Seasoning Spectacular" and "A Motown Christmas," hosted by Smokey Robinson and Halle Bailey.

[11/04/24 - 11:01 AM]
The Final Bell: Production Begins for the Third and Final Season of "Heartbreak High"
In Season 3, it's time for Hartley High's graduating class to say 'goodbye' to school, and 'hello' to adulthood!

[11/04/24 - 11:01 AM]
NBC's "The Voice" Taps Music Icon Sting and Multi-Hyphenate Jennifer Hudson as Season 26 Mega Mentors
Hudson joins Michael Bublé and Reba McEntire while Sting joins coaches Snoop Dogg and Gwen Stefani to mentor the remaining artists as each team prepares for the Knockouts, beginning Monday, November 11.

[11/04/24 - 10:31 AM]
Aussie Luke Hemsworth Joins the Cast of Prime Video's Global Hit Series "Deadloch" Season Two
Hemsworth will join lead cast members Kate Box, Madeleine Sami, Nina Oyama and Alicia Gardiner.

[11/04/24 - 08:32 AM]
Netflix Announces Release of the Documentary "Avicii - I'm Tim" and Avicii's Last Show from Ibiza's Ushuaia
The documentary "Avicii - I'm Tim" and "Avicii - My Last Show" will launch globally on Netflix on December 31.

[11/04/24 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson" - Narrator Announcement, Sneak Peek & Key Art Debut
Ice T will narrate the three-part follow-doc leading up to the Netflix and MVP's heavyweight boxing mega-event.

[11/04/24 - 08:02 AM]
"La Liberacion" Will Premiere Exclusively on Prime Video on January 17
The unique series created and directed by noted filmmaker Alejandra Márquez Abella premieres January 17 on Prime Video.

[11/04/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey" - Official Trailer - Netflix
On December 26, 1996, John and Patsy Ramsey woke up the morning after a loving family Christmas to discover their youngest child, six-year-old JonBenét, was missing, a chilling ransom note left downstairs.

[11/04/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland" - Official Trailer - Hulu
St Nick (voiced by Gerard Butler) receives a delayed letter on Christmas Eve from the Princess of Hearts.

[11/03/24 - 07:30 PM]
Video: AMC Networks Releases a First Look at Season Three of "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon"
Starring Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride as the beloved characters "Daryl Dixon" and "Carol Peletier," the new season is set to premiere in 2025 on AMC and AMC+.

[11/02/24 - 06:12 PM]
Video: "Outer Banks" Season 4 - Part 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Buried secrets surface as the Pogues race to find a legendary artifact - with a dangerous gang of rival treasure hunters hot on their trail.

[11/01/24 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News Studios Announces "Price of Fame: The Liam Payne Story - A Special Edition of 20/20," Airing Nov. 3 at 10 P.M. EST on ABC
The one-hour special explores Liam Payne's meteoric rise to celebrity as a member of boy band One Direction and his personal journey, including his struggles with mental health and the pressures of stardom, as well as his efforts to reinvent himself as a solo artist.