Edvard Grieg - What Price Immortality?

Thomas Olofsson’s 1999 biopic of the composer Edvard Grieg (1843–1907), entitled What Price Immortality?, was greeted with great interest and international acclaim. The film, which was written by Olofsson himself, along with Ture Rangström und Johanna Olofsson, attempts to give a picture of Edvard Grieg, both as a man and a composer, a figure who still receives less attention outside Scandinavia than he deserves. The pianist Staffan Scheja plays the role of Edvard Grieg as both performer and composer, playing works such as the piano ballad in G minor, op. 24. The internationally renowned Auryn Quartet plays the initial string quartet in G minor, op. 27. A fascinating and thrilling Biopic about Edvard Grieg in a new digitally remastered version. The international acclaimed film What Price Immortality? (1999) directed by Thomas Olofsson and Ture Rangström gives an authentic picture of a man and composer who still receives less attention outside Scandinavia than he deserves, even more than 100 years after his death. This music film attempts to throw some light on the restless life and complex character by means of a series of flashbacks in which the elderly Grieg tries to find out the truth about his life and remembers at times of happiness and extremity. A wide range of excerpts from his music provide fitting illustrations of the various episodes in his career. The Swedish pianist Staffan Scheja portrays Edvard Grieg as both performer and composer, playing works such as the Piano Ballade in G minor op. 24. The internationally renowned Auryn Quartet plays the initial string quartet in G minor, op. 27. Both works were composed during periods of crisis in Grieg’s life.