To celebrate the release of Max Richter’s Sleep, the acclaimed documentary about the legendary composers accomplished piece of music and the unique experience of seeing it performed live, we sat down with the man in question to find out more.
A behind-the-scenes look at the staging of his 8-hour lullaby in Los Angeles, the film talks to the people who attend the performances to “sleep” and to engage with the beauty of the peace as a way to escape lives turmoils and tribulations, to reflect to pause. Richter tells us about the work it takes to put on the performances, the success of the piece, and how, in the strange world of 2020, Sleep is even more prevalent now than ever before.
The film follows acclaimed composer and musician Max Richter and his creative partner, artist and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Yulia Mahr, as they navigate an ambitious performance of his celebrated 8-hour opus SLEEP at an open-air concert in Los Angeles. Emmy-nominated director Natalie Johns weaves in Mahr’s personal archive and performance footage from Berlin, Sydney, and Paris to create a rich portrait of a shared artistic process, along with contributions that illuminate both the science and story behind the work.
You can watch the full interview below:
Max Richter’s Sleep opens in UK cinemas on 11th September.
