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While many artistic geniuses are at the mercy of
mental illness, few can talk about it lucidly. New Yorker Jens Nygaard (who
passed away on Sept. 24 of this year at the age of 69, after a protracted battle
with bone marrow cancer) walked on both the dark and light sides of the street,
while continuing to display a love for and devotion towards music that would
profoundly affect those around him. Told by Nygaard and fellow musicians, Life
on Jupiter chronicles Nygaard's early life - a child prodigy, Nygaard would
later become homeless and was eventually institutionalized before ultimately
returning to his musical roots during the early '60s - and tenure as conductor
of the renowned Jupiter Symphony (inspired by the NASA mission that photographed
the swirling, storm-ravaged planet). The chosen training ground for a number of
notable musicians, the Jupiter members counted it as a privilege to make music
with the volcanic Nygaard. Watching rehearsal footage is exhilarating and
sometimes painful as Nygaard encourages, inspires, cajoles, and occasionally
dresses down musicians rehearsing Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. In his rougher
moments, Nygaard doesn't come across as a cruel megalomaniac, but as a man who
will accept nothing less than the matching of real notes to the music in his
head. An inspiring portrait of an inspired artist, Life on Jupiter is
highly recommended. (C. Block)
TV Guide June 30-July 6, 2001
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