All the Music in the World is an intimate portrait of one of the world’s great pianists – Emanuel Ax, an unassuming virtuoso entering his 50th year on stage. As he approaches a milestone concert at Carnegie Hall, Ax records a new album with longtime collaborator Yo-Yo Ma and prepares for the premiere of a new concerto by John Williams, all while maintaining a touring schedule of close to a hundred concerts a year.
Moving between rehearsals, performances, recording sessions, and teaching, the film offers a rare look at what it takes to sustain a life at the highest level of music. Along the way, it reveals the contradictions that define Ax – a pianist of extraordinary virtuosity who remains deeply modest, and an artist who, even after a lifetime on stage, continues to contend with doubt and stage fright.
As Ax approaches his 75th birthday, the film also turns toward a more personal question: what it means to continue performing at this stage of his life while quietly contemplating when, or whether, to step away from the spotlight.
Joseph Levy is a filmmaker with a background in cello and composition, whose work is shaped by a lifelong connection to classical music. He received a BA in music from the University of Southern California before transitioning into filmmaking. His feature debut, Spinning Plates, received audience awards at the Santa Barbara, Austin, Naples, Vail, and Maui Film Festivals before playing in North American theaters for three months. All the Music in the World reflects a return to the musical world that first defined him.
