A pretty bad miss from Bergman. It's somewhat interesting to see him try his hand at a goofy comedy that doesn't take itself seriously and pokes at fame self-referentially, but he fails miserably. Said to be a parody of Fellini's 8½, the film may remind you more of the early Woody Allen films to come, with zany music jazzing up scenes in fast motion, attempts at slapstick, and actors breaking the fourth wall. Unfortunately, it's awkward and not funny in the slightest. The film is also rather ugly, with simple sets, fading color, and 'bawdy' scenes shot so poorly they're unappealing.
You can read allegory into the artist who gets lost amidst everything surrounding him, as indeed we never see the face of the master cellist. Instead we see his mansion and all of the zaniness that takes place in it, the women who surround him and fight over him, and a critic who wishes to write his biography and pressures him to use his arrangements. The critic warms him that one day he will be forgotten, as another will come along. That's the main point of this farce, but it's too buried in silliness. I revere Bergman but have to call this for what it is, awful. If you want to watch a 'lighter' Bergman movie, I would recommend "A Lesson in Love" (1954) instead, which was excellent.
You can read allegory into the artist who gets lost amidst everything surrounding him, as indeed we never see the face of the master cellist. Instead we see his mansion and all of the zaniness that takes place in it, the women who surround him and fight over him, and a critic who wishes to write his biography and pressures him to use his arrangements. The critic warms him that one day he will be forgotten, as another will come along. That's the main point of this farce, but it's too buried in silliness. I revere Bergman but have to call this for what it is, awful. If you want to watch a 'lighter' Bergman movie, I would recommend "A Lesson in Love" (1954) instead, which was excellent.