In Search of Mozart

I was recently given the DVD as a present which was a little surprising as I am not normally a fan of this type of film and would not normally choose to buy such a film , however I found it absolutely fascinating and thoroughly enjoyed it. It certainly gave me an insight into the world of Mozart. I thought the Direction & Acting was first class and it brought to life , for me the period and times of Mozart. I would recommend this film to anyone . Watching this film has given me the incentive to become a little more adventurous in my choice of subject and I will be looking to view other films of this type and by this Director.

In Search of Mozart is a really poorly directed documentary that gives a straightforward if somewhat defensive biography of Mozart. Director Phil Grabsky engages in some off-putting extreme close-ups of interviewees/performers (I don't really need to get nose-hair close to them) and the 129-minute movie is unevenly paced. It spends a lot of time on the birth and sudden (if common at the time) death of Mozart's first baby, then barely mentions his father's death in passing. It does a couple of things well. The musicians and their performances are choice (except for Don Giovanni). There are certainly interpretations of Mozart's music that are far worse out there. Best of all are the musicians explaining how certain pieces work while they play select portions. The movie could have used more of this in even greater depth. A deep analysis of Piano Concerto No. 20 could have been sublime.

For someone who would like to explore Mozart's music and/or learn more about his life, this documentary will be an excellent source of both. Except for Great G minor (K.550--on the selection screen on DVD) and Clarinet Concerto in A (K.622), which we hear at the very beginning, the viewers can listen to Mozart's compositions in a chronological order mostly and hear the progression of his composition skills. And how fast he progresses! As one of the interviewees in the film says, Mozart's life and the development of his musical talent were as if they had been on the fast-forward. The documentary showcases a wide range of musical genres--sonatas, concerti, symphonies, operas, motets, string quartets, and more. World-class musicians and conductors explain the technical aspects of certain pieces and talk about the emotions they evoke. We also journey through Mozart's life following some excerpts of his and his parents' letters and video clips of the cities he visited during his lifetime.

If you are a Mozart aficionado and have been gathering any scrap of information on Mozart over the years, you won't find anything earth-shattering in the film. After all, Mozart's life has been well chronicled through his correspondence and other forms of documents. The information the documentary provides is on the conservative side. I could not help smiling when I read the producer's note at the end; that Mozart probably died of rheumatic fever and kidney failure, and that he was not poisoned. I get this feeling that Phil Grabsky doesn't approve of the portrayal of Mozart in Amadeus. Attributing Mozart's death to rheumatic fever and renal failure has been one of the main theories for decades, but what about other possibilities? Only a year or two ago, I read a newspaper article, which claimed Mozart might have died of trichinosis. The article was fascinating, but Mozart's death is one of many mysteries we will never be able to solve. For music connoisseurs, this film has a great appeal with Renée Fleming, Lang Lang, Sir Roger Norrington and others affectionately and passionately speaking of Mozart's music. And let's fact it, you don't get to hear Mozart's first compositions on keyboard or early operas often even if you listen to an all-classical format radio station. In addition, you get to hear the samples of well-known, and not so well-known pieces by Mozart.

There's a Japanese proverb on prodigies that goes like this: A prodigy (literal translation: divine child) at age ten, a whiz at fifteen, just a man at twenty and over. I suppose Mozart himself, and In Search of Mozart to a certain extent, proved that even ancient oriental wisdom can be wrong every once in a century or two.

"In Search of Mozart," is an artistic, realistic and beautiful tribute to the musical genius, Mozart during his 250th anniversary period. This film is timeless. With its marvelous cinematography, pertinent past and present-day film clips and photographs, and its live interviews and performances by famous orchestras and musicians, "In Search of Mozart" is a film classic with worldwide appeal. I was impressed by the great lengths that the director, Phil Grabsky went to seek out specific rehearsals of particular Mozart's pieces and incorporate parts of them into his film. Mr. Grabsky sought out interviews and solo performances of many music greats. Famous contemporary pianists, as Lang Lang, contributed their musical talents and knowledge to the film. Every musician and music lover should add this film to his private collection of excellent films. I would hope that Mr. Grabsky would make more doc films of this type about other famous composers as Beethovan. The film is informative and has educational purpose. As part of a music appreciation course, students could view this film. The film would be an asset to a school film library.

"In Search of Mozart" is an utterly fascinating documentary which brings the brilliant, sometimes tragic, bawdy and all too human composer to life. Using a combination of his letters read evocatively by leading actors, hundreds of musical clips of orchestras and singers, interviews with scholars and musicians, as well as present day footage of the very long roads he traveled (he was on tour about 1/3 of the days of his short life), Mozart becomes as real as if he sat down to dinner with you. I had the privilege to see this film at Lincoln Center where people laughed and cried and crowded around after to buy the DVD. A film for those who know nothing about Mozart to those who have studied him all their lives.