Fremantle Sells ‘Mozart: Rise of a Genius’ in Key Territories as Producer Teases Docu-Drama: ‘He Was the Original Child Star’ (EXCLUSIVE)

As a lifelong admirer of classical music and a history enthusiast who has delved into the lives of many great composers, I can confidently say that “Mozart: Rise of a Genius” is an exceptional production that beautifully captures the complexities of one of the most extraordinary figures in Western music.

I’m thrilled to share that the three-part docudrama I adore, titled “Mozart: Rise of a Genius,” has found its way across continents! It was originally commissioned by BBC and beautifully crafted by 72 Films. Now, it will captivate audiences in the Middle East (BBC), Denmark (DR), Sweden (SVT), Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania (Discovery) as well as Hong Kong & Macao (Now TV). What an incredible journey for this stunning portrayal of a musical genius!

Fremantle is overseeing worldwide distribution and plans to meet with potential buyers beginning on October 21 at Mipcom.

The program, initially aired on September 16 across BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, delves deeper into the life of this renowned composer. However, producer Joe Fell emphasized that any similarities to Miloš Forman’s “Amadeus” are unjustified.

Fell mentioned that “Amadeus” served as a great foundation because not many people are familiar with classical music nowadays. They’re often unaware of the stories behind these musicians’ lives, except for Mozart, due to the widespread fame of “Amadeus”.

Despite the praise the movie earned, a significant portion of it wasn’t backed by actual documentary evidence.

The tale that he was assassinated by another composer, Salieri, is entirely fabricated. Instead, it provided an intriguing subject for us to challenge and creatively respond to in an engaging manner.

Fell remarks: “One quote from one of our contributors that resonated with me was, ‘Mozart wasn’t simply a child prodigy who never matured. Instead, he was a person forced to mature far beyond his years.’

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share my excitement about the upcoming show that delves into the life of Mozart – a fascinating follow-up to “Shakespeare: Rise of a Genius”. This series will undoubtedly captivate many, as Mozart emerges as a remarkably contemporary figure.

He seemed more in tune with our contemporary era than his own. He was bold, self-assured, and fiercely independent – essentially a ‘rock star’ composer ahead of his time. This can be traced back to the likes of Judy Garland, Britney Spears, and Macaulay Culkin. What we wanted to delve into was the psychology, scarred from early childhood, which is currently a popular topic.

Producers plan to scrutinize the formative connections the composer had with women, including his mother, sister, first romantic interest, and spouse.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily something people consider when they think about him,” adds Fell.

His writing about them unveils the kind of man he was – deeply emotional and full of love. Reading him, you can tell he was emotionally astute. He wasn’t without flaws; he could be arrogant and constantly sought validation. Yet, he was a man capable of immense affection.

Mozart spent his whole life “reacting against” his domineering father.

Leopold was a puzzling, paradoxical individual. He often displayed harsh behavior, which at times left one questioning his actions towards his own son. A key question we aimed to explore in the series was: how does the world’s celebrated child prodigy develop into an adult? What transformations occur within this mind, and what tumultuous events follow?

Mozart’s letters proved invaluable to the team.

Mozart’s story is unique due to the abundance of surviving documentation compared to that of Shakespeare. This wealth of evidence includes numerous letters exchanged with his father, providing us a deeply personal insight into him. Our aim was always to explore the connection between Mozart’s work and life, and these letters serve as a sort of blueprint for actors to portray him authentically.

The television series includes appearances by Stephen Fry, Richard E. Grant, Adjoa Andoh from “Bridgerton”, Sheila Hancock, Karla Crome, and Chris Addison.

Chris and Stephen teamed up to perform a piece, they chose a poem Mozart penned during a rather wild phase in his existence. It’s quite bizarre, and I won’t share it due to its explicit language,” Fell quips jokingly.

Those small instances are what make things endearing. He possesses an immense charm, yet at times it can be challenging to perceive his captivating personality.

As a cinephile immersed in the world of classical music, I found “Mozart” to be an engaging exploration that skillfully blends interviews, reconstructions, and live orchestral performances. Notable figures such as Edward Gardner, principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Lucy Crowe, a talented performer, and Robert Greenberg, a distinguished pianist, are among the esteemed musicians delving into Mozart’s work. It’s an enlightening journey that takes us deeper into the mind of this legendary composer.

Among those who excel and have a passion for music, Golda Schultz, a South African soprano, truly stood out. She recently released an album dedicated entirely to Mozart titled ‘Mozart, You Drive Me Crazy!’. Our goal is to make Mozart relevant for today’s audience, so we sought to bring along individuals who share this enthusiasm.

Fell expresses a desire for greater accomplishments in the future, specifically delving into the works of Beethoven and even British icons like Dickens.

In terms of its format, it’s a clear success. The way the narratives are presented has a very filmic, character-centric feel to it. For a broad audience, it could serve as an educational resource, but ultimately, the story itself remains the most captivating element.

2024-10-18 13:17

Fremantle Sells ‘Mozart: Rise of a Genius’ in Key Territories as Producer Teases Docu-Drama: ‘He Was the Original Child Star’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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