Mozart - Piano Concertos No.22-24 DVD

Advantages: Period drama, the music, the acting, the direction
Disadvantages: Not a true rendition

...Amadeus – Director’s Cut Introduction The film Amadeus is based on Peter Schaffer’s stage play of the same name. The film was originally screened in 1984 and has been released on DVD. This updated version, Amadeus – Director’s Cut, was released in September 24th 2002 by Warner Home Videos certificate 18. This new version runs for 180 minutes in contrast to the original which ran for 160 minutes on DVD. The film is basically about the antagonism that existed between the two composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. The updated film reinstates sections originally cut from the film that help to clarify a number of crucial plot developments. The film is available to buy from £7.97. Synopsis The story starts in 1823, when Salieri, old and distrurbed, is admitted to an insane asylum after trying to commit suicide. He... Read review

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Advantages: Superb music, script, sets, acting
Disadvantages: None

...scenes will touch even those who profess to not liking classical music and remain with you for a very long time. As the haunting 2nd movement of Mozart’s Piano concerto in D minor begins, Salieri announces himself as the patron saint of mediocrities and the final line “Mediocrities everywhere….I absolve you all…" wraps the whole film up superbly. As the scene fades you find yourself sitting through the credits as the music continues to a calm and inevitable conclusion. Would I recommend this film? Simple answer – yes. The main cast are as follows: Abraham F Murray – Antonio Salieri Tom Hulce – Mozart Elizabth Berridge – Constanza Mozart Roy Dotrice – Leopold Mozart Simon Callow – Schikaneder Jeffrey Jones – emperor Joseph II Charles Kay – Count Orsini-Rosenberg Roderick Cook – Count Von Strack Richard Frank – Father Vogler Patrick Hines... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Good and entertaining look at Gainsborough
Disadvantages: Nome

...of art in the style of Gainsborough.. The programme keeps returning to him, watching over his shoulder, as it were, until the painting is completed. The music employed throughout the programme was very well selected and consisted of: extracts from: Mozart's Horn Concerto; Handel's Water Music; Vivaldi's Spring, from the four Seasons; Bach's Air on a G String; Hadyn's Finale from his Trumpet concerto in E Flat Major; Pachelbel's Canon; Albinoni's Adagio for Organ and Strings; Mozart's First Movement (Allegro) from Eine Kleine Nacktmusik and Serenade No 13 in G Major; Bach's Toccata and Fuge in D Minor for Organ. The whole thing is rounded off nicely and neatly with Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks Overture. Although the lack of a commentator seemed odd at first, I soon settled in to enjoying this immensely interesting and rather... Read review

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