I watched the BBC2 documentary and also the performance of the Juipiter Symphony - I missed the talk through because I received a phone call from the future New Zealand.
I think we can all agree that the Mozart presentations have been, well, patchy. However, I think a big huzzah should go out to the BBC for making and broadcasting them. And in tonight's programme Charles Hazlewood really communicated his passion. A few days ago I saw an article called "The Mozart Myth Debunked". I didn't bother reading it; no doubt it was some clever academic with is head up his arse trying to demonstrate that Mozart was, in fact, rubbish.
However, the wisdom of very many clever musicians, plus millions and millions of ordinary people who love music seem to come to that magical conclusion that Mozart was an absolute genius, who seems, uniquely, (I exclude even Beethoven) to speak directly to everybody. CH may have hit the nail on the head by saying how he incorporated his life experience into his music - there is no joy without sorrow, no love without grief.
His life story is fascinating: we touched on it at O-Level Music, then there was the vastly entertaining, if not necessarily accurate Amadeus. The story of four children dying in infancy - I tend to think that people in the olden days, just as in developing countries, are inured to such pain. That's ignorance, and arrogance, on my part. He himself dying - younger than I am now - in poverty.
No one makes me think of spiritual matters, of God, of the afterlife, and Eternity in the way Mozart does. Forget the dodgy and irrelevant parts of the Bible, forget the ridiculous pre-occupations of the corrupt hierarchy down the centuries. Concentrate on that spiritual and personal relationship with God; Mozart is the key to understanding spirituality.
Some people are vindicated or feel remorse in old age. I like to think that there is a possibility of awareness after death. And that somehow, somewhere, however metaphysically, Mozart knows the great esteem in which he is held.
For someone reason, I got it into my head the other day that he only wrote a few symphonies and operas, the odd piano concerto, and the Requiem. Which is rubbish. Tonight's programme included the Clarinet Quintet, which is one of those pieces that makes me wriggle with bliss, and that demonstrates the paucity of the words gorgeous, beautiful. They also played an excerpt from his Mass in C minor, with its haunting Kyrie. I dug a CD out from the rack - Mass, C. Hmm, not what they played on the telly. Oh, wait, I'm playing the C major 'Coronation' Mass (which has the best ever Agnus Dei), when I should be playing the Grosse Messe. So even my partial record collection contains three Mozart Masses.
Eine Kleine Nachtmusic, bought on a cheap tape of an ancient (mono) recording that Daddy and I went halves on in Woolworths in Brixham in 1984. CH demonstrated that you dismiss it as trivial at your peril. I had never articulated that it contains some very sad music, although my instinct has always recognised it.
So thank you BBC for a courageous bit of programming - and I so loved pressing the red button.
Also thank you BBC for the prompt response to the email I got around to sending today:
I caught the second half of this wonderful profile of Maria Callas,
which I guess from the Radio Times was already repeated from BBC4. I
would like to see the whole programme, and wonder if you are going to
repeat it again in the near future eg during Opera Month (in June?)
What I particularly liked was that the programme was driven by her
performance, and only alluded to her personal life to the extent that it
explained her career - which is so much better than focusing on her
personal life and mentioning the performing just in passing.
The BBC 'at your beck and call' emailed me back:
Thank you for your e-mail regarding 'BBC Four on BBC Two: Maria Callas - Living and Dying for Art'. I am pleased to read your interest in this programme.
There are no plans at present to repeat this programme on the BBC terrestrial or digital channels, although I will certainly register your interest for the attention of our schedulers. Future schedules are only confirmed up to ten days in advance, which means it is not possible to give details for programmes beyond this period. I am sure you can appreciate that plans can change and we would not wish to give you information that could prove incorrect. Can I suggest that you check TV listings such as Radio Times. The Radio Times and BBC 'What's On' websites carry listings up to seven days in advance. The addresses are:
You may also be interested in visiting the following website:
May I also assure you that that all of your comments are valued by us and have been carefully noted for the attention of the programme's makers and senior BBC management.
Thank you once again for taking the time to contact the BBC.
Regards
Lisa Drumm
BBC Information
No, thank you BBC.
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