Vivaldi, the sex-obsessed rock star

Guardian UK ^ | Sunday October 22, 2006 | Rob Sharp

[sitetest]

A biopic based on the early years of Antonio Vivaldi's life is set to do for the baroque composer what Milos Forman's Amadeus achieved for Mozart more than two decades ago. Joseph Fiennes plays the lead in Vivaldi, which starts filming next April, alongside Gerard Depardieu, Jacqueline Bisset and Malcolm McDowell. Its makers hope to reprise the success of Forman's 1984 epic, which won a multitude of Oscars, revitalising interest in Mozart and his works.

The new project will chart the composer of The Four Seasons' ordination as a priest and his life at a school in Venice, where he becomes a music teacher. 'We are setting out to make something that will last for generations,' said the film's director, Boris Damast. 'Amadeus is what we are going for. They set the template for this form, and there's been not much between then and now. That was a wonderful film. We want to make a film of that calibre. Maybe better.'

[sitetest]

I didn't see this posted previously. My apologies if it's a duplicate.

[sitetest]

Classical Music Ping List ping!

If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks!

[AnnaZ]

I love Vivaldi. But, couldn't they have cast some Italians?

[wideawake]

The film sees Fiennes' character battle with debilitating bouts of asthma, as well as 'the dogma of the Catholic church', according to Damast.

Typical Hollywood silliness.

Vivaldi was an orthdox Catholic who never expressed any heretical opinions.

He is rumored to have had an affair with one specific woman, but there is no evidence at all to substantiate it - not even a hint of undue affection in his correspondence with the woman in question.

The only really exciting aspects of Vivaldi's life from a dramatic point of view was the usual courtly politics and jockeying for position and preferment.

[nmh]

I love The Four Seasons! Vivaldi is one of my favorites.

[boomop1]

Me too I have Vivaldi about a dozen disc's.

[nmh]

I didn't know there was a classical music ping list.

Please ADD me!

I refuse to listen to todays "music".

[sitetest]

Dear AnnaZ,

"I love Vivaldi. But, couldn't they have cast some Italians?"

Didn't you know that all historical figures to be portrayed in movies were actually British?

;-)


sitetest

[wideawake]

David Caruso would have been an interesting choice - both he and Vivaldi are skinny, red-headed Italians. Plus Caruso was Vivaldi's greatest interpreter in the eyes of some.

[sitetest]

Will do.

[free_at_jsl.com]

For everyone who loves movies about classical composers, I recommend "Immortal Beloved". It's a film about Beethoven which takes quite a lot of liberty with the facts -- but it's a great film.

[yobid]

Get Nigel Kennedy's Four Seasons CD. IMO, simply the best.

[Squawk 8888]

The Kennedy disc is one of the best recordings ever.

On a more heretical note, I always thought it would be interesting to hear Jimi Hendrix play the Guitar Concerto.

[Argh]

If they'd signed up Jacqueline Bisset circa 1972 I'd be REALLY interested... :^)

[AnnaZ]

I have at least six different "Four Seasons" discs... "Summer" may be the greatest piece of music ever written.

[AnnaZ]

Didn't you know that all historical figures to be portrayed in movies were actually British?

LOL. That was actually one of the best things about Gibson's "Passion"... no 1st-century Jews and Romans with British accents. A first!

[AnnaZ]

Except that I don't really like David Caruso...

[AnnaZ]

...I recommend "Immortal Beloved".

Really? I walked out of the theater after about 20 minutes or so.

[BraveMan]

"The Four Seasons" is the only work of Vivaldi I'm familiar with. Can either of you make any additional recommendations?

[xp38]

I saw her in a small part in a movie from last year called Domino (about a female bounty hunter)(she plays her mother). She is definitely getting on in years but aren't we all.

[PGalt]

Interesting. Amadeus was my favorite movie. Classical music BUMP!

[boomop1]

I am listening to the Mandolin Concerti, Ugo Orlandi, Dorina Frati, I Soliti Veneti, Claudio Scimone conductor. This was the first I bought about 25 years ago.

[sine_nomine]

Add his Goldfinch Concerto for flute and anything else he wrote.

[Lx]

Yes I agree, great movie and music!

[nmh]

I'll look out for him.

In the meantime, Herbert Von Karajan typically has the omph I look for with certain pieces of music. IMO, he does a superb job with Vivaldi.

[nmh]

I'm being forced to stray from my favorite, Karajan since his stuff is harder and harder to find.

[MinuteGal]

You too?

Leni

[Borges]

Yeah I thought Immortal Beloved was terrible. Pure camp. Best of all is when Gary Oldman as Beethoven plays with a typically sparse circa 1800 chamber orchestra and the soundtrack clearly has a 80 piece symphony orchestra blasting away.

[CT-Freeper]

David Caruso would have been an interesting choice - both he and Vivaldi are skinny, red-headed Italians. Plus Caruso was Vivaldi's greatest interpreter in the eyes of some.

They could have cast David Caruso, but then they decided on someone who can act.

[Borges]

A biopic based on the early years of Antonio Vivaldi's life is set to do for the baroque composer what Milos Forman's Amadeus achieved for Mozart more than two decades ago.

Forman himself has a film coming out about the Spanish painter Goya. Goya is the new Mozart.

[LexBaird]

Typical Hollywood silliness.

Maybe they are looking to save production costs by reusing footage from Cassanova.

[Hack]

It is said, "Vivaldi composed over 800 works."

One response is, "Vivaldi composed one work over 800 times."

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

"Too many notes!"

[ELS]

"The Four Seasons" is the only work of Vivaldi I'm familiar with. Can either of you make any additional recommendations?

You didn't ask me, but if I may ...
Try his Violin Concertos. For the holidays, his Gloria (RV589). You can listen to MIDI files at the Classical Archives

[PGalt]

"You're going too fast!"

[BraveMan]

Much obliged, thank you.

[nmh]

Yeah, he's GOOD!

He has a style I don't see anynore. Or maybe I should say haven't heard recently.

[Psycho_Bunny]

lol.

I also feel the same about Mozart. I can't handle either of them.

Although, I do enjoy Vivaldi's Gloria. That's a cool piece.

[ichabod1]

I can't agree with you about Mozart... well I can to some extent. He wrote what, 46 symphonies? Many of them sound alike. Sometimes I think Mozart was the John Rutter of his time. Brilliant schlock. But, plenty of it wasn't.

[ichabod1]

Paganini would make a good subject for a feature film if they want to relate an 18-19th century musician to the modern rock star.

[ClearBlueSky]

I loved Amadeus too, but I couldn't stand Hulce. Thought Hamill would have been much better- he was great in the play! Hulce was just too goofy looking on screen.
But Abraham stole the movie, either way, as Salieri.
Vivaldi might be good!

[hambran]

I also like Vivaldi, I didn't think he was sex-obsesed just a good writer of good music.

Add me to the list, Thanks

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Emperor Joseph II: My dear young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.

Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

I use this one on my husband the music composer/choral arranger all the time when he asks my opinions ;-).

[sine_nomine]

Here is some interesting trivia. Hester Leinsdorf delivered our son when she was a medical student. Later we learned she is the daughter of the famous conductor. Even later, when we brought this up to best friends from the home town, the hostess said, "Wasn't he in the DP camp with us?"

There is a age gap here because the best friend who mentioned to this her husband is now in her 90's.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Von Karajan likely has few Vivaldi pieces he recorded. It is only in the last thirty years that much of Vivaldi has been recorded. Philips has an excellent series of his music. I forget the orchestra/conductor and am not at home to see what/who they are.

[justshutupandtakeit]

What really ruined the movie was the claim that the Immortal Beloved was a women he hated and presecuted throughout her life, his sister-in-law.

[justshutupandtakeit]

That is a completely untrue bon-mot, despite its cleverness. Vivaldi's music is quite varied and filled with remarkable beauty.

[Borges]

Sometimes I think Mozart was the John Rutter of his time. Brilliant schlock.

He wrote 41 and the early ones were written when he was a kid. His mature work (1781-1791) is the peak of Western music.

[Borges]

Stravinsky said it I think.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Whereas I love many pieces by Vivaldi there are only a few by Stravinsky which I like. The Violin Concerto is as hideous a piece as I can recall.