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]

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[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.