The Great Waltz
Your text goes hereYour text goes here*** In Review ***
Biopic about Johann Strauss - "The Waltz King"
Biopic about Johann Strauss - "The Waltz King"
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'A Song to Remember'
A worthwhile effort depicting the life of Fryderyk Chopin from his childhood in Poland to his death in Paris. Unlike 'Impromptu', a film I will review later in the series, one gets to hear and experience the motivation behind his greatest achievements. The film although stylized for the times does present Chopin and Liszt's relationship to a degree never before seen on the big screen. We see their camaraderie instead of the usual overplayed humdrum rivalry for the vying for the attentions of George Sand, a popular French writer and feminist actually known as Amandine Aurore Lucille Dupin, the Baroness Dudevant.
To say the least it is disappointing we do not get to hear more of his works especially those composed whilst being nursed back to health in Majorca. We only see the printed works rolling of the presses then flashed on the screen in a montage then eventually placed out for sale in a haberdashers market. The juxtaposition of the melodious tones against the backdrop of the Russian occupation and ill health lets us embrace the genius of Frédérick Chopin.
Here is the "soundtrack" for this movie (compiled by someone else in 1996):
-- Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op.66 (posth.) *Played on stage
-- Impromptu No. 1 in A flat major, Op.29 *Played on stage
-- The rest are extracts, some just a phrase.
-- Waltz in A flat major, Op. 69/1, (posth.) 'L'adieu'
-- Waltz in E flat major, Op.18, 'Grande Valse brillante'
-- Waltz in A Flat major, Op.34/1 'Valse brillante'
-- Waltz in A Minor, Op.34/2 'Valse brillante'
-- Waltz in A flat major, Op.42, 'The "Two-Four" waltz'
-- Waltz in C Sharp minor, Op.64/2
-- Waltz in D flat major, Op.64/1 'The Minute Waltz'
-- Waltz in B minor, Op.69/2 (posth.)
-- Waltz in G flat major, Op.70/1
-- Waltz in E minor (BI 56)
-- Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9/1
-- Nocturne in E-flat major, Op.9/2 'Murmures de la Seine'
-- Nocturne in B major, Op.9/3
-- Nocturne in F major, Op. 15/1
-- Nocturne in D-Flat major, Op.27/2
-- Nocturne in A Flat major, Op.32/2
-- Nocturne in B major, Op.32/1
-- Nocturne in G minor, Op.37/1
-- Nocturne in C minor, Op.48/1
-- Nocturne in F sharp minor, Op.48/2
-- Nocturne in E minor, Op.72 (posth.)
-- Mazurka in F sharp minor, Op.6/1
-- Mazurka in B flat major, Op.7/1
-- Mazurka in A minor, Op.17/4
-- Mazurka in B flat minor, Op.24/4
-- Mazurka in D major, Op.33/2
-- Mazurka in F sharp minor, Op.59/3
-- Mazurka in A minor, 'Notre Temps' BI 134
-- Mazurka in C major, Op.67/3 (posth.)
-- Mazurka in A minor, Op 68/2 (posth.)
-- Ballade No. 1 G minor, Op.23
-- Ballade No. 2 F major, Op.38
-- Ballade No. 3 A flat major, Op.47
-- Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op.20
-- Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op.31
-- Scherzo No. 3 in C-Sharp minor, Op.39
-- Polonaise in A major, Op.40/1, 'Military'
-- Prelude in D Flat major, Op.28/15, 'Raindrop'
-- Etude in E major, Op.10/3, 'Tristesse'
-- Barcarolle F-sharp major, Op.60
-- Berceuse in D flat major, Op.57
-- Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise in E flat major, Op. 22
-- Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op. 11
1st mvt, 'Allegro maestoso', 2nd mvt, 'Romanze: Larghetto' 3rd mvt, 'Rondo: Vivace'
-- Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op.21, 1st mvt, 'Maestoso', 2nd mvt, 'Larghetto'
-- Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op.35, 2nd mvt, 'Scherzo' and 3rd mvt, 'Marche funèbre' (Funeral March)
-- Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op.58, 3rd mvt 'Largo' and 4th mvt 'Finale: Presto, non tanto'
To say the least it is disappointing we do not get to hear more of his works especially those composed whilst being nursed back to health in Majorca. We only see the printed works rolling of the presses then flashed on the screen in a montage then eventually placed out for sale in a haberdashers market. The juxtaposition of the melodious tones against the backdrop of the Russian occupation and ill health lets us embrace the genius of Frédérick Chopin.
Here is the "soundtrack" for this movie (compiled by someone else in 1996):
-- Fantasie-Impromptu in C sharp minor, Op.66 (posth.) *Played on stage
-- Impromptu No. 1 in A flat major, Op.29 *Played on stage
-- The rest are extracts, some just a phrase.
-- Waltz in A flat major, Op. 69/1, (posth.) 'L'adieu'
-- Waltz in E flat major, Op.18, 'Grande Valse brillante'
-- Waltz in A Flat major, Op.34/1 'Valse brillante'
-- Waltz in A Minor, Op.34/2 'Valse brillante'
-- Waltz in A flat major, Op.42, 'The "Two-Four" waltz'
-- Waltz in C Sharp minor, Op.64/2
-- Waltz in D flat major, Op.64/1 'The Minute Waltz'
-- Waltz in B minor, Op.69/2 (posth.)
-- Waltz in G flat major, Op.70/1
-- Waltz in E minor (BI 56)
-- Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9/1
-- Nocturne in E-flat major, Op.9/2 'Murmures de la Seine'
-- Nocturne in B major, Op.9/3
-- Nocturne in F major, Op. 15/1
-- Nocturne in D-Flat major, Op.27/2
-- Nocturne in A Flat major, Op.32/2
-- Nocturne in B major, Op.32/1
-- Nocturne in G minor, Op.37/1
-- Nocturne in C minor, Op.48/1
-- Nocturne in F sharp minor, Op.48/2
-- Nocturne in E minor, Op.72 (posth.)
-- Mazurka in F sharp minor, Op.6/1
-- Mazurka in B flat major, Op.7/1
-- Mazurka in A minor, Op.17/4
-- Mazurka in B flat minor, Op.24/4
-- Mazurka in D major, Op.33/2
-- Mazurka in F sharp minor, Op.59/3
-- Mazurka in A minor, 'Notre Temps' BI 134
-- Mazurka in C major, Op.67/3 (posth.)
-- Mazurka in A minor, Op 68/2 (posth.)
-- Ballade No. 1 G minor, Op.23
-- Ballade No. 2 F major, Op.38
-- Ballade No. 3 A flat major, Op.47
-- Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op.20
-- Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor, Op.31
-- Scherzo No. 3 in C-Sharp minor, Op.39
-- Polonaise in A major, Op.40/1, 'Military'
-- Prelude in D Flat major, Op.28/15, 'Raindrop'
-- Etude in E major, Op.10/3, 'Tristesse'
-- Barcarolle F-sharp major, Op.60
-- Berceuse in D flat major, Op.57
-- Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise in E flat major, Op. 22
-- Piano Concerto No.1 in E minor, Op. 11
1st mvt, 'Allegro maestoso', 2nd mvt, 'Romanze: Larghetto' 3rd mvt, 'Rondo: Vivace'
-- Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op.21, 1st mvt, 'Maestoso', 2nd mvt, 'Larghetto'
-- Sonata No. 2 in B flat minor, Op.35, 2nd mvt, 'Scherzo' and 3rd mvt, 'Marche funèbre' (Funeral March)
-- Sonata No. 3 in B Minor, Op.58, 3rd mvt 'Largo' and 4th mvt 'Finale: Presto, non tanto'
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'Puccini for Beginners'
Contrary to its title this film has little to do with the composer. On the surface this film is a comedy about a woman's search for her sexual identity; however, upon further review you will discover its resemblance to a Classical Greek Tragedy.
Really Long Link
A recently separated couple is embroiled in a love triangle with the befuddled protaganist. As the film progresses we discover everyone has relationship issues and Allegra's self-examination takes a backseat.
Commitment phobia and/or "Old Hat Syndrome" plagues us all at some point in our lives. It is not until we are face-to-face with the imminent breakup do we commit whole-heartedly. For some there is no going back; for a few it is a fresh start, a new beginning; still others only time will tell. After viewing this film you too may wonder, what would you do?
***NEXT UP***
'A Song to Remember'
Really Long Link
A recently separated couple is embroiled in a love triangle with the befuddled protaganist. As the film progresses we discover everyone has relationship issues and Allegra's self-examination takes a backseat.
Commitment phobia and/or "Old Hat Syndrome" plagues us all at some point in our lives. It is not until we are face-to-face with the imminent breakup do we commit whole-heartedly. For some there is no going back; for a few it is a fresh start, a new beginning; still others only time will tell. After viewing this film you too may wonder, what would you do?
***NEXT UP***
'A Song to Remember'
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'Copying Beethoven'
Although an uneven tale of the relationship between Ludwig and his copyist; Anna, an aspiring composer trapped in a man's world; the director allows us to feel the emotions and drive beyond the notes. From the opening sequences set to the seldom heard "Grosse Fugue" to the way too familiar "9th Symphony"; we the viewer are transcended to another realm. It comes as no surprise the film's highlight is the performance of the '9th Symphony". Nonetheless, it is a visceral experience best described as erotic, sensual and passionate. Naturally, there are references to his other works shown in a different light viewers will discover quite unexpected and quirky. Finally, to fully understand and feel the opening sequences will require more than one viewing or familiarity with Beethoven's "Grosse Fugue".
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