Which of These Movies Was Centered Around Classical Music?
A list of movies that were either centered around or had classical music as a large part of the film.
“Amadeus”
Amadeus is a 1984 film about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the most prolific and renowned classical composers of all time. The film spans Mozart’s life from his childhood in Salzburg to his untimely death at the age of 35. It chronicles his struggles to be recognized as a composer in a society that favored composers who wrote in a more traditional style. Amadeus received critical acclaim upon its release and won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
“The Pianist”
“The Pianist” is a 2002 historical drama film directed by Roman Polanski, starring Adrien Brody. The film is an adaptation of the autobiography of the same name by Władysław Szpilman. It follows Szpilman’s story of survival during the German occupation of Warsaw in World War II.
“The Red Violin”
The Red Violin is a 1998 Canadian drama film directed by François Girard and starring Samuel L. Jackson, Caroline Dhavernas, Greta Scacchi, Christoph Waltz, and Jason Flemyng. The film follows the life of a perfect violin from its creation in 1681 to its eventual disappearance. Along the way, the violin passes through many hands and Countries, with each owner adding their own chapter to the instrument’s history.
“Immortal Beloved”
The 1994 film “Immortal Beloved” is about the life of legendary composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The film explores his relationships with the women in his life, as well as his dedication to his music.
“Mr. Holland’s Opus”
“Mr. Holland’s Opus” is a 1995 American drama film directed by Stephen Herek, produced by Ted Field, Robert W. Cort, and Michael Nolin, and written by Patrick Sheane Duncan. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss in the title role of Glenn Holland, an idealistic composer who takes a teaching position to support his family; Glenn discovers over time that his true passion is teaching music to students. The cast also includes Glenne Headly, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, and Jay Thomas.
Classical music figures prominently in “Mr. Holland’s Opus”. The film’s soundtrack includes several well-known classical pieces, including the Symphony No. 9 in D Minor (“Choral”), Opus 125 by Ludwig van Beethoven; “Pomp and Circumstance” Marches by Edward Elgar; the “1812 Overture”, Opus 49 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky; and piano works by Frédéric Chopin.
