In Search of Mozart - a Phil Grabsky Film – In NZ

For Immediate Release: January 26, 2006

IN SEARCH OF MOZART – a Phil Grabsky Film – In New Zealand Cinemas March 2, 2006

To mark the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth on January 27, 2006, IN SEARCH OF MOZART is the first ever major feature-length documentary of Mozart’s life and will open in New Zealand Cinemas on March 2, 2006. Multi award winning documentary filmmaker Phil Grabsky will visit New Zealand for two days, February 12 in Wellington and February 13 in Auckland. Mr Grabsky will attend special advance screenings in both cities in association with New Zealand independent film distributors SCREENLINE.

Produced in association with the world’s leading orchestras, opera houses and musician..told through a 25,000 mile journey along every route Mozart followed ..IN SEARCH OF MOZART is a detective story that travels to the heart of old Europe … and the heart of genius itself.

Narrated by Juliet Stevenson and featuring: Renee Fleming, Magdalena Mozena, Lang Lang, Louis Langree, Julian Rachlin, Roger Norrington, Imogen Cooper, Skampa Quartet, Orchestra of the 18th Century, the Salzburg Camerata..and many other leading musicians, performers, and Mozart experts.

When asked ‘Why make a film about Mozart?’, Phil Grabsky replied: “There are few names more famous than Mozart’s, it’s remarkable to consider. Will I have even one film in thirty years that people will want to watch? Whereas, Mozart has not a few, not dozens, but hundreds of works that are still loved, admired and performed. I was fascinated to look into just who he was, Where did he come from? What made him? What made his music? It was a huge task – and no-one has done it in this detail before, so I had the extra pressure of making sure I – and my colleagues – did a good job and made a film that does him justice.’

Phil Grabsky – brief biography

Phil Grabsky is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His company Seventh Art Productions, based in Brighton, make films for cinema and television. In 2001 Phil directed ‘Muhammad Ali: Through the eyes of the World’, which was a major success and has been seen in over 100 countries. ‘The Boy who plays on the Buddha's of Bamiyan’, which Phil filmed and directed in Afghanistan during 2002.2003, has played in cinemas worldwide. To date, it has won eleven awards, including first prize at Valladolid International Film Festival, and the Gold Hugo in Chicago for best film.

Phil is currently filming a major documentary in Luanda, Angola, and making a film which uses Mario Petrucci’s ‘Heavy War a poem for Chernobyl', to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Already booked for special screenings at many international music festivals this is THE film for Mozart Year 2006, IN SEARCH OF MOZART premiered at the Barbican in December 2005, receiving rave reviews: “…essential viewing.” The Guardian “Fascinating and informative” (Times 2), “…the result is beautifully shot (the scenes of snow falling on Salzburg are stunningly evocative), nicely paced account, not just of Mozart’s life but of his music and development as a composer. It will fascinate those who know nothing about the composer and intrigue those who know something already”, (Opera News).

ENDS

Interesting links: www.mozart.com, www.insearchofmozart.com

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