[Boomer]

Mozart in the Jungle is in its second season on Amazon Prime. I had not even heard of this show until yesterday when the title appeared in an ad on my Amazon page.

Last night we binge watched the first season and some of Season 2.

Mozart in the Jungle is about the behind-the-scenes lives of musicians in a fictional symphony orchestra in NYC. The plot and characters are entertaining and we get to hear some of the world's greatest music, too. The cast has its share of the expected temperamental arteests who are fun to watch, as are the very wealthy donors who must be catered to because the show, of course, must go on.

Bernadette Peters heads the business end of the orchestra. She must manage the fundraising while she tries to keep the egos of the musicians in some sort of precarious balance. I really liked the characters, especially the cutie-patootie new conductor and the young, highly gifted, and actually well-grounded oboe player.

We can be binge watchers extraordinaire sometimes so we stayed awake and got into Season 2, too. In Season 2 Emanuel Ax and Lang Lang show up as themselves and we get to hear Lang Lang play some stunning piano.

Another wonderful music moment is when Bernadette Peters sings a sultry, torchy "C'mon a My House." Turns out she just wanted to be a chanteuse, in her younger days, but her now late husband did not approve. (I bet Rosemary Clooney would have liked Bernadette's rendition of one of her hits.)

So anyway, I thought maybe some of you might want to know about this show, in case you are looking for something to tune in to on a slow night.

[CFrance]

Thanks for the review. I never heard of it, but it sounds like I would like it.

[quirky3]

I recommend this show! It is very realistic in its portrayal of the lives of professional musicians and young people starting out.

The only moment I could not relate to was one performance when then orchestra was asked to play the 1812 overture for memory (with no music) and they all did it as if it were the copied and pasted into their memories.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by quirky3

I recommend this show! It is very realistic in its portrayal of the lives of professional musicians and young people starting out.

The only moment I could not relate to was one performance when then orchestra was asked to play the 1812 overture for memory (with no music) and they all did it as if it were the copied and pasted into their memories.

Hi quirky,

Your post made me smile because I thought the exact same thing......even though I am not a musician.

That scene was definitely fairytale style, as was much of the storyline. But I think that sweet, predictable plotting was one of the reasons I really liked this show.

Nothng works like the 1812 to draw in the masses. Our back home orchestra trots it out for The Pops.

Also, in the final episode, I think music stands and chairs appeared out of nowhere for that grand finale. But I need to rewind and check that, for sure. -- It was late when we finished watching Season 2 for our exciting, geezerfied New Year's Eve. But, hey, we had a little wine, too.

I keep my iPad around when watching movies on television because I might have to check on things like.... "Where have I seen that actor before?" or "Am I older than Bernadette Peters?"

Also, I just had to log on to Amazon and order a CD by Lang Lang. (Confession: I did not know about him before. I am a bumpkin.) I chose Rachmaninoff.

I had forgotten how much I like the 1812 Overture. Always thought maybe I could at least play the cymbals. I used to crank up the big Pioneer speakers that were a part of Mr. Boomer's trousseau. He had lugged them back from Okinawa before I met him. Those speakers doubled as our first end tables........whoops, I digress.......

er


PS: Oh dear.......should that have been RachmaninOV? Oh well, at least I know I am a bumpkin. (sigh)

[quirky3]

Did you also notice that when they drafted the conductor's assistant / oboe player to play cymbals for the 1812 overture, she played them wrong, in a way that would just suck the two cymbals together instead of using an opposing up/down movement?

[Boomer]

Now that you mention it, quirky, I do remember not hearing that spectacular CLANG!!! ........I can't remember how many clangs there are, but I do know I would practice, practice, practice, if ever given the chance. I wonder how big a donation it would take........oh well........can't happen........(sigh)

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Boomer

Hi quirky,

Your post made me smile because I thought the exact same thing......even though I am not a musician.

That scene was definitely fairytale style, as was much of the storyline. But I think that sweet, predictable plotting was one of the reasons I really liked this show.

Nothng works like the 1812 to draw in the masses. Our back home orchestra trots it out for The Pops.

Also, in the final episode, I think music stands and chairs appeared out of nowhere for that grand finale. But I need to rewind and check that, for sure. -- It was late when we finished watching Season 2 for our exciting, geezerfied New Year's Eve. But, hey, we had a little wine, too.

I keep my iPad around when watching movies on television because I might have to check on things like.... "Where have I seen that actor before?" or "Am I older than Bernadette Peters?"

Also, I just had to log on to Amazon and order a CD by Lang Lang. (Confession: I did not know about him before. I am a bumpkin.) I chose Rachmaninoff.

I had forgotten how much I like the 1812 Overture. Always thought maybe I could at least play the cymbals. I used to crank up the big Pioneer speakers that were a part of Mr. Boomer's trousseau. He had lugged them back from Okinawa before I met him. Those speakers doubled as our first end tables........whoops, I digress.......

er


PS: Oh dear.......should that have been RachmaninOV? Oh well, at least I know I am a bumpkin. (sigh)

"Pioneer speakers that were a part of Mr. Boomer's trousseau."

You make me laugh, Boomer.