Double the trouble, double the fun. In the new series “Mozart Mozart”, the audience will get to know the famous Austrian composer and his sister Maria Anna, forgotten in the history books.
“It’s quite surprising because so few people know about her,” says screenwriter Swantje Oppelmann, while its creator and showrunner Andreas Gutzeit adds:
The show features the giant German pubic Broacaster Ard (WDR/SWR/ARD Degeto Film) produced by Gutzeit’s Storyhouse Pictures, Austrian state TV ORF, a co-production with Dreaming Heep Company – Beta Films and Bavarian Media are handling worldwide sales. Like many other female artists, she will be ignored for centuries.
“It’s interesting to say that it’s a contemporary thing. It brings women artists back into the light from the shadows. That’s why I wanted to do this project.”
“The focus on Maria Anna is timeless in a way. As a woman in the cultural business and film industry, we need to make sure that we are not underrepresented.”
The series stars Havana Joy (“Love Suck”), Ellen M. Gwershin (“Scum Germany: Drac”), Aidin Jallali (“The Swarm”), Verena Altenberger (“Wild Republic”), and Sonja Weiser (“Maxton Hall”).
Gutzeit previously acquired another iconic figure, delivering the four-season smash hit ‘Sisi: Austrian Empress’.
“Despite the fact that everything was being said about Sisi, people were still buying the show. I realized that having a brand was the key to all these movements in the market, and Mozart has been a brand for over 250 years.” Still, a brand is “only as good as the appeal it holds for people.”
“You have to give them something new and unexpected, but at the same time service their expectations. That was the goal,” he adds.
The team did not want the composer to copy other famous takes. Instead, they decided to show the siblings when they were younger.
“We knew we wanted to make this show for young people so they could get closer to these characters. ‘Would Mozart sound like he does today if he was a superstar?’
“Amadeus has always been in the spotlight, but it’s not just about him. It’s about her. We wanted to get him at the point where he’s a superstar. And like any good superstar, he comes off with a bang.
His sister suddenly has to replace him, but they behave differently on stage.
“I told Ellen that I could see his role a little bit like Britney Spears and all these stars who were dragged onto the stage from a very young age. Like in motion, we saw David Bowie and Pete Doherty. Maria Anna is like Mulan.
“Throughout the series, her show gets bigger. She claims the stage just like her brother, but in a more emotional way.”
Their story may not be over yet.
“There’s definitely room for more. This first season feels like a summer for these characters, with Maria Anna re-assaulting her ambitions, not only as ‘Mozart’ but also as herself,” says Opperman.
“Once again, it tries to add new layers to the story you thought you knew. Hopefully, it will knock your socks off.
Amadeus and Maria Anna care deeply for each other. But they also know that the crowd is king.
“Their relationship is very important, because the story puts them on a path of conflict. She starts playing like him, so how does the patriarchy fight back? These are complex issues that we hide in a very interesting story,” says Gutzeit.
“We had a lot of discussions about how we wanted to honor the mythology of Mozart and respect his power. But from a storytelling standpoint, in terms of who these historical figures are, all stakes are because sometimes they’re misrepresented.”
Oppermann never wanted to make a biopic or “give a history lesson.” “As Clara said, there’s still a glass ceiling. Young women can relate to Maria Anna’s struggle to be taken seriously.”
However, “Mozart Mozart” is not completely different from history.
“If people really want to check out the real thing, they’ll be surprised at how close we are. Welcome to the rabbit hole,” adds Guzzeto.
Courtesy of Beta Movies
