Mozart in the Jungle

January 1, 2017 at 10:56 PM · I really like that show, but I think you need to appreciate it from a 'TV show in a classical music setting' rather than 'TV show about classical music' standpoint, or you'll just spend all your time complaining about things like how the actors can't play (or even pretend to play) their instruments.

January 1, 2017 at 11:22 PM · I think the third episode of the third season is the best episode of the series so far - no real theatrics- but a decent exploration of the music of Olivier Messiaen at a Rikers Island performance (the NYC prison). The French composer Messiaen may be best known for his "Quartet for the End of Time" (Quatuor Pour La Fin Du Temps).

In general the show has been fun for me to watch if I ignore the badly done simulated performances and just listen to the music (those rare times it is played).

January 1, 2017 at 11:32 PM · The book is terrible. I can't believe someone took it to the next level of worse.

January 1, 2017 at 11:32 PM · That was a really good episode, do you know if the prisoners reacting were actors or real?

January 2, 2017 at 02:46 AM · I'm with Rocky; I couldn't even finish the book.

January 2, 2017 at 06:59 PM · Another thumbs down for Mozart in the Jungle.

Mary Ellen -- if you thought the book was bad, the show would set a new low!

January 2, 2017 at 07:42 PM · I don't know.. I think it depends on what you are looking for.. I thought the 5th episode of the 2nd season was fun - Regresso Del Rey--about the "stolen violin" on their Latin American tour.

No violence (so far) puts it in the upper 10% of available serial TV for me, but I do have to suspend what I know from the real world of music.

January 2, 2017 at 08:14 PM · I think the book said more about its author than about the classical music world. People who read it will understand what I mean.

January 2, 2017 at 10:40 PM · A prior thread from 2007, mentioning that the former husband of the author of the book, Bill Nye The Science Guy, was trying to get a restraining order against her:

http://www.violinist.com/discussion/response.cfm?ID=12637

January 2, 2017 at 11:22 PM · I come neither to bury nor praise Cesar - or should I say Cleopatra? - but to offer my own impressions on the book and the one episode of the show that I saw.

In the 2007 thread referred to I said the following:

November 21, 2007 at 10:58 PM · "I feel bad for Blair. I know her personally. We're not best buddies, nor have we ever dated - so no, I'm not in her book either overtly nor covertly! Out paths have crossed a few times professionally and socially. Interestingly, we renewed our acquaintance through her inquiry here at v.com, some time back.

I'm not defending any poor judgement on her part. But I always found Blair to be very nice and friendly - and one heck of an oboist. I sincerely hope that she gets it together soon and finds happiness."

(Back to 1/2/2017:)

As to the book, "Mozart in the Jungle", it's really 2 books alternating in respective chapters. One book is a classical-musician-turned-journalist's assessment of problems in the classical music world. The other is Blair's personal kiss-and-tell memoir of her own experiences as musician mainly in New York. It is the latter aspect that drew the most fire. Many felt that she passive/aggressively hurt people unnecessarily, named names where she wanted to, made up names and composite characters that many in the 'biz' recognized anyway, etc. I know that she got a lot of influential people really mad at her. For what it's worth, I think that Blair hurt herself most of all.

I was never much a part of her slice of the New York music scene. As I originally mentioned, our paths crossed just a few times. We got back in touch for a little while and lost touch again.

I caught just the first episode of the show which is loosely based on the book and found it to be really negative in its tone. I hated the cellist's character - her cynicism, her 'I've-been-around-the-block-so-many-times-and-know-it-all' attitude. It's not all unremittingly like that in the music biz. Not every orchestra or show pit is a nest of vipers. Some balance would have been nice. I'm no Pollyanna. I haven't been immune to politics, interpersonal conflicts, much stress, etc. But it's not all lions vs hyenas either. To this day I find great joy in music and music-making as well. And I find great satisfaction in the many nice musical friendships that I have.

January 5, 2017 at 01:22 AM · I was taught as a kid that Amazon WAS mainly jungle, but also, as a young teenager, read privately that Amazon could be also be a very fierce woman that failed to find Archilles heel (so she bit the dust. What happened next I didn't quite understand, until Memnon Son of Dawn tried and bit the dust as well). Is there a bit of both in this, perhaps?

January 12, 2017 at 06:07 PM · I finished the whole series in a few weeks. I thought it was entertaining, at times cheesy, bad acting, and boring storyline, however, it's a show with classical music and musicians, which I will always find some sort of entertainment from.

January 12, 2017 at 06:43 PM · I don't know the book but I watched all three series and in a very odd way I find them entertaining. I agree there is some really ridiculous miming of playing instruments and some absurd plots. But I enjoy Gael Garcia Bernal's lead character and a lot of the music. My brother watched a few episodes with me. He isn't into classical music but enjoyed the pieces and I got to answer his questions about the music, real life orchestras etc.

January 12, 2017 at 08:00 PM · I'm always happy when a series like this brings classical music to the attention of those who don't normally think about it -- even if it's in a bit of a silly way!