Contributor, Deirbhile Brennan, talks about the beauty of Mozart in the Jungle through the medium of a chromatic scale.
I would like to begin this article with a disclaimer. Although Mozart in the Jungle is the only TV show I have ever seen centred on an orchestra, I am not the most hardcore TV viewer by any means. My family didn’t own a TV until I was 14. If you have ever seen another show about an orchestra, let me know. Seriously. Please do.
Conductor raises his baton. Silence. Begin.
C. First and foremost: here is a show about an orchestra, with classical music at every corner. You’ve had shows about dragons, groups of friends, prisoners, battles, but have you ever watched a show about an orchestra? Even if you’re new to classical music appreciation, there’s nothing pretentious or exclusive about the way the story is told. The plot twines on like a melody, catchy regardless of whether or not you’ve heard the tune before.
C#. The cast are beautiful. Seriously. Rodrigo De Souza (Gael García Bernal) will capture your eyes and your heart. It has to be seen to be believed. And that accent. Music in itself.
D. There are characters of all shapes, sizes and orientations. All ages are included too. There are babies – both real and fake – since no TV show is ever complete without a good birth. Or a good death. No spoilers.
Eb. One of the protagonists is an oboe player. As a violinist, I can hardly complain, but orchestral string sections always seem to get most of the attention. Like many others, I didn’t know an awful lot about the woodwind section. Now I know a wonderful lot.
E. Amazing solo violin concerts that raise awareness about global warming and environmental change are built right into the plot – as smooth as a melting icecap. That’s impressive.
F. This show is not on Netflix. It’s on Amazon Video. So if you are one of the many skiving off your teenage sweetheart’s dad’s Netflix account, get ready to find your new best friend who happens to have Amazon Prime.
F#. Who doesn’t love to get behind a group of artists as they fight for their human rights in the face of a greedy and faceless capitalist corporation? A corporation who doesn’t even know that Mozart composed a famous variation on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? (I didn’t know that either)
G. Half-an-hour episodes, making for more guilt-free study breaks or a ‘quick’ slot of TV before bed. It’s a lot easier to convince yourself that ‘just one more’ won’t actually take up that much time. Is this a good or a bad thing? The universe has yet to decide. In the meantime, click ‘next episode’.
Ab. If you’re into fashion, or just beauty in general, this show is perfect for you. Everyone seems to have an impeccable sense of style. The many concerts and galas provide the characters with ample opportunity to show off their fashion sense.
A. As one would expect, the soundtrack is nothing short of beautiful. The intro is played on a unique orchestral family/instrument combo every episode, a new take on the ‘theme with variations’ dynamic.
Bb. This is just the show to watch no matter what mood you’re in. Sad? Feel better because somewhere there’s an orchestra playing on the street amid chaos. Conflicted? So are these people. Are you hungry? Eat as you watch, and imagine it’s a fancy hors d’oeuvre…
(note to self: learn how to pronounce “hors d’oeuvre”)
B. Finally, if you still need one more reason to type Mozart in the Jungle into your search bar, think of the glorious, anticipatory feeling that comes with listening to a lot of instruments tuning up in unison. That feeling is what this show can provide.
Happy watching!
