Customer Reviews

The Music Teacher

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We are all familiar with the cliche "art for art's sake." "Le Maitre de Musique" is "voice for voice's sake." Unlike "Farinelli," which spins a greater-than-biographical yarn about a known castrato, "Music Teacher" shows you the nuts and bolts of training for competition and the relationships created by such an emotionally intense environment. I loved it because I went through such training and there were moments so painfully true to what I experienced that I found myself turning my face away from the screen.

Those qualities, though, preselect a very particular audience. If you are not into opera, don't force yourself to watch it. The story was good--subtly told and perfectly, even brilliantly in some scenes, performed. But its focus is tight. Expect no grand stories, deep catharsis, or historical costume drama. You will be disappointed if you do. However, if you pick out this movie because you are a music lover, you will hear amazing vocals. What I most appreciated was that the scores are fully utilized to enhance the storyline. In many places subtitles were added for the arias and lieder. This movie succeeds in capturing the quintessence of all the relationships presented through the music performed. It is definitely worth watching, which is why I give it 4 stars, but I would not generally recommend it for a non-musical audience.

This is a fine, romantic film for those who love singing and classical song. Set in the early 1900's, "Le Maitre de Musique" (in French, with English subtitles) features the reknowned Belgian operatic bass-baritone José van Damme as the music teacher. The plot involves van Damme ending his own singing career and taking on two last voice students - a young tenor and an 18-year old lyric soprano - for a voice contest sponsored by his arch rival, Count Scotti (Patrick Bauchau). He deals with the growing affection of and worship by his young female student, and his desire to help her succeed, without sacrificing his own marriage to his wife, who has been his accompanist. Sumptuously filmed on a French estate and the surrounding countryside, it effectively captures the life of an artist at the peak of his powers, recognizing his mortality and dealing with it. The scenes involving van Damme in concert, and his pupils' performances during the voice contest are some of the best music on film. Underlying the film are excerpts from Mahler's and Schubert's vocal works that are very well matched to the pathos of the story. Rent it tonight!

I saw this the first time in the theaters, and liked it so much that I was happy to pay a big price for a VHS copy when they came available. It is among my most priceless assets, as I bring it out to view it again every six months or so. The photography, the acting, everything is wonderful--but the use of the Dvorak Sym. 4 theme and the familiar pieces from the more popular opera repertoir are just plain brilliant.

I wish the producers would make this available on DVD. I would buy a copy in an instant at virtually any price. Regardless of the profitability of such a venture, they would be doing music and opera lovers a great service.

This is one of the most beautiful and touching films I have ever seen. In fact I watched it four times before taking it back to the video store. I want to buy it. The music alone is worth everything, but that combined with the acting and the scenery made it all the more enriching.

This is the best movie. For those who were looking for it on DVD (just like me), I have good news: This movies is available on DVD.

Everything in this film is at the top... Image is more than beautiful, sound is perfect, actors are fantastic. Roussel is a pure beauty, Van Dam is excellent ... As a photographer I'm enchanted by the perfection of all the images and as a Mahler fan, this film is a supreme pleasure... For me, Le Maître de Musique is a Monument...

This is one of my favorites - I ditched all my friends at the movie theatre when it first came out to go see it and consider that historically one of my best decisions. The music and the scenery make me watch it over and over again. Today I was actually scanning Amazon (which I do on a regular basis) just to see if it had come out on DVD yet. I guess I'm not the only one! Every scene feels thoroughly thought out and meaningful, every shot at piece of art, and the score unsurpassed.

Anyone in a profession where they have had to compete in order to be at the top could appreciate the French film THE MUSIC TEACHER. In the international Opera world, where the audience adores you one minute and the critics are praising your name, and in the next minute are dropping you for the next genius, director/screenwriter Gerard Corbeau examines this world through the eyes of the once famous baritone Joachim Dallyrac who retires to take on two students, Sophie and Jean. They are being trained to perform at an international competition hosted by Dallyrac's former rival Prince Scotti.

Where this film excels is in the staging and music. The story is relatively lightweight. The film is beautifully executed, but will likely appeal most to those with a love and knowledge of classical music.It is not at all on the par of AMADEUS or IMMORTAL BELOVED, but is beautiful to see if only for the music of Mozart, Mahler and Schumann.

This is a beautiful movie, with wonderful scenery and great music. It has that certain calmness and a hint of melancholy that Hollywood movies can never quite fully capture. The story is one of the inevitability of the end (in a way, our own mortality), but art goes on...; kind of predictable (even corny). But nevertheless, the movie makes up for it with the beautiful pictures and music that seems to gently embrace the audience to the last.

But why isn't it available in DVD?!?!?

From its opening moments when the baritone Jose van Damm delivers a wonderful last public performance in his role as the hero of this movie ("The Music Teacher"), to its climactic vocal competition and sad ending as the Music Teacher leaves the world to Mahler's "In my Love, In my song," this beautiful and unique movie will captivate anyone who loves vocal music and the life of the artist.

This really is a movie about love and music and the triumph of the artistic spirit. The musical choices throughout the movie blend harmoniously with the plot and the characters.

Van Damm gives a masterful performance both as a vocalist and as the teacher. A touching, memorable, and artistic triumph as a movie, on a par with the best of operas, though one need not be an opera buff to enjoy the drama.