Two films: In Search of Mozart & In Search of Beethoven Playing at the Prim Theatre

Made to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, In Search Of Mozart is a detective story that takes us to the heart of genius. This is the first ever major feature-length documentary on Mozart's life

Produced with the world’s leading orchestras and musicians, the prolific composer’s story is told through a 25,000 mile journey along every route Mozart followed, tracing his life through his music and extensive correspondence. From K1a to K626 (Requiem), over 80 works are featured, revealing striking parallels between the music and Mozart's own experiences.

But it is the music that takes centre stage, with the jigsaw of Mozart's life fitting snugly around it. With rigorous analysis from musicologists and other experts, a new and vivid impression of the composer emerges. It dispels the many common myths about Mozart's genius, health, relationships, death, and character, to present a new image, very different from Milos Forman's Amadeus.

Narrated by Juliet Stevenson and with Mozart voiced by Samuel West, the film features interviews and performances with over 70 of the greatest exponents of Mozart's music including.

As with the Mozart film, In Search of Beethoven will take a comprehensive look at the composer's life through his musical output. Having created a blueprint with In Search of Mozart, Phil Grabsky documents each piece of music chronologically marrying it to Beethoven’s biography and letters.

In Search of Beethoven has brought together the world's leading performers and experts on Beethoven to reveal new insights into this legendary composer. The line-up of performers and interviewees includes Gianandrea Noseda, Sir Roger Norrington, Riccardo Chailly, Claudio Abbado, Fabio Luisi, Frans Brüggen, Ronald Brautigam, Hélène Grimaud, Vadim Repin, Janine Jansen, Paul Lewis, Lars Vogt, and Emanuel Ax among others. The film is narrated by Juliet Stevenson and young RSC actor David Dawson. Phil Grabsky travelled across Europe and North America to interview historians and musicians between rehearsals and performances. He managed to film a remarkable 55 performances for the film, including exclusive footage of Claudio Abbado's critically-acclaimed performance of Beethoven's opera Fidelio.

Winner of the GOLD PLAQUE DIRECTION, Chicago Hugo Awards 2010 and BEST SCREENPLAY, Starigrad Paklenica Film Festival 2010, In Search of Beethoven addresses the romantic myth that Beethoven was a heroic, tormented figure battling to overcome his tragic fate, struck down by deafness, who searched for his 'immortal beloved' but remained unmarried. It delves beyond the image of the tortured, cantankerous, unhinged personality, to reveal someone quite different and far more interesting.

Both films contain interviews, performances and commentary by some of the world’s leading artists and experts including Renee Fleming, the Academy Camerata, and many more.

These two films are presented by Cece Gable Entertainment and Clay Alder of Dickson Realty.  Following the screenings, director Phil Grabsky will be present for Q&A. Screening starts at 6:00pm on Saturday, March 23 in the Prim Theatre at Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, Nevada.