Recently a WDAV listener was moved to write to the station about the new movie Vitus. You can see a trailer for it at http://www.sonyclassics.com/vitus/ .
It seems that every few years there’s a new art house flick that delves into the oft neglected realm of classical music. This one tells the fanciful story of a prodigy’s adjustment to his family’s ambitions and the world around him.

The young leading actor, Teo Gheorghiu, has gotten raves for both his piano playing and his acting. In fact, the climactic performance in the film is from his actual debut at Zurich’s Tonhalle.
I haven’t seen Vitus, but I’m intrigued because it promises to be more than the usual exercise in artsy angst and utimate uplift. Movies with classical music themes so often get mired in the tragedy of a historic figure’s life. They lose sight of the fact that this music is also fun and pleasurable.
Whatever the point of view, it’s always encouraging to see classical music celebrated on the silver screen. It’s especially gratifying when a movie captures the richness of the music in all its facets.