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Scandalous Overtures

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15.
Johannes Brahms: Brahms, the Ladies, and the Trick Rocking Chair
2015-03-03
A trick rocking chair in Johannes Brahms' apartment was reserved, almost exclusively, for unsuspecting women. He would offer a seat in the chair to his guests, which would send them either flopping forward or flying backward, eliciting uproarious laughter from Brahms.

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14.
Louis Moreau Gottschalk: High Times in Oakland, California
2015-02-24
American composer Louis Moreau Gottschalk had a thing for music, money, and sex, as Professor Robert Greenberg explains. He often parlayed his high-end celebrity into intimacy with his female fans, many of whom were schoolgirls.

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13.
Richard Wagner: What Ever Happened to Wagner's Manuscripts?
2015-02-17
Are Richard Wagner's opera manuscripts hiding in a Nazi bunker after being gifted to Adolf Hitler for his 50th birthday? We may never know, as Professor Robert Greenberg investigates.

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12.
Hector Berlioz: Dressed to Kill
2015-02-10
Hector Berlioz fell in love with Camille Moke in 1830, and within a month the couple decided to marry. After moving to Rome for a residency, Berlioz received a letter from Camille's mother saying that she was engaged to marry another man, and, overcome with anger, he began planning their murders.

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11.
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Reborn Through Hypnosis
2015-02-03
Sergei Rachmaninoff was facing writer's block and tried to cure it through hypnosis back in the late 1800s, Professor Robert Greenberg explains. Suffering from extreme depression, Rachmaninoff visited a doctor in January of 1900, and was hypnotized every day to miraculous effect.

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10.
Johannes Brahms & Clara Schumann: Did They or Didn't They?
2015-01-29
One of the greatest mysteries in music history is the relationship between Brahms and Clara Schumann.

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9.
Giuseppe Verdi: The Conspiracy to Get Him Back to Work
2015-01-20
Professor Robert Greenberg tells the story of how the greatest Italian composer of the 19th century was forced out of retirement. Nobody was happy about Giuseppe Verdi's retirement except him, and, in 1879, his wife Giuseppina hatched a plot with intent to get him back to work.

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8.
Franz Schubert: One Too Many Nights Out
2015-01-13
Franz Schubert died at age 31, but, in the last 16 years of his life, he created a body of musical work that's beyond belief in its size and quality. When he contracted syphilis in 1822, depression and despair accompanied the physical symptoms of the disease, leaving Schubert despondent.

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7.
Jean-Baptiste Lully: The Gnarly Demise of a Nasty Man
2015-01-06
Lully was the first important composer of French-language opera, and was a close friend and confidant to King Louis XIV of France. Yet for all of his fame and power, Lully is almost entirely unknown today for anything other than the event of his death.

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6.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Bach the Jailbird
2014-12-30
Professor Robert Greenberg tells the story of this great composer, who spent nearly a month in jail after losing his temper. For speaking his mind to Prince Wilhelm Ernst of Weimar and trying to resign from his position at court, the prince had Bach tossed in jail on November 6, 1717.

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5.
Carlo Gesualdo: Murderer at Large
2014-12-23
Italian composer Carlo Gesualdo was one of the most innovative composers of the 16th century. As Professor Robert Greenberg tells us, he was also a serial murderer with a penchant for sexual extravagance, spousal abuse, and sadomasochism.

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4.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Beethoven's Death Wish
2014-12-16
Ludwig van Beethoven was going deaf, but more than his hearing was at stake, as Professor Robert Greenberg uncovers in this episode. In October 1802, the 31 year old Beethoven seriously considered committing suicide after withdrawing from the world due to his increasing deafness.

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3.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: How Did Mozart Really Die?
2014-12-09
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was rumored to have written his own requiem, as catalogued in 1984's Amadeus, but Professor Robert Greenberg tells us the real story. The truth is, Mozart was not poisoned at all, and over one hundred separate diagnoses have been proposed to explain his death.

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2.
Peter Tchaikovsky: Fear and Loathing in St. Petersburg
2014-12-02
Russian classical music composer Peter Tchaikovsky was gay and lived a double life, as Professor Robert Greenberg examines in this episode. His seeming death from cholera is uncovered to be a farce, and the truth is something much more scandalous.

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1.
Joseph Haydn: Haydn Go Seek
2014-12-02
Professor Robert Greenberg uncovers the mystery of how classical music composer Franz Joseph Haydn lost his head and didn't get a funeral until more than a hundred years after his death.

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Scandalous Overtures is an enthralling series that delves into the lesser-known hidden lives of famous classical music composers, hosted by Robert Greenberg. Produced by Multicom Entertainment Group (MEG) in 2014, this stimulating series serves to both entertain and educate its viewers about the lesser-known and often scandalous aspects of the private lives of some of the most brilliant musical minds from history.

The show comes with a unique and captivating blend of elements from history, classical music, intriguing drama, and real-life stories. Greenberg, an esteemed musicologist, uses his extensive knowledge and delivers the narration in an engaging and understandable manner, turning complex historic narratives into compelling stories. The host's vibrant, humorous, and unorthodox approach towards the narratives comes as a breath of fresh air, making the series accessible even to those who may not typically have a substantial interest in classical music.

Every episode focuses on a distinct composer, detailing their upbringing, significant life experiences, creative influences, and the societal norms of their time. The series manages to reveal the composers' intimate lives and how they contributed to their music’s creation and their -- often controversial -- places in history. It peels back the layers of high art and high culture, presenting these artists not merely as icons but as human beings, flawed and beautiful in their complexity.

The timeless composers that are the subjects of these episodes include the likes of Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky among others. The stories are not only about their exquisite music but also create an image of their struggle against societal norms, political changes, personal circumstances, and sometimes even their own internal dilemmas. The backdrop of each story is always intricately linked to the era they belong to, and it beautifully aides in weaving the cultural, political, and historical context of the composer's time.

One of the distinguishing features of Scandalous Overtures is the dramatization of certain life events of the composers. It serves to construct a vivid and relatable image of the composers and their lives, propelling the viewers to embark on a historical journey. The dramatic visuals are interposed with Greenberg’s captivating narration, with him often asserting direct links between the melodrama of the composers' lives and their compositions. These dramatizations also provide a colorful, cinematic experience that enhances the attractiveness of the series for modern viewers.

In addition, the series boldly highlights the scandalous aspects of the composers' lives. Be it scandalous love affairs, struggles with mental health, the battle against societal stigmas, or political entanglements, the series leaves no stone unturned. Greenberg's presentation of these intimate aspects is not only engaging but also respectful and empathetic. The host's passion for the subject matter is truly contagious, making viewers eager to learn more.

Scandalous Overtures employs an unconventional way of appreciating and understanding classical music, making it a valuable asset for any music enthusiast. But its appeal is not limited to such audiences alone. Anyone with an interest in history, biography, or just a relishing a good real-life scandal will find the series to be compelling and worth their time.

Furthermore, the series is not just about exposing the controversial aspects of the composers' lives but also about showcasing their resilience. It does justice to their exceptional gifts, their passion, their dedication, their struggles, and their resilience amidst all the turmoil. The fervor and passion with which these composers pursued their art, despite the various hurdles they faced, remain an inspiring story for audiences of all ages and eras.

In sum, Scandalous Overtures is a distinctive and compelling series that successfully merges the genre of a biographical documentary and drama series. Combining historical facts, scandalous tales, the beauty of classical music, and the prowess of an exceptional host, the series manages to offer a captivating narrative that is both educational and entertaining. If you thought that classical music and its composers were stuffy or dull, this series from Multicom Entertainment Group will make you think again.

Scandalous Overtures is a series categorized as a new series. Spanning 1 seasons with a total of 15 episodes, the show debuted on 2014. The series has earned a moderate reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at 5.6.

How to Watch Scandalous Overtures

How can I watch Scandalous Overtures online? Scandalous Overtures is available on Multicom Entertainment Group (MEG) with seasons and full episodes. You can also watch Scandalous Overtures on demand at Tubi TV, Amazon online.

Genres
Channel
Multicom Entertainment Group (MEG)
Rating
5.6/10
Cast
Robert Greenberg