Characters: Music composer
by lpetrequin | created - 26 Sep 2022 | updated - 3 months ago | PublicImmerse yourself in the lives and legacies of classical music's greatest icons. This curated collection of movies follows renowned composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky from early genius to lasting fame. Witness the creativity and madness behind some of the world's most enduring masterpieces. Lavish period productions transport you to Old World Europe, recreating the beauty and passion of Vienna, Paris, and other musical meccas. Biopics dramatize the inspirations, romances, and personal struggles hidden in the notes.
Explore the humanity beneath the myths of these troubled geniuses through nuanced performances. Whether a lavish costume drama or introspective character study, these acclaimed films offer front row seats to lives dedicated to and immortalized by music. Let the master's works come alive again through their stories.
More characters to explore:
Characters: Monarchs
Characters: Rebels
Characters: Polymaths
Characters: Writers
Characters: Singers
Characters: Filmmakers
Characters: Politicians & Influencers in History
Characters: Gangsters
Characters: Pioneers
Characters: High IQ
Characters: Poets
Characters: Fashion Designers
Characters: Teachers
Characters: Painters & Sculptors
Characters: Pirates
*Some descriptions might have been enhanced by AI.
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1. Copying Beethoven (2006)
PG-13 | 104 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A fictionalized account of the last year of Beethoven's life.
Director: Agnieszka Holland | Stars: Ed Harris, Diane Kruger, Matthew Goode, Ralph Riach
Votes: 14,119 | Gross: $0.35M
This film features composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a pivotal figure of the Classical and early Romantic eras. The movie centers on Beethoven's relationship with a young copyist during the composition of his Ninth Symphony.
2. Amadeus (1984)
R | 160 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The life, success and troubles of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, as told by Antonio Salieri, the contemporaneous composer who was deeply jealous of Mozart's talent and claimed to have murdered him.
Director: Milos Forman | Stars: F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge, Roy Dotrice
Votes: 427,985 | Gross: $51.97M
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), an icon of the Classical era, is the focus. The film narrates a fictional rivalry between Mozart and composer Antonio Salieri.
3. Vivaldi, the Red Priest (2009)
120 min | Biography, Musical
The life of Antonio Vivaldi, called "the red priest", his relationship with the world and the Church, his spiritual battles, his love for a woman.
Director: Liana Marabini | Stars: Steven Cree, Clemency Burton-Hill, James Jagger, Tiffany Mulheron
Votes: 51
This movie is about Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), from the Baroque era, focusing on his life as a priest and his influence on classical music.
4. Antonio Vivaldi, un prince à Venise (2006)
95 min | Drama
The life of Antonio Vivaldi, the great Italian composer and musician of the 17th century.
Director: Jean-Louis Guillermou | Stars: Stefano Dionisi, Michel Serrault, Michel Galabru, Annette Schreiber
Votes: 129
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) is showcased, depicting his status and contributions to the Baroque era in Venice.
5. Chopin: Desire for Love (2002)
R | 134 min | Drama, Romance, Music
A tangled web of unruly passion lies at the center of this drama, chronicling the stormy affair between the great piano virtuoso Frédéric Chopin and the flamboyant feminist writer George Sand.
Director: Jerzy Antczak | Stars: Piotr Adamczyk, Danuta Stenka, Adam Woronowicz, Bozena Stachura
Votes: 810
Centers on Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), a composer of the Romantic era, emphasizing his love life and music.
6. Chopin (1982)
100 min | Comedy
A well established music conductor in Chieti (Italy) tries to rebuild a historic city orchestra, which no longer exists.
Director: Luciano Odorisio | Stars: Michele Placido, Tino Schirinzi, Giuliana de Sio, Lino Troisi
Votes: 37
Focused on Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), a Romantic era composer, this film explores his youth and early influences.
7. Chopin. I Am Not Afraid of Darkness (2022)
60 min | Documentary, Music
Three pianists are preparing concerts of Chopin music in places associated with unimaginable suffering: Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland, the border between South and North Korea, and the city center of Beirut.
Directors: Kim Seong Hwa, Joanna Kaczmarek, Maciej Pawelczyk | Stars: Fares Basmadji, Leszek Mozdzer, Won Jae Yeon
Votes: 8
Showcases Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) during the Romantic era, offering a new perspective on his life and works.
8. Chopin (1997)
58 min | Documentary
Directors: Boleslaw Pawica, Jaroslaw Sypniewski | Stars: Zbigniew Zapasiewicz, Maciej Kozlowski, Dominika Ostalowska, Malgorzata Pienkowska
A documentary about Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), Romantic era composer, focusing on his music and biography.
9. Impromptu (1991)
PG-13 | 107 min | Biography, Comedy, Music
In 1830s France, pianist/composer Frédéric Chopin is pursued romantically by the determined, individualistic woman who uses the name George Sand.
Director: James Lapine | Stars: Judy Davis, Hugh Grant, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters
Votes: 5,511 | Gross: $4.08M
Focuses on the Romantic era composer Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) and his love affair with writer George Sand.
10. Tous les matins du monde (1991)
Not Rated | 115 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Monsieur de Sainte Colombe, fierce and somber man, grand master of the viola da gamba and professor of Marin Marais, prestigious musician in the court of Louis XIV.
Director: Alain Corneau | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Anne Brochet, Guillaume Depardieu
Votes: 7,939 | Gross: $3.09M
Explores the life of Baroque-era composer Marin Marais (1656-1728) and his relationship with his mentor.
11. Le roi danse (2000)
115 min | Drama, History, Music
Corbiau repeats the Farinelli formula, artistic rivalry and social private drama expressed in dazzling, sometimes excessively lavish baroque scenery, music and costume, but this time in its... See full summary »
Director: Gérard Corbiau | Stars: Benoît Magimel, Boris Terral, Tchéky Karyo, Colette Emmanuelle
Votes: 2,398
Centers on Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-1687), a Baroque composer, and his relationship with King Louis XIV.
12. My Name Is Bach (2003)
97 min | Biography, Drama
Composer Johann Sebastian Bach is introduced to King Frederick II of Prussia in 1747. The aging composer and the young monarch clash and a battle of egos ensues.
Director: Dominique de Rivaz | Stars: Vadim Glowna, Jürgen Vogel, Karoline Herfurth, Anatole Taubman
Votes: 358
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) of the Baroque era is portrayed in a fictional meeting with Frederick the Great.
13. Bach: A Passionate Life (2013 TV Movie)
89 min | Documentary, Biography, History
BBC documentary written and presented by the famous English conductor Sir John Eliot Gardiner. It is a rigorous biography that tries to show the man and the musician at the same time. ... See full summary »
Directors: Cesca Eaton, David Jeffcock | Star: John Eliot Gardiner
Votes: 71
Documentary on Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), providing an in-depth look at the composer's life and era.
14. The Magic Bow (1946)
Approved | 106 min | Biography, Musical, Romance
Biography of the famous--and notorious--Italian violinist Nicolo Paganini.
Director: Bernard Knowles | Stars: Stewart Granger, Phyllis Calvert, Jean Kent, Dennis Price
Votes: 238
About Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), from the early Romantic era, and his life as a virtuoso violinist.
15. Young Chopin (1952)
Approved | 98 min | Biography, Drama, History
A story of the formative years in Chopin's life between 1825 and 1831, a time of social unrest throughout Europe, of rising nationalism, and of cries for reform. Chopin, an outstanding ... See full summary »
Director: Aleksander Ford | Stars: Czeslaw Wollejko, Zbigniew Lobodzinski, Józef Nieweglowski, Jerzy Duszynski
Votes: 82
Centers on the early years of Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), a Romantic era composer.
16. Puccini (1953)
119 min | Biography, Drama, Music
This biographical story of Puccini (Gabriele Ferzetti) spans his creative life from early student days to the height of success, including his early flop Madame Butterfly and his incomplete... See full summary »
Director: Carmine Gallone | Stars: Gabriele Ferzetti, Märta Torén, Nadia Gray, Myriam Bru
Votes: 76
About Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), a composer of the Romantic and Verismo eras, and his dramatic life.
17. Magic Fire (1956)
Approved | 95 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The life and career of German composer Richard Wagner.
Director: William Dieterle | Stars: Yvonne De Carlo, Carlos Thompson, Rita Gam, Valentina Cortese
Votes: 182
Chronicles the life of Richard Wagner (1813-1883), a Romantic era composer, focusing on his controversial life and works.
18. Song Without End (1960)
Not Rated | 141 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The romantic story of Hungarian pianist Franz Liszt (Sir Dirk Bogarde), whose scandalous love affair forced him to abandon his adoring audiences.
Directors: Charles Vidor, George Cukor | Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Capucine, Geneviève Page, Patricia Morison
Votes: 951
Features Franz Liszt (1811-1886), a Romantic era composer and pianist, and his love affairs and friendships.
19. Farinelli (1994)
R | 111 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The story of castrato opera singer Carlo Broschi, who enthralled 18th-century European audiences under his stage name Farinelli.
Director: Gérard Corbiau | Stars: Stefano Dionisi, Enrico Lo Verso, Elsa Zylberstein, Caroline Cellier
Votes: 7,350 | Gross: $2.12M
About Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli (1705-1782), a famous castrato singer of the Baroque era.
20. Voices from a Locked Room (1995)
R | 93 min | Drama
A story about real life early 20th century British composer and music critic Philip Arnold Heseltine.
Director: Malcolm Clarke | Stars: Jeremy Northam, Tushka Bergen, Allan Corduner, Hilton McRae
Votes: 243
Features various composers, with a focus on the challenges and glories of the human voice in classical music.
21. The Maestro (I) (2018)
94 min | Biography, Drama, History
After the Second World War, budding film composer Jerry Herst moves to Hollywood to study with infamous master teacher Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
Director: Adam Cushman | Stars: Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke, Mackenzie Astin, Kristen Gutoskie
Votes: 312
This film is about Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895-1968), a composer from the 20th century, and his influence on Hollywood film music.
22. Ludwig (2016)
Short, Drama
Director: Pauline Moreau | Stars: Quentin Evrard, Sephora Foucher, Pascal Michel, Laurent Simonet
A documentary on Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), focusing on his life and contributions to the Classical and early Romantic eras.
23. Mozart's Sister (2010)
Not Rated | 120 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A reimagined account of the early life of Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozart, five years older than Wolfgang, and a musical prodigy in her own right.
Director: René Féret | Stars: Marie Féret, Marc Barbé, Delphine Chuillot, David Moreau
Votes: 1,614 | Gross: $0.71M
The film spotlights Nannerl Mozart, the sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), a Classical era composer, and her struggles in a male-dominated society.
24. Vivaldi (II)
Biography, Drama, History | Announced
A biography of Antonio Vivaldi's early life, when the young priest became the music teacher at a school for the illegitimate daughters of Venice's courtesans.
Director: Boris Damast
Features Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), a key figure in the Baroque era, offering another glimpse into his life and works.
25. Beloved Clara (2008)
107 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A look at the lives of 19th-century composers Clara and Robert Schumann.
Director: Helma Sanders-Brahms | Stars: Martina Gedeck, Pascal Greggory, Malik Zidi, Aline Annessy
Votes: 303
Centers on Clara Schumann (1819-1896), a composer of the Romantic era, and her relationship with her husband, Robert Schumann.
26.
Tchaikovsky (2007)
Episode:
The Creation of Greatness
(2007)
Documentary, Drama
Director: Matthew Whiteman | Stars: Charles Hazlewood, Ed Stoppard, William Mannering, Gyuri Sarossy
Votes: 105
This documentary focuses on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a composer from the Romantic era, delving into his life and compositions.
27. Sibelius (2003)
120 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life story of Jean Sibelius, a Finnish composer.
Director: Timo Koivusalo | Stars: Martti Suosalo, Heikki Nousiainen, Miina Turunen, Seela Sella
Votes: 736
Explores the life of Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), a composer from the Late Romantic and 20th-century classical periods.
28. Eroica (2003 TV Movie)
129 min | Drama, History, Music
On June 9, 1804, Ludwig van Beethoven and his pupil Ries assemble a group of musicians to give the first performance of his Third Symphony, 'Bonaparte', to his patron Prince Lobkowitz and ... See full summary »
Director: Simon Cellan Jones | Stars: Peter Hanson, Jack Davenport, Leo Bill, Ian Hart
Votes: 664
The film features Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) of the Classical and early Romantic eras, focusing on the composition of his Third Symphony, Eroica.
29. Il était une fois Jean-Sébastien Bach (2003)
Not Rated | 105 min | Drama
J.S. BACH: THE MUSIC, THE LIFE, THE LEGEND is a dramatic look at the life of Johann Sebastian Bach, a man who dedicated his life to the service of music.
Director: Jean-Louis Guillermou | Stars: Christian Vadim, Elena Lenina, Frédérique Bel, Jean Rochefort
Votes: 92
Chronicles the life of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), a leading composer of the Baroque era.
30. Bride of the Wind (2001)
R | 99 min | Biography, Drama, Music
This movie is a biopic of Alma Mahler, the wife of composer Gustav Mahler (as well as Walter Gropius and Franz Werfel), and the mistress of Oskar Kokoschka.
Director: Bruce Beresford | Stars: Sarah Wynter, Vincent Perez, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Verhoeven
Votes: 706 | Gross: $0.42M
Focuses on Alma Mahler (1879-1964), wife of Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), a composer from the Late-Romantic era.
31. Liszt's Rhapsody (1996 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 49 min | Biography, Drama, Family
A dashing Franz Liszt appears to have it all - talent, success, wealth and adoring fans. Yet when he takes on a young street musician as a violin student, his own fork is transformed.
Director: Richard Mozer | Stars: Geordie Johnson, Drew Jurecka, Peter Keleghan, Ida Carnevali
Votes: 63
Centers on Franz Liszt (1811-1886), a composer of the Romantic era, spotlighting his dazzling piano compositions.
32. Rossini's Ghost (1996 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 52 min | Biography, Drama, Family
Nine-year old Reliana witnesses Rossini's efforts to salvage his seemingly cursed new opera, the Barber of Seville.
Director: David Devine | Stars: Joseph Di Mambro, Melissa Pirrera, Frances Bay, Margaret Illmann
Votes: 72
About Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868), a composer from the Classical and Romantic eras, and his influence on opera.
33. England, My England (1995)
153 min | Biography, Drama, History
In 1960s, a British playwright attempts to reconstruct the life of real life 17th century English composer Henry Purcell even though little is known about him. Purcell's life is reenacted and his music performed.
Director: Tony Palmer | Stars: Simon Callow, Michael Ball, Rebecca Front, Lucy Speed
Votes: 193
The film features Henry Purcell (1659-1695), one of England's greatest composers from the Baroque era.
34. Bizet's Dream (1994 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 53 min | Music, Drama, Family
A 12 year old Parisian girl takes piano lessons from composer Georges Bizet and becomes captivated by his story of the gypsy Carmen.
Director: David Devine | Stars: Maurice Godin, Brittany Madgett, Catherine Barroll, Yseult Lendvai
Votes: 51
Focuses on Georges Bizet (1838-1875), a Romantic era composer, during the creation of his opera Carmen.
35. Blue Note (1991)
135 min | Drama, Music, Romance
the film covers the last few days of fragile Chopin's professional life.
Director: Andrzej Zulawski | Stars: Marie-France Pisier, Janusz Olejniczak, Sophie Marceau, Noëmi Nadelmann
Votes: 731
Features Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) and his time spent with writer George Sand, both figures of the Romantic era.
36. Honour, Profit & Pleasure (1985 TV Movie)
102 min | Drama, History, Musical
This film presents scenes from the life of German composer George Frideric Handel in the style of a baroque opera. After the success of his London debut, Handel settles in England. He ... See full summary »
Director: Anna Ambrose | Stars: Simon Callow, Alan Devlin, Jean Rigby, Christopher Benjamin
Votes: 27
Chronicles George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), a composer of the Baroque era, focusing on his career in England.
37. Puccini (1984 TV Movie)
113 min | Biography, Drama
When Italian composer Giacomo Puccini is accused of sleeping with his maid, the scandal threatens to destroy his life and career. This biopic intercuts with director Tony Palmer's efforts to stage Puccini's last opera.
Director: Tony Palmer | Stars: Robert Stephens, Virginia McKenna, Judith Howarth, Robert Urquhart
Votes: 51
About Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), delving into the life and works of this Romantic and Verismo era composer.
38. Spring Symphony (1983)
PG-13 | 103 min | Biography, Music
Chronicles the illustrious 19th-century love affair between composer Robert Schumann and pianist Clara Wieck.
Director: Peter Schamoni | Stars: Nastassja Kinski, Herbert Grönemeyer, Rolf Hoppe, Anja-Christine Preussler
Votes: 368
Focuses on Robert Schumann (1810-1856), a composer of the Romantic era, and his relationship with Clara Wieck, his wife.
39. Wagner (1983)
300 min | Biography, Drama, History
A huge panorama of Richard Wagner's life and work, from before the 1848 revolution, through his exile in Switzerland, his rescue by the besotted King Ludwig II of Bavaria, to the final ... See full summary »
Stars: Richard Burton, Vanessa Redgrave, Miguel Herz-Kestranek, László Gálffi
Votes: 616
Chronicles Richard Wagner (1813-1883), a composer from the Romantic era, and his groundbreaking operas.
40. Verdi (1982– )
Not Rated | 70 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Giuseppe Verdi was born in 1813 and lived until 1901, his life spanning nearly a century of political turmoil and considerable personal turmoil. This 1982 biographical television miniseries... See full summary »
Stars: Ronald Pickup, Carla Fracci, Giampiero Albertini, Omero Antonutti
Votes: 312
Covers the life and works of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), a composer of the Romantic era, and his influence on opera.
41. Lisztomania (1975)
R | 103 min | Biography, Comedy, Music
Composer and pianist Franz Liszt (Roger Daltrey) attempts to overcome his hedonistic life-style while repeatedly being drawn back into it by the many women in his life and fellow composer Richard Wagner (Paul Nicholas).
Director: Ken Russell | Stars: Roger Daltrey, Sara Kestelman, Paul Nicholas, Ringo Starr
Votes: 3,117
A fantastical portrayal of Franz Liszt (1811-1886), capturing the public obsession with this Romantic era composer.
42. The Strauss Family (1972)
60 min | Drama, Romance
A seven-part mini-series produced in England about Vienna's Strauss family in the 19th-century. Members of the London Symphony Orchestra provided the music.
Stars: Stuart Wilson, Anne Stallybrass, Barbara Ferris, Christopher Benjamin
Votes: 122
About the Strauss family, primarily Johann Strauss I (1804-1849) and Johann Strauss II (1825-1899), composers from the Romantic era.
43. Tchaikovsky (1970)
Not Rated | 157 min | Biography, Drama
The life and work of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tschaikovsky is shown through his relationship with aristocratic art connoisseur Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck.
Director: Igor Talankin | Stars: Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy, Antonina Shuranova, Kirill Lavrov, Vladislav Strzhelchik
Votes: 487
Depicts the life of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a Romantic era composer, focusing on his emotional struggles and masterworks.
44. In Search of Beethoven (2009)
Not Rated | 139 min | Documentary, Biography, Music
The first truly comprehensive feature length cinema documentary ever made about Beethoven. With over 60 live performances.
Director: Phil Grabsky | Stars: Emanuel Ax, Jonathan Biss, Riccardo Chailly, Alban Gerhardt
Votes: 426
This documentary delves into the life of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), a pivotal figure in the transition from the Classical to the Romantic era.
45. Albéniz (1947)
125 min | Biography, Drama
The film is based on the life of Spanish composer and pianist Isaac Albéniz. In this story Albéniz is represented since he was a child prodigy, so talented that even comes to say that his ... See full summary »
Director: Luis César Amadori | Stars: Pedro López Lagar, Sabina Olmos, Marisa Regules, Pedro Aleandro
Votes: 22
Chronicles the life of Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909), a composer from the late Romantic era, focusing on his contributions to Spanish classical music.
46. Interlude in Prague (2017)
103 min | Drama, History, Music
The incredible tale of Mozart's Prague years.
Director: John Stephenson | Stars: Aneurin Barnard, James Purefoy, Samantha Barks, Morfydd Clark
Votes: 790
Features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), a Classical era composer, setting his life against the backdrop of 18th-century Prague.
47. Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky (2009)
R | 119 min | Drama, Music, Romance
Paris 1913. Coco Chanel is infatuated with the rich and handsome Boy Capel, but she is also compelled by her work. Igor Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring is about to be performed. The ... See full summary »
Director: Jan Kounen | Stars: Anna Mouglalis, Mads Mikkelsen, Elena Morozova, Natacha Lindinger
Votes: 7,034 | Gross: $1.72M
Highlights the relationship between fashion designer Coco Chanel and composer Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), who belonged to the 20th-century classical period.
48. Paganini (1989)
81 min | Biography, Drama, Music
A biography of Italian violinist Niccolò Paganini.
Director: Klaus Kinski | Stars: Klaus Kinski, Debora Caprioglio, Nikolai Kinski, Dalila Di Lazzaro
Votes: 1,117
Focuses on Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), a composer and violinist from the Romantic era, exploring his virtuosity and controversies.
49. Mahler on the Couch (2010)
98 min | Biography, Drama, Romance
Alma Mahler's affair with the young architect Walter Gropius sets in motion a marital drama that forces her husband Gustav Mahler to seek advice from Sigmund Freud.
Directors: Felix O. Adlon, Percy Adlon | Stars: Johannes Silberschneider, Barbara Romaner, Karl Markovics, Eva Mattes
Votes: 495
Centers on Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), a composer of the Late-Romantic era, delving into his personal life and marriage.
50. Mahler (1974)
PG | 115 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Composer Gustav Mahler's (Robert Powell) life, told in a series of flashbacks as he and his wife (Georgina Hale) discuss their failing marriage during a train journey.
Director: Ken Russell | Stars: Robert Powell, Georgina Hale, Lee Montague, Miriam Karlin
Votes: 3,060
Another take on Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) from the Late-Romantic era, focusing on his career and personal dilemmas.
51. The Devil's Violinist (2013)
R | 122 min | Biography, Drama, Musical
19th Century violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini incurs the wrath of his diabolical manager while preparing for his debut performance in London, and falling for the daughter of an English impresario.
Director: Bernard Rose | Stars: David Garrett, Jared Harris, Joely Richardson, Christian McKay
Votes: 3,834
Chronicles the life of Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), a Romantic era composer and violin virtuoso, spotlighting his public performances.
52. The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach (1968)
94 min | Biography, Drama, History
The life and music of Johann Sebastian Bach as presented by his wife, Anna.
Directors: Danièle Huillet, Jean-Marie Straub | Stars: Gustav Leonhardt, Christiane Lang, Paolo Carlini, Ernst Castelli
Votes: 1,585 | Gross: $0.02M
Explores the life of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), a Baroque era composer, through the eyes of his second wife, Anna Magdalena.
53. Immortal Beloved (1994)
R | 121 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The life and death of the legendary Ludwig van Beethoven. Besides all the work he is known for, the composer once wrote a famous love letter to a nameless beloved, and the movie tries to ... See full summary »
Director: Bernard Rose | Stars: Gary Oldman, Jeroen Krabbé, Isabella Rossellini, Johanna ter Steege
Votes: 26,211 | Gross: $9.91M
Focuses on Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), delving into the mystery surrounding his immortal beloved amidst his contributions to the Classical and Romantic eras.
54. Io, Don Giovanni (2009)
127 min | Drama, History, Music
A drama based on the life of 18th century Italian lyricist Lorenzo da Ponte, who collaborated with Mozart on his "Don Giovanni" opera.
Director: Carlos Saura | Stars: Tobias Moretti, Eulàlia Ramon, Sergi Roca, Anna Saura Ramón
Votes: 628
Chronicles the life of Lorenzo Da Ponte, librettist for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), a composer of the Classical era.
55. The Music Lovers (1971)
R | 123 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
Piano teacher Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky struggles against his homosexuality by marrying, but unfortunately he chooses a nymphomaniac whom he cannot satisfy.
Director: Ken Russell | Stars: Richard Chamberlain, Glenda Jackson, Max Adrian, Christopher Gable
Votes: 3,021 | Gross: $0.20M
Spotlights Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), a composer from the Romantic era, focusing on his tumultuous life and relationships.
56. The Great Waltz (1938)
Passed | 104 min | Biography, Drama, Music
In 1845 Vienna, Johann Strauss II (Fernand Gravey) - 'Jonahi' to his friends - would rather write and perform waltzes than anything else, this at a time when a waltz is not considered ... See full summary »
Directors: Julien Duvivier, Victor Fleming, Josef von Sternberg | Stars: Luise Rainer, Fernand Gravey, Miliza Korjus, Hugh Herbert
Votes: 1,306
Chronicles Johann Strauss II (1825-1899), a composer from the Romantic era, known for his famous waltzes like The Blue Danube.
57. A Song to Remember (1945)
Approved | 113 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Biography of Frederic Chopin.
Director: Charles Vidor | Stars: Paul Muni, Merle Oberon, Cornel Wilde, Nina Foch
Votes: 1,619
Focuses on Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), a composer of the Romantic era, and his relationship with George Sand.
58. Chevalier (2022)
PG-13 | 108 min | Biography, Drama, History
Son of an African slave and a French farmer, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, achieves an unthinkable position in society as a famous violinist, composer and fencer, in addition to experiencing an ill-fated love affair.
Director: Stephen Williams | Stars: Kelvin Harrison Jr., Samara Weaving, Lucy Boynton, Ronke Adekoluejo
Votes: 6,828
Chronicles the life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745-1799), a composer of late 18th-century France. Explores his rise in society and downfall due to a tragic love affair.
59. The Music Teacher (1988)
PG | 95 min | Drama, Music
Aging opera singer Joachim Dallayrac retires from the stage and retreats to the countryside to school two young singers, Sophie and Jean. Although the rigorous training takes its toll on ... See full summary »
Director: Gérard Corbiau | Stars: José van Dam, Anne Roussel, Philippe Volter, Sylvie Fennec
Votes: 1,038 | Gross: $1.09M
Centers around fictional characters but pays homage to various composers from the Classical and Romantic eras through its musical selections.
60. Ciprian Porumbescu (1973)
150 min | Biography, Drama, Musical
The evocation of Ciprian Porumbescu's life is punctuated from place to place, throughout the film, by strongly emotional moments, which manage to convey not only the deep patriotic thrill that animated his creation and belief.
Director: Gheorghe Vitanidis | Stars: Vlad Radescu, Tamara Cretulescu, Emanoil Petrut, Emilia Dobrin
Votes: 161
Chronicles Ciprian Porumbescu (1853-1883), a Romanian composer from the Romantic era.
61. Angeli senza paradiso (1970)
91 min | Drama, History, Music
Music lessons crescendo with a love affair as a young Franz Schubert tutors a countess in Budapest.Then her fiance challenges the composer to a duel.
Director: Ettore Maria Fizzarotti | Stars: Romina Power, Al Bano, Agostina Belli, Paul Muller
Votes: 113
Centers on a fictional account of Franz Schubert (1797-1828), a composer from the late Classical and early Romantic eras. The film focuses on Schubert's music lessons with a countess in Budapest, culminating in a love affair and a consequential duel with her fiancé.
62. La symphonie fantastique (1942)
90 min | Biography, Drama
Biographical romance about the great composer Hector Berlioz, someone whom the French, during their WWII occupation by the Nazis, could look back proudly on.
Director: Christian-Jaque | Stars: Renée Saint-Cyr, Lise Delamare, Jean-Louis Barrault, Jules Berry
Votes: 156
Focuses on Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), a Romantic era composer, and his symphonic work, Symphonie Fantastique.
63. The Full Monteverdi (2007 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 60 min | Drama, Music, Romance
Six couples meet in a restaurant. Over the course of the meal and the following morning, they break up, leaving six abandoned lovers. Sung throughout to Claudio Monteverdi's compete fourth book of madrigals.
Director: John La Bouchardiere | Stars: Matthew Brook, Mark Denham, Samantha E. Hunt, Carys Lane
Votes: 38
Highlights the work of Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), a composer from the Renaissance and early Baroque eras, using his music as an emotional narrative.
64. The Pianist (2002)
R | 150 min | Biography, Drama, Music
During WWII, acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw faces various struggles as he loses contact with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw in order to survive.
Director: Roman Polanski | Stars: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Votes: 912,034 | Gross: $32.57M
Although not strictly about a composer, the film heavily features the works of Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), a composer from the Romantic era.
65. The Chorus (2004)
PG-13 | 97 min | Drama, Music
Pierre, a successful orchestra conductor, returns home when his mother dies. He stumbles upon an old diary and recollects the childhood school memories and his music teacher Clement Mathieu.
Director: Christophe Barratier | Stars: Gérard Jugnot, François Berléand, Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Kad Merad
Votes: 67,151 | Gross: $3.64M
Not centered on a particular composer but includes music that captures the essence of 20th-century classical compositions.
66. A Late Quartet (2012)
R | 105 min | Drama, Music
Members of a world-renowned string quartet struggle to stay together in the face of death, competing egos, and insuppressible lust.
Director: Yaron Zilberman | Stars: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, Mark Ivanir
Votes: 15,330 | Gross: $1.56M
Revolves around the fictional Fugue String Quartet but includes compositions from various eras including Beethoven's late string quartets.
67. Hilary and Jackie (1998)
R | 121 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The tragic story of world renowned classic cellist Jacqueline du Pré, as told from the point of view of her sister, flautist Hilary du Pré-Finzi.
Director: Anand Tucker | Stars: Emily Watson, Rachel Griffiths, James Frain, David Morrissey
Votes: 10,739 | Gross: $4.87M
Based on the lives of cellist Jacqueline du Pré and flutist Hilary du Pré, featuring various compositions from different eras.
68. Quartet (2012)
PG-13 | 98 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
At a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Composer Giuseppe Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean (Dame Maggie Smith), an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents.
Director: Dustin Hoffman | Stars: Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay
Votes: 21,203 | Gross: $18.39M
Set in a home for retired musicians, featuring various composers but not focusing on any particular one.
69. Shine (1996)
PG-13 | 105 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Pianist David Helfgott, driven by his father and teachers, has a breakdown. Years later he returns to the piano, to popular if not critical acclaim.
Director: Scott Hicks | Stars: Geoffrey Rush, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd
Votes: 56,697 | Gross: $35.81M
Tells the story of pianist David Helfgott, featuring works from various composers including Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943), who belonged to the Romantic and 20th-century classical periods.
70. The Temptation of Franz Schubert (1997 TV Movie)
60 min | Drama
The darker side of the composer is explored when he stays in the hospital for syphilis.
Director: Peter Webber | Stars: Simon Russell Beale, Jason Flemyng, Emilia Fox, Richard Van Allan
Votes: 47
Centers on Franz Schubert (1797-1828), a composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras, exploring his life, struggles, and iconic compositions.
71. The Child Prodigy (2010)
101 min | Drama
On the keyboard, the young hands fly rapidly and the melody rises. For the child, nothing is easier; he hears the sounds in his head. These hands belong to 6 years old André Mathieu. He won... See full summary »
Director: Luc Dionne | Stars: Patrick Drolet, Marc Labrèche, Macha Grenon, Karine Vanasse
Votes: 222
Focuses on André Mathieu (1929-1968), a Canadian composer and pianist, emphasizing his prodigious talents and short-lived career in the 20th-century classical period.
72. Beethoven (2005)
60 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
A dramatized documentary on the life and music of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Stars: Paul Rhys, Charles Hazlewood, David Bamber, Casper Harvey
Votes: 254
Chronicles the life of Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), who transitioned classical music into the Romantic era, covering his genius and personal struggles.
73. Callas Forever (2002)
PG-13 | 111 min | Biography, Drama, Music
The last days of legendary opera singer Maria Callas.
Director: Franco Zeffirelli | Stars: Fanny Ardant, Jeremy Irons, Joan Plowright, Jay Rodan
Votes: 2,453 | Gross: $0.45M
Highlights the life of Maria Callas, a 20th-century opera singer, featuring operas composed by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), among others, from the Romantic era.
74. The Concert (2009)
PG-13 | 119 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Thirty years ago Bolshoi Orchestra conductor Andreï Filipov was fired for hiring Jewish musicians. Now a lowly janitor, an opportunity arises to gather his old musicians to go and pose as the official Bolshoi orchestra in Paris.
Director: Radu Mihaileanu | Stars: Aleksey Guskov, Mélanie Laurent, Dmitriy Nazarov, François Berléand
Votes: 18,646 | Gross: $0.66M
Focuses on an orchestra's journey to perform Tchaikovsky's (1840-1893) "Violin Concerto in D major," capturing the spirit of Romantic-era music.
75. The Red Violin (1998)
R | 130 min | Drama, Music, Mystery
A red-colored violin inspires passion, making its way through three centuries over several owners and countries, eventually ending up at an auction where it may find a new owner.
Director: François Girard | Stars: Carlo Cecchi, Jean-Luc Bideau, Christoph Koncz, Jason Flemyng
Votes: 34,488 | Gross: $9.47M
The film traces the journey of a red violin across centuries and continents, incorporating compositions from various eras including the Baroque and Romantic.
76. Ludwig (1973)
R | 238 min | Biography, Drama, History
The reign of the tormented Ludwig, king of Bavaria, from 1864 to 1886.
Director: Luchino Visconti | Stars: Helmut Berger, Romy Schneider, Trevor Howard, Silvana Mangano
Votes: 5,999
An in-depth look at the life of Ludwig II of Bavaria, featuring compositions by Richard Wagner (1813-1883), a composer of the Romantic era.
77. Death in Venice (1971)
GP | 130 min | Drama, Romance
While recovering in Venice, sickly composer Gustav von Aschenbach becomes dangerously fixated with teenager Tadzio.
Director: Luchino Visconti | Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Romolo Valli, Mark Burns, Nora Ricci
Votes: 23,036 | Gross: $0.15M
The film features music by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911), a composer from the Late-Romantic era, as it explores themes of beauty and decay in Venice.
78. She Came to Me (2023)
R | 102 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A composer who suffers writer's block rediscovers his passion after an adventurous one-night stand.
Director: Rebecca Miller | Stars: Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, Evan Ellison
Votes: 4,701
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