FACT SHEET
TITLE: WUNDERKIND LITTLE AMADEUS
LENGTH: 26/30
NOLA: LITA 101-126 SD-Base Revision 001
CATEGORY: Children/Family/Music Education
OFFERED: Fall Marketplace 2007
RELEASE DATE: September 7, 2008
CONTRACT TERMS: Unlimited releases to be completed by September 6, 2012.
Noncommercial cable, simulcast, six-month school re-record rights and non-exclusive video-on-demand rights have been granted.
PROGRAM SUPPLIER: LAR Little Amadeus Realisierungsgesellchaft mbH & Co. KG via APT Presentations
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The animated series Wunderkind Little Amadeus entertains and educates children between the ages of 4 and 8 about music and inspires them to make their own music. Join the young Mozart on his boyhood adventures and his musical life, all set against the backdrop of his unforgettable compositions.
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS: Include: a press release, episode listings and outreach details. All materials, including photography, are available on APTonline.org.
PRODUCTION DATE: ©2006 LAR Little Amadeus Realisierungsgesellchaft mbH & Co. KG
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WUNDERKIND LITTLE AMADEUS /2 FACT SHEET
UNDERWRITERS: Playgo Europe BVBA
Music Sales Corporation
Others TBD
PRODUCTION CREDITS: Executive Producers: Winfried Debertin and Peter Will. Concept: Winfried Debertin. Directors: Udo Beissel and Winfried Debertin.
BROADCAST HISTORY: U.S. television premiere
OUTREACH: The companion Web site, www.little-amadeus.com, contains free educational resource materials that complement and further the lessons in the series by opening the world of classical music to every child. The downloadable materials, designed for use by teachers, parents and caregivers for children, include biographical facts on Mozart, sheet music and lesson plans on various musical concepts introduced in the series. Outreach partners: Bay Breeze Educational Resources, 925-462-4662 and Media Education Consultants, 617-975-0133.
RELATED MERCHANDISE: Individual viewer purchase: Merchandise will be available via the parent/teacher section of www.little-amadeus.com.
VIEWER INQUIRIES: GATEWAY4M
WEB SITE: www.little-amadeus.com
PRESS CONTACT: Alison Grand
Grand Communications
(212) 584-1133
STATION RELATIONS: Gabriella Jones-Litchfield
Gabriella Jones-Litchfield Consulting
(503) 297-6436
STATION PI CONTACT: Dawn Anderson
American Public Television
(617) 338-4455, ext. 149
6/15/08 (revised 8/21/08)
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Dawn Anderson
(617) 338-4455, ext. 149
WUNDERKIND LITTLE AMADEUS
Worldwide Sensation Aims to Ignite Children’s Love of Classical Music
and Encourage Them to Actively Make Music
Animated Series Strikes the Perfect Chord with Children, Parents and Educators
Boston, MA, June 15, 2008 – Wunderkind Little Amadeus, a lively and visionary new animated series, debuts on public television stations nationwide in September 2008 (check local listings).
Created for children 4 to 8, the series is designed to foster a lifelong love of classical music among its young audience. With Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s unforgettable compositions as its soundtrack, Wunderkind Little Amadeus takes children along on engaging, often comical, adventures with the spirited young prodigy, while introducing musical concepts based on the work of the prolific virtuoso. Along the way, children will learn about different instruments, key music concepts and music history.
The series thoughtfully weaves actual biographical events from Mozart’s childhood — the boy-genius arranged his first piano composition at the tender age of five — together with fictional storylines to create an unforgettable introduction to his life and the magic of his enduring music. Renowned orchestras, including the Orquestra Nacional de Porto, and famed soloists, such as violinist Tamaki Kawakubo and pianist François René Duchâble, perform Mozart’s extraordinary works, in a compelling score recorded especially for the series.
The bright and funny eight-year old — ever curious and slightly mischievous — is full of unconventional ideas about the world around him. Together with a range of compelling and relatable characters, including his devoted parents, Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart, loyal best friend Kajetan Hagenauer, and fellow music lover Archbishop Schrattenbach, little Amadeus discovers ways to overcome challenges with clever musical solutions in each episode. His adventures always end on a “high note” despite meddling from Lorenzo Devilious, the envious private secretary and Lord of the Court for the Archbishop, his musically challenged nephew Mario and the devious yet lovable Monti the Rat.
The 26 new half-hour episodes kick off right on key with “Solo for Amadeus,” a melodic show centering on the young hero as he prepares to celebrate the Bishop of Salzburg’s name day. The skillful musician busily prepares a solo to sing at the festivities – while his rival Devilious concocts a devious scheme to ruin the special day and blame it on Wolfgang Amadeus. The musical escapades continue in subsequent episodes, as Amadeus searches for his beloved missing pet in “Pumperl in Trouble,” uncovers the secret of the local monastery in “The Secret of Ybbs,” and plays in the music cafes of Vienna in “Street Musicians.”
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WUNDERKIND LITTLE AMADEUS /2 PRESS RELEASE
Since its 2006 TV launch in Germany, Wunderkind Little Amadeus has been opening the door to the wonderful world of classical music and encouraging kids to become active participants – whether through learning an instrument, joining a band or singing in a choir. To help further fill the need for quality music education for young students, Wunderkind Little Amadeus introduces students to music and music-related concepts to which they might not otherwise be exposed. The series seeks to fill the void and make classical music exciting and accessible to a whole new generation.
“We’re thrilled to be working with American Public Television to bring Wunderkind Little Amadeus to children across the U.S.,” said Peter Will, General Manager of GATEWAY4M – more fine music & media GmbH, who is licensing the series internationally on behalf of LAR Little Amadeus Realisierungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. “Time and again, studies have shown that music education improves overall scholastic performance, including standardized tests. Our mission is to foster young viewers’ understanding and enjoyment of classical music and the performing arts and encourage them to actively make music a part of their everyday lives.”
Cynthia Fenneman, president and CEO of APT, agrees. “This charming series fulfills a need for music education in children's programming on public television,” said Fenneman. “Children will have fun learning about classical music and history while following the adventures of young Amadeus Mozart.”
In Europe, the Wunderkind Little Amadeus success story includes key partnerships and endorsements from cultural groups committed to expanding music education. The initiative also encompasses an annual “Little Amadeus School Event Day” in which hundreds of thousands of students and teachers have participated since the program’s inception. In both 2006 and 2007, Little Amadeus earned the prestigious ECHO Classic Award, one of the world’s most respected music honors.
The patron of all activities in the U.S. is the Ambassador of Austria in the US, S.E. Dr. Eva Novotny. The series’ official partner is the American String Teacher Association (ASTA).
Produced in 2006, Wunderkind Little Amadeus is supplied by LAR Little Amadeus Realisierungsgesellchaft mbH & Co. KG and presented and distributed by American Public Television through the Exchange service at no cost to public television stations nationwide.
About GATEWAY4M – more fine music & media GmbH
GATEWAY4M – more fine music & media GmbH is an internationally-active production and distribution company for innovative music, TV and film projects. The Hamburg-based company is part of the HABIS Group, a venture capital company involved in various media projects. GATEWAY4M is licensing Wunderkind Little Amadeus on behalf of the LAR Little Amadeus Realisierungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG worldwide.
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WUNDERKIND LITTLE AMADEUS /3 PRESS RELEASE
About American Public Television:
With more than 10,000 hours of programming in its library, American Public Television (APT) has been a prime source of programming for the nation’s public television stations for 47 years, distributing more than 300 new program titles per year. APT milestones include distribution of the first HD series on public television and the 2006 launch of Create™ — the TV channel featuring the best of public television’s lifestyle programming. Known for its leadership in identifying innovative, worthwhile and viewer-friendly programming, APT has established a tradition of providing public television stations with program choices that strengthen and customize their schedules, such as Carreras Domingo Pavarotti in Concert, Winged Migration, Battlefield Britain, Globe Trekker, Rick Steves’ Europe, Wunderkind Little Amadeus, Great Museums, Jacques Pépin: Fast Food My Way, America’s Test Kitchen From Cook’s Illustrated, Broadway: The Golden Age, Lidia’s Family Table, California Dreamin’ – The Songs of The Mamas & the Papas, Rosemary and Thyme, P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home, The Big Comfy Couch, Monarchy With David Starkey, and other prominent documentaries, dramatic series, how-to programs, children’s series and classic movies. For more information about APT’s programs and services, visit APTonline.org.
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EPISODE LISTINGS
WUNDERKIND LITTLE AMADEUS
#101 “Solo for Amadeus”
On the Bishop of Salzburg's name day, Amadeus will sing a brilliant solo for the festivities, but his malicious and envious rival, the lower court marshal Devilius, wants to stop him. Amadeus must help Mr. Hagenauer, the Bishop's court purveyor and the Mozart family’s landlord, locate the missing coach carrying the delicious chocolates from Linz urgently needed for the festival. The chocolates finally reach Salzburg and the Hagenauers, but will Amadeus arrive in time to perform his solo?
The Music: “Piano Sonata in C Major” K. 545; et al.
Additional Content: In this episode, Mario fails to strike the top C. Monti explains the term "top C" to the children, the sounds it makes when played by different instruments (flute, violin, piano and human voice) and where it falls in the stave (staff).
#102 “The Stolen Watch”
Amadeus prepares a composition for the Golden Needle of Salzburg competition. The ambitious Devilius and conniving Monti the Rat want Devilius' nephew, Mario, to win the prize instead. With the help of a pocket watch and a stolen Mozart melody, they manage to make Amadeus look like a thief and plagiarist. In a spooky graveyard scene, Amadeus and his friend finally force a confession from Mario. Will it be enough to clear Amadeus of the charges or will Mario win the Golden Needle of Salzburg?
The Music: Aria “Ein Maedchen oder Weibchen” from the opera “The Magic Flute” K. 620; et al.
#103 “Pumperl in Trouble”
Devilius and Monti the Rat scheme about a devious new plan. Together, they lure Pumperl, Amadeus’ sweet little dog, into the hands of a dogcatcher. They hope he’ll be too busy searching for Pumperl to perform at the silver wedding anniversary of his friend Kati’s parents. This would enable Devilius' nephew Mario, who fell madly in love with Kati, to take Amadeus’ place (and his music). Unfortunately for them, the bad guys didn’t count on Pumperl’s cleverness.
The Music: “Piano Trio in G” K. 564; et al.
Additional Content: At the beginning of the episode, Amadeus plays a beautiful melody on the flute for Kati. Monti explains the flute’s place in the woodwind family of instruments and shows the many different types of woodwinds, while viewers see images of a recorder, a transverse flute, a bassoon, an oboe and a clarinet and hear their sounds.
#104 “Kidnappers”
Devilius hires two evil crooks to kidnap Amadeus and his best friend Kajetan so he can finally discover the secret behind Amadeus' music. The two boys, not easily taken by surprise, outwit the naïve crooks and save themselves on a raft — until they encounter dangerous rapids.
The Music: “Horn Concerto No. 4” K. 495; Piano Sonata “Rondo alla Turca” K. 331; “Serenade in G” (“A Little Serenade”) K. 525; et al.
Additional Content: Monti goes on a sightseeing tour through Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg, where many landmarks remain from Mozart’s day.
#105 “The Birdseller”
Amadeus wants to buy a new canary from the bird seller to cheer up his heartbroken sister, Nannerl. Meanwhile, Devilius thinks a magnificent golden eagle will turn him into a genius composer. He steals the eagle while staging an incident that results in all of the birds escaping. Authorities wrongly blame Amadeus and his friend for the incident and throw them into the dungeon of the Bishop’s palace. Can they prove their innocence before the eagle makes Devilius’ dreams a reality?
The Music: “Salzburg Symphony No. 1” K. 138; Papageno’s Aria “Der Vogelfaenger bin ich ja” from “The Magic Flute” K. 620; “Symphony No. 25 in G Minor” (“Small Symphony in G Minor”) K. 183; et al.
Additional Content: In this episode, Amadeus’ flute-playing’ saves him and his friends from the dungeon. Kajetan carved the flute out of a piece of wood he carried in his pens. Monti easily carves a flute out of wood and other materials and shows viewers how it works.
#106 “Mixed up Violins”
A bishop asks the Mozart family, now on a concert tour, to take a valuable violin to Munich as a present for the prince-elector. As always, Devilius wants to get the Mozarts into trouble, so he replaces the valuable violin with a worthless old fiddle. He hopes to make it look like the Mozarts sold the valuable violin in order to make money. Then, Devilius will simply hand over the real violin and receive generous praise. In the end, Amadeus’ musical genius takes center stage and thwarts Devilius’ plans.
The Music: “Violin Concerto in G” K. 216; “Divertimento in F” K. 138; “Violin Concerto in B” K. 207; et al.
Additional Content: Monti explains violins’ place among the string instruments or "strings.” Then, he demonstrates the different sizes of a viola, a violin, a cello and a contrabass (double bass) and viewers hear the sounds they make.
#107 “Rumors”
Devilius maliciously spreads the rumor that all of Amadeus’ compositions were written by his father, Leopold Mozart. As a result, the Bishop organizes a competition in which Amadeus must compete against Devilius. An herbalist mixes a special ink for Devilius that makes Amadeus' composition disappear. Can Amadeus uncover Devilius' terrible plot before time runs out?
The Music: “Serenade in G” (“A Little Serenade”) K. 525; Aria of the “Koenigin der Nacht“ from “The Magic Flute“ K. 620; “Clarinet Concerto in A” K. 622; et al.
Additional Content: Monti shows a collection of backgrounds and scenes from the series that correspond to actual places in Salzburg, Mozart’s hometown. Monti uses these scenes on the Web site to create an historic city video, set to the series’ theme music.
#108 “The Bet”
The Bishop would like to give Countess Kussmaul, a patron and great lover of Mozart's music, one of Amadeus’ compositions as a birthday gift. Devilius bets the Bishop that Amadeus cannot deliver a piece in such a short time. Confident of Mozart's talent as a composer, the Bishop wagers half of his royal household. In an attempt to win the wager, Devilius and Monti the Rat devise a villainous plan. Will Mozart finish his composition on time or will the Bishop make Devilius a wealthy man?