Original Review by Alan Rogers
Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator who is best known today for developing a style of child education that emphasises child independence and in supporting children’s natural psychological development. Maria Montessori: Una Vita Per I Bambini is a two-part TV drama originally shown on Italian TV back in 2007. In it, we follow Montessori’s training as a physican and how she comes to set up her “La Casa del Bambino”. As well as following her professional progress the film also follows how she fails to succeed in bringing up her own child. Maria Montessori: Una Vita I Bambini represents director Gianluca Maria Tavarelli’s first collaboration with composer Marco Wetta. Italian Marco Betta has composed only a handful of film/TV scores and is probably better known for his operas as well as his orchestral and chamber music. However, here he delivers a quality score that’s full of emotion and beauty.
Marco Betta is a composer who I have not come across but I was immediately drawn to this score because of the attractive thematic material heard right from the first track, “Maria Montessori”. The score is very much based around the use of lush strings and piano. Sometimes it is the strings that take the lead with the melody and the piano plays a supporting role (for example, the piano ostinato in “Maria Montessori” and “Gli Esperimenti e La Vita”) or visa versa (“Amore Per Maria” and “L’amore e Gli Altri”). Other cues such as “Pioggia e Pedagogia” have the strings and piano swapping roles throughout the score. This interplay of emphasis together with the lovely melodic music makes the score as a whole an interesting listen from beginning to end. Read the rest of this entry »
