My husband and I just finished binge watching the second season of “Mozart In the Jungle” on Amazon Prime. It’s about the people in a New York City orchestra – the musicians, conductors, Board of the Orchestra which has to finance the operation. The behind-the-scenes staff, friends and family of the lead characters. I cannot recommend it enough!

I loved it because it was well-written, wonderfully acted and mesmerizing. I could wax poetic with words like “delightful”, “charming” and “enchanting”– words that hark back to a gentler, simpler time.

Most important to me, I loved it because I could watch it with a smile on my face, not a pillow at the ready to cover my eyes when things on-screen get gory. I’m sick of dark, depressing shows filled with violence and brutality, past present or future. I’m sick of seeing man at his worst – angry, terrified, petty and violent.

I am sick of being scared, grossed out, or demoralized by my “entertainment.” I finished each episode of “Mozart” with a song in my heart, not a black cloud over my head. The show made me want to reach for a glass of champagne, not an anti-depressant– which is how much of popular culture makes me feel these days.

“Mozart in the Jungle” is a breath of fresh air. It’s about literate, creative people devoted to the art of making classical music and bringing it to the public. You get involved in their lives, as well as the lives of the people on the administrative side. There’s romance, intrigue (watch out for the first chair oboist), clashing personalities and perspectives, as well as infantile or bizarre behavior. Through it all, you feel the love everyone has for the music.

You are uplifted by “Mozart In the Jungle” and by the orchestral performances. They remind you how much life can be elevated by art and music. It transports you to a place where culture is exalted. Where knowledge, skill, and dedication are valued above all else.

The show won a well-deserved Golden Globe Award recently, as did the Gael Garcia Bernal, who is exceptionally charismatic. It gets my personal award for the best television entertainment in a long time. It’s a show that makes you feel happy — and glad to be alive!

Categories: Entertainment, Reviews, Television

Tags: Ellin Curley, entertainment, Golden Globe, Mozart In the Jungle, review, Television, TV series