Latchis Arts launches a new film series, The Great Composers, featuring four films on the world’s most influential composers, starting with “In Search of Beethoven” on Saturday and Sunday, January 25 and 26, at 4 p.m., at the Latchis Theatre.

Developed by Seventh Art Productions, who also produce the popular Exhibition on Screen series, The Great Composers series celebrates the lives and art of four exceptional musicians and individuals – Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin and Haydn.

Written and directed by Phil Grabsky and narrated by Juliet Stevenson, the films explore each musician in phenomenal depth, including readings of their own letters and the insights of respected historians and musicologists. Each film is accompanied by breathtaking performances of the composers’ work brought to life by the world’s leading orchestras and musicians such as Emanuel Ax, Daniel Barenboim, Leif Ove Andsnes, Janine Jansen, Lars Vogt, Jonathan Miller, Ronald Brautigam, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Orchestra of the 18^th Century.

“In Search of Beethoven” addresses the romantic myth that Beethoven was a heroic, tormented figure, battling to overcome his tragic fate of deafness and who searched for his “immortal beloved” but remained unmarried. It delves beyond the image of the tortured, bad-tempered, unhinged personality to reveal someone quite different and far more interesting.  The film has been called the best film ever made on Beethoven and is the choice of the Beethoven Haus (Beethoven’s birthplace) as the “go to” film on Beethoven.

The Great Composers series continues on February 15 and 16, at 4 p.m. with “In Search of Mozart,” followed on April 4 and 5 at 4 p.m., by “In Search of Chopin” and “In Search of Haydn” on April 18 and 19, at 4 p.m.

Admission to The Great Composers series films is $12, $6 for students, and tickets are available at the door. For more information, visit latchisars.org or contact Jon Potter at jon@latchisarts.org or 802-254-1109, ext. 3.