Quartet is a 2012 British comedy-drama film directed by Dustin Hoffman. It follows the story of four retired opera singers as they prepare for a concert to celebrate Verdi’s birthday. The film was shot in various locations around the UK, and it is set in a retirement home for musicians in the town of Dorking, Surrey. Here we take a look at where the movie was made and the historical context in which it was set.
Filming Locations
The majority of Quartet was filmed around the Surrey countryside in the town of Dorking. The retirement home in which the film is set was actually a real-life retirement home for musicians in Dorking, called Denbies. The exteriors were also filmed in the nearby towns of Guildford and Leatherhead. The scenes of the opera rehearsal were filmed at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Historical Context
The film is set in the late 1990s, when the classical music scene in Britain was undergoing a revival. This was the time when the “Three Tenors” (Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and Jose Carreras) were performing their famous concerts, and when the Royal Opera House was undergoing a major renovation. The film also touches upon the legacy of the legendary composer Giuseppe Verdi, whose music is featured prominently throughout the film.
Quartet is a beautiful film that captures the spirit of classical music in Britain in the late 1990s. It was filmed in various locations around the UK, and it is set in a retirement home for musicians in Dorking, Surrey. The film celebrates the legacy of Giuseppe Verdi, and it is a must-watch for any fan of classical music.