The Music of Mozart is Celebrated with MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES, Dec. 20

The Music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is Celebrated this Holiday Season in MOZART DECODED and
THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES, December 20 on 'A'

’Äì Holiday specials spotlighting the legendary composer produced by

Emmy and Gemini Award-winning Kevin Sullivan ’Äì

- Toronto's internationally-renowned Opera Atelier Baroque Opera Company featured in THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES ’Äì

’Äì Award-winning THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES shot in Toronto and key locations
around the world ’Äì

Toronto, ON (November 25, 2008) ’Äì He's known for composing some of the most beautiful music ever. This holiday season, 'A' celebrates the enduring magic of musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with two Canadian-produced specials from the Sullivan Entertainment library ’Äì MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES. Premiering Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m. ET on 'A' (check Atv.ca to confirm local broadcast times), MOZART DECODED is a one-hour documentary revealing the little-known details about the legendary composer and the inspiration behind his most famous masterpieces. THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES follows at 8 p.m. ET on 'A', a two-hour original Canadian film that gives a contemporary makeover to Mozart's final composition ’Äì and one of his most beloved ’Äì "The Magic Flute," and features performances by Toronto's renowned Opera Atelier Baroque Opera Company.

"MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES offer viewers a comprehensive look at the music of one of the world's most legendary composers," said Susanne Boyce, President, Creative, Content and Channels, CTV Inc. "This holiday season, viewers can relive some of his most famous pieces of music and be entertained as they discover the inspiration behind them."

"My goal in creating THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES was to take that antiquated, reserved world that people think of as high art and to remove it from the opera stage into a contemporary film," said Kevin Sullivan, President, Sullivan Entertainment. "The final production is not really an opera, it's more like a musical... with all of the most memorable songs and dance sequences set against the background of a contemporary love story done with style and panache."

The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has inspired and entertained people for over 250 years, but who was the man behind the music?

MOZART DECODED (Saturday, December 20 at 7 p.m. ET) takes an in-depth look at Mozart's tumultuous and often difficult life, from his beginnings as a musical prodigy through his rise to stardom and membership with the secretive Freemasons, to his mysterious and untimely death at the age of 35. What inspired him to compose the musical masterpieces that immortalized him as one of the greatest composers the world has ever known?

Following the one-hour documentary, the two-hour original Canadian film THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES (Saturday, December 20 at 8 p.m. ET) explores love, betrayal, reward and retribution against the backdrop of one of Mozart's most famous musical scores. Set in modern-day Saltzburg, Austria, young virtuoso singer Tom (Warren Christie, OCTOBER ROAD) is cast as the lead in a staging of the "The Magic Flute" opera for Mozart's 250th birthday. Overwhelmed by the genius of the score, Tom fantasizes the opera in his mind, and quickly becomes obsessed with his mysterious co-star, Masha, (opera singer Mireille Asselin) an unknown Russian soprano of extraordinary talent who is constantly isolated from the rest of the company by her manager, Dr. Nagel (Rutger Hauer, Blade Runner). Tom's interest in Masha becomes backstage intrigue as fantasy crosses into reality.

Winner of Best Family Film at the 2008 New York, Staten Island Film Festival, THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES was shot on location in Salzburg, Vienna, Munich and Toronto, and showcases Toronto's internationally-renowned Opera Atelier Baroque Opera Company.

MOZART DECODED and THE MAGIC FLUTE DIARIES were written, directed and produced by multiple Emmy and Gemini Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Sullivan (ANNE OF GREEN GABLES: A NEW BEGINNING, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, ROAD TO AVONLEA).

About Sullivan Entertainment:

Now in its 29th year, Sullivan Entertainment continues to be an internationally-recognized and award-winning producer of television series, feature films and mini-series. Established in 1979 by Kevin Sullivan and Trudy Grant, Sullivan Entertainment quickly became the producer of Canada's most watched television, with the GREEN GABLES-AVONLEA franchise. Great successes for Sullivan Entertainment have included the critically-acclaimed television series WIND AT MY BACK, BUTTERBOX BABIES ’Äì the highest-rated Canadian television movie of all time ’Äì and THE PIANO MAN'S DAUGHTER, starring Stockard Channing and Christian Campbell based on the novel by Timothy Findley. Sullivan Entertainment productions have been praised for their visual beauty, their strong storytelling and the fine acting through which they weave their unique spell. Sullivan Entertainment has expanded into several additional successful business ventures, including the Sullivan Boutique, Sullivan Entertainment International, Sullivan Home Entertainment and Sullivan Animation.

About 'A'

Fresh and dynamic, 'A' is the new home of established primetime hits, critical favourites and big-buzz new series. 'A' delivers Canadian television's most exciting new schedule in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and British Columbia as well as in Alberta on ACCESS in certain primetime hours. 'A' spotlights day-to-day life in local communities in Victoria/Vancouver, Barrie/Toronto, Ottawa, London, Windsor and Wingham through its award-winning 'A' News programming. 'A' is owned by CTV Limited, a division of CTVglobemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company. More information about 'A' may be found at www.atv.ca.