Views from a CM beginner who watched most of the Composer series:

I didn't seem to notice any dumbing down of the composers.  Maybe that's
because I haven't been fully introduced to the life and times of the
composers.  I guess long time listeners would know most or all of the
things being told in the program.  Then again, it's not everyday one gets
to see the huts where Mahler composed his great works and the theater where
Tchaikovsky premiered his ballets - among others.  Though that may seem
secondary to the music, sometimes knowing a little something extra about
the composers makes me more emphatic towards their music.

There were some interesting music being played as well.  Mahler's string
quartet (which I didn't even know existed!) Mozart's 1st symphony (or was
it piano concerto?).

I also find myself having need to revise my views on Mozart as a person
ill-suited for commerce - apparently he was pretty good at promoting his
concerts and operas and getting wealthy patrons to support him.  According
to the series, what did him in was the change in business and social
environment.  Neither did I know his looking back to Bach in discovering
the majesty of the fugue and contrapuntal play.

Speaking of Bach, I'm disappointed my favorite composer was not selected
for the series - maybe its scandalous fact that he had over a dozen
children and married a cousin...

Overall, the Composer series seem targeted towards newcomers and I feel
that it is a pretty well done documentary.

Jynn Tan