Sandro Isaack – Mozart in the Jungle

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects you are working on?

A) I have a couple of things that are in development. I am actually going to be in England in March performing in the first play ever written by a woman with Down Syndrome. She actually plays my daughter in the play, which is called Apple of My Eye. It premieres on Down Syndrome Day, which is March 21. I’m very excited about it and it means a lot to me. I’m also getting ready to post a Kickstarter campaign for an animated pilot I am developing, which is based on a book that I wrote called Stork M.I.A. It’s based on two dads who get tired of waiting for the stork. They decide to go find the stork, but they don’t know where he lives. So, they go around the world trying to find him so they can have a baby. Towards the end of the book, they get a little baby named Eva and the animated pilot would be about her as of age six. She is discovering everything and she wants to be the first female President. It’s funny! If it works out the way I am thinking, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m looking to post the Kickstarter in a few months and then from there it should be four months.

Q) What do you attribute the new found success of streaming series?

A) I think it’s because you can binge. That’s a big factor. The limitations are less. You don’t need to have a format like on TV, you don’t need a script or to follow the rules. I think people are drawn to innovative and spontaneous TV series, which is actually like “Mozart in the Jungle.” Some people don’t know what it is and some people do. With classical music, it is something unknown and also it talks about New York, which so many know and want to know.

Q) With so many Golden Globe wins, how do you think that will effect the “Mozart” viewership?

A) I think it is going to increase! I’ve been reading a lot of tweets and articles where people ask, “What is ‘Mozart in the Jungle?’ How did ‘Mozart in the Jungle’ win?” So, I think that will draw a lot of people to check it out and once they check it out they will see how good it is and they’ll end up watching the whole thing in one binge.

Q) With “Mozart,” talk about your role as Pavel this season.

A) Pavel is one of the lucky guys who got a lot of action from his relationship with his boss who is played by Bernadette Peters. A lot of crazy things happen with the two of us in Mexico. Playing alongside Bernadette was pretty amazing! Pavel is coming out of his shell!

Q) Who would you like more scenes with in the future?

A) This season a lot of what I have is with Bernadette, but I got to go Malcolm McDowell a little bit better. I have one scene with him. I was hanging out with two legends. And I was getting paid so how lucky am I? I didn’t have any scenes with Gael [Garcia Bernal], but I worked with him in the first season. Gael, not only on camera but off camera, is one of the most amazingly, genuine and kind people. Being on set with two legends with Malcolm and Bernadette made me feel like, “Pinch me!” Plus, you see me naked. Which is another reason to watch the show! [laughs]

Q) Was there anything you added to Pavel that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) There was one thing and it was an accident. Pavel has an accent in the show and I found out during out the second season he was not supposed to have an accent and that it was something I had misread! I think I accidentally read the part of Bob or something else – I just did this with an accent. I thought it was what they wanted and I booked the role. Then, this season the creator came up to me and said, “I just love that you came up with an accent!” I said, “What do you mean? You wrote it with an accent.” He said, “No! I did not!” It turns out I thought they wanted it so I brought it and it worked out.

Q) Where does he fit in with the rest of the ensemble?

A) Pavel has a place of his own because he is the only one with the musicians that he is not a musician. He is a theatre or space director manager, but he does everything yet does not play an instrument. He is responsible for the orchestra and also for the maestro in a way. He has to follow orders as well. So, he’s sort of in the middle because he doesn’t want to disrespect his bosses, but he also wants to protect his musicians and his theatre because he is proud of his work. He is always in the middle, but he moves to the beat of his own drum. If that is what he thinks is right, he doesn’t surrender to what is happening around him. He is a very strongly principled character.

Q) Where would you like to see him progress?

A) I’d definitely love to see Pavel and Gloria talk again. I would also like to see Pavel getting more scenes with the orchestra. He had one scene least season, but I’d like to see him appear more. I’d like him be a little bit more active. I’d like him to appear not just when it is unsolicited, but being the one who is the guide instead of waiting for him to appear.

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching “Mozart in the Jungle?”

A) I would love to see the younger generation actually understand that classical music is universal and for any time, not just something from the past. I think that the series brings it in a way that shows how beautiful it is and how universal it is. I think by showing the reality of the musicians it shows that it is not just for rich people, but for everybody. It’s something for young people as well. There are all these different flavors and colors for classical music. In Season 2 you see it even more.

Q) What have you taken away yourself from working on project?

A) Number one, I would say that TV is so much different than theatre. I think it is up there as hard to do as theatre, but also as pleasant and fruitful. I learned a lot about TV and I learned a lot by working with so many directors. That’s what I love about “Mozart’ – every episode is directed by a different director and somehow together it tells the same story. That’s an experience that I never had and it’s amazing. It’s learning how to be very flexible to whatever director shows up to direct an episode.

Q) What kind of feedback from fans have you been receiving about the series?

A) That is something I did not think about so I’ve been thinking about it. Somehow online, some people got my personal email. I’m trying to redirect that to my webpage. But everything has been really nice. I’ve only heard nice things. People have been writing me and that’s pretty cool.

Q) Is there anything else you would like to be sure we share with fans?

A) I am on social media you can find me on my Facebook page or on SandroIsaack.com. Keep asking for more Pavel so he can do a lot more in Season 3. Ask to see Pavel and Gloria again!