Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's father, Leopold Mozart, was a court musician who published an influential book on violin-playing and sacrificed his own creative career for his son's genius.
Composition History
Mozart's opera "The Magic Flute" was running at the time of his final illness and death in 1791 and makes considerable use of Masonic symbolism, reflecting Mozart's own membership in the brotherhood.
Instruments
Mozart's Piano Concerto in A major, K. 488, uses clarinets instead of oboes in its scoring, which was unusual for the time, as the clarinet was a relatively new orchestral instrument.
Composer Biography
Mozart's childhood involved extensive concert tours of Europe with his father and elder sister Nannerl, where he astonished audiences with his keyboard and violin playing, improvisation, and composition skills.
Critical Reception
In Prague, "The Marriage of Figaro" was met with great enthusiasm, with its melodies being whistled in the streets and used for dancing at fashionable balls.
Composition History
Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro" was based on a controversial French play by Beaumarchais and premiered in Vienna in 1786, where it had nine performances despite divided public opinion.
Performer Biography
The Vienna Mozart Orchestra, founded in 1986, aims to perform music from the Viennese Classical Period, with a special feature of their concerts being the use of historical costumes by the players.
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