Book Description

Mozart was not only an extraordinary musical genius but a man who lived through the great change from the old society to the modern one in which we still live. He was one of the "new men" of the age--his music gives voice to anxieties and consolations that are still ours. This biography sets Mozart's life within the history of an age plunging into revolution and European war. Avoiding guesswork, it probes his crucial relationships with his father, his wife and his employer. It studies--in depth though in nontechnical language--characteristic examples of his music and asks what they can tell us about their author and ourselves. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A brief and concise introduction to Mozart's life
Being a longtime fan of Mozart's work, naturally I wanted to learn more about the man himself. Too often I have found biographies to be dull, dry, and formulaic. This book provides a fresh and fascinating look into the life of the person many consider to be the world's greatest composer. The author writes with an engaging style, providing facts and some commentary. It truly is a great find, one that I particularly recommend to those whose only knowledge of Mozart comes from "Amadeus".

Tough read for a layman
The book claims to avoid guess work about the life of Mozart and it stands up to it. But you need to have basic knowledge of two things to appreciate this book - classical music and European history of the eighteenth century. Language is hard to grasp, and it seems to have been written for an English major. If I satified all these requirements I would have loved this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This digital document is an article from New Statesman (1996), published by New Statesman, Ltd. on September 8, 2003. The length of the article is 1241 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Harmonious discord: Peter Conrad welcomes Cecilia Bartoli's restoration of Mozart's greatest rival.(Opera)(Biography)
Author: Peter Conrad
Publication: New Statesman (1996) (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 8, 2003
Publisher: New Statesman, Ltd.
Volume: 132Issue: 4654Page: 40(3)

Article Type: Biography

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Charming little book
This is a perfectly charming little introduction to the life of the great Mozart, specially geared for the very young. The illustrations are adorable, and the story is told simply and sweetly. Part of a delightful series for kids that should be on the bookshelf of any child who wants to learn about the great artists of history ... Read more

Book Description

classic biography, tr Daniel Sloate ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beware Acqua Toffana!
This book is really a piece of work. The author clearly relishes retelling the many ludicrous myths surrounding W.A. Mozart, and the retelling, more so than the delightful debunking of the stories, is the really wonderful part of this book. That said, the debunking is pretty cool too, and will give you a pretty good overview of the biographical literature on Mozart to boot. My favorite tale is the one spun by the wife of General VonLudendorff (yes, one of the Heroes of Tannenburg), a Naziess, about how the freemasons (not Salieri!) poisoned Mozart because, as a nascent german nationalist, he had decided to turn his back on their international brotherhood. ... Read more

Book Description

Medical and Musical Byways of Mozartiana is a survey of Mozart's career and music, showing his incomparable but troubled genius and suggests that the composermay have suffered from Tourette Syndrom and other psychiatric disorders. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Examines Mozart's underlying genius
Mozart's musical genius was affected by his bizarre personality, and most biographers have commented on the difference between his genius and his psyche. In Medical And Musical Byways Of Mozartiana, Dr. Simkin examines Mozart's underlying genius and the personality which may have prevented him from securing a coveted patronage. His life, letters and music are examined in the process of considering his psychological health in this unusual assessment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Bravo!
If you are looking for information on what was going on around Vienna during Mozart's life time, then this book is for you. In between Mozart's two stays in Vienna, the author excerpts, (from an earlier publication of the times), a near complete listing of minute details of Vienese life. Fashions, wages, religious happenings, crime and punishment, the different people living in the city, the pubs, coffeehouses, and so much more. Great book to have in your Mozart collection for reference. I learned a lot. At these prices, you can't lose! ... Read more