| biography |
Mozart's
miraculous creativity rewards listening at any stage
by Thomas May
For those who shy away from classical music because they feel
they lack the necessary "background," Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(1756-1791) is the perfect ticket. His greatest compositions cut
to the quick and establish an immediate bond with the listener,
as if Mozart had discovered a code in sound to articulate the
emotional reality that lies at the core of our humanity. There's
an almost miraculous quality to his creativity, whether you consider
Mozart's beginnings as a child prodigy (he composed his first
symphony--to the glee of the "Mozart for babies" marketing strategists--at
the age of 8) or his versatility in mastering every musical form
of his era. Symphonies, string quartets, sonatas, Masses, concertos,
and operas poured from his pen at a dizzying speed (a famous example
is the overture. [read
more...]
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| recommended
recordings |
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Mozart:
Piano Concertos 20 & 21 / Uchida, Tate, English CO
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Composer:
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: Jeffrey
Tate
Performer: Mitsuko
Uchida
Ensemble: English
Chamber Orchestra
Uni/Philips - #16381 / July 7, 1987
Click
here for more information |
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Mozart's greatest piano concertos bring together so many elements
identified with his style that they offer an ideal introduction
to their composer's uniqueness. This is especially the case
with the well-loved pair Nos. 20 and 21, which were produced
in one fertile outburst in 1785. Here you will find both the
dramatic flair and the comic high spirits of Mozart's tragic
and comic operas, the last symphonies' breadth and polyphonic
ingenuity (especially in the lengthy first movement of No.
21),...Read
more
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Mozart
- The Quartets Dedicated to Haydn / Quatuor Mosaïques
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Composer:
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Ensemble: Mosaïques
String Quartet
Naive Astree (Fra) - #8596 / December 10, 1996
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here for more information |
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| Quatuor Mosaiques have created a definitive recording
of these masterpieces. The genius of the mature Mozart, composing
these enriching works and dedicating them to the 'father'
of the classical string quartet, comes through in these beautifully
recorded renditions. The gorgeous bloom of the quartet as
they reveal the wonderful chords, harmonies and melodies in
these heartfelt and tasty performances is pure enchantment.
There is a consistent sense of the many facets these works
represent. The intricate polyphonic twists that Mozart makes
as he unveils the full depth of his command and creative inspiration
causes one to hear new and exciting things on repeated listening.
His use of drum like rhythms in the last movement of K.464,
a work much admired and studied by Beethoven and the explorations
in the Dissonance quartet K. 465 are but 2 examples of the
wonders to be discovered. Played with great feeling and taste,
recorded impeccably and graced with informative and interesting
liner notes, I am enjoying this recording immensely!
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Mozart:
Don Giovanni / Giulini, Wächter, Sutherland, et al [ORIGINAL
RECORDING REMASTERED] |
Composer:
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: Carlo
Maria Giulini
Performer: Luigi
Alva, Piero
Cappuccilli, et al.
Ensemble: Philharmonia
Chorus, Philharmonia
Orchestra
Emd/Emi Classics - #56232 / September 16, 1997
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here for more information |
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This is, in the opinion of many critics, the best recording
of the greatest of all operas. The cast is a who's who of
great singers from the early stereo era (1959) when the recording
was made. At the top of the cast, the young Joan Sutherland,
whose fresh, agile voice, opulent in tone even at the top
of its range, had recently hit the international operatic
scene like an earthquake. In the title role, Eberhard Waechter
portrays a man obsessed with sex as a game that he must win
at any cost--and...Read
more
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Mozart:
Symphonies nos 35-41 / Bšhm, Berliner Philharmoniker
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Composer:
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: Karl
Bšhm
Ensemble: Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #47416 / January 23, 1996
Click
here for more information |
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Karl Bohm was one of this century's great Mozart conductors--a
fact that's apt to be forgotten in the flood of authentic
instrument productions, many of them on DG's associated labels.
He conducted Mozart with real love and affection, maintaining
moderate tempos, allowing each work's gorgeous melodies a
chance to sing and breathe. Mozart's symphonic music has its
roots in the opera house, and so did Bohm. Listening to the
witty woodwind interjections in the finale of Symphony No.
39, for...Read
more
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Mozart:
Clarinet Concerto, Oboe Concerto / Hogwood |
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Composer:
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart
Conductor: Christopher
Hogwood
Performer: Antony
Pay, Michel
Piguet
Ensemble: Academy
of Ancient Music
Uni/L'Oiseau-Lyre - #14339 / July 7, 1987
Click
here for more information
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Playing an authentic basset clarinet (a copy, made in 1984,
of a period instrument), Anthony Pay gives a splendid account
of Mozart's most beautiful concerto. He is right on the mark
in terms of tempo, expression, and accent, and his tone is
exquisite, with that watery, wonderfully plangent sound that
immediately distinguishes the basset clarinet from its higher-pitched
siblings. Pay's shadings are soft and natural, and his embellishments
simply marvelous. Christopher Hogwood and the Academy...Read
more
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more recommended recordings
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| works
& recordings |
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- Chamber
Music
Trios, Quartets, Quintets
- Choral
Secular and sacred choral music. Oratorios, Masses, Partsongs,
Hymns, Carols
- Instrumental
Sonatas, Suites, Overtures, Minuets, Variations, Transcriptions,
Dance Music
- Orchestra
Concertos, Symphonies
- Theatrical
Works
Ballet, Stage, Incidental Music, Film Scores
- Vocal
and Opera
Opera, Operetta, Song, Lieder, Musical Theater
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
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| resources |
 The
Mozart Project - Life, times and music: complete Kšchel
listing, bibliography, biography, links, and commentary on individual
compositions.
Mozart's
Magical Musical Life - The story of the composer's life
told in a fairytale form. Includes midi's of various compositions.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart - Biography with musical examples, articles,
audio (MP3) files, downloadable documents, catalogue by genre
and by Koechel number, critique of the movie "Amadeus".
Home
of W. A. Mozart - Biography, images, links, trivia, mp3
and midi files of the composers music, and a "musical
dice game" that lets people compose music,
The
W. A. Mozart Page - Links to biographies, reviews, movies,
and other sites.
Mozart
- Biography in outline format, also a chronological listing
of his operas.
Spectrum
Biography - Short biography.
Classical
Net - Basic Repertoire List - Mozart - Discography, complete
updated Koechel catalog of works.
Grave
of Wolfgang Mozart - A brief biography on the composer,
as well as interesting information about his death and grave.
Information
and Links - Research data on the composer, information
on films about the composer, and links to other sites dealing
with the composer.
Catholic
Encyclopedia - Biography of the composer.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart at Heart's Ease - Brief biography and list
of key works.
Discussion
Port - Forum for talking to others about the composer.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart - Biography and a list of recommended recordings.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart - Brief biography.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart - Biography dealing more with the composers
personal life.
W.A.
Mozart-C. Weber Family Tree - Family tree of the Mozart
family.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 91) - Midi files of the overture
to the opera "The Marriage of Figaro", and the entire
"Piano quartet in G minor" (also available in a
.zip file).
Mozart
at Design House - List of compositions, biography, real
audio samples, and links.
Information
on The Magic Flute - Information on performances and recordings
of The Magic Flute (Die Zauberfloete).
Austrian
Tourist Board: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Illustrated biography
with bibliography.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart - Detailed biography, image gallery, list
of works, and information on various types of the composers
work.
UBL.com
- Mozart - Biography, links to other sites, and audio
downloads.
Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart Biography - Basic biography.
An
Introduction to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Detailed biography,
some images, as well as informations about cds.
The
Musical Magic of Wolfgang Mozart - Biography (mainly dealing
with his music) and links.
Mozart
- Biography, cd reviews, and audio samples of the composers
music.
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