Mozart:Life and Works

Rating:
Summary: A FASCINATING GLIMPSE AT THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF MOZART . . .
Review: _____________________________________________________________________________

This is a very well done audio book, written and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann who has done similar work on the lives of other famous composers. The book includes character readers who all do an excellent job of audio-acting Mozart and the people who played an important part in his life. Intermingled with the narrative are some fine examples of music from different stages of Mozart's life.

While listening, I did note a strange contradiction. Siepmann makes an observation at the beginning of CD 2 that Mozart's character has been 'mistakenly' maligned as that of an eternal child, someone likened to a buffoon of low moral continence - giddy and somewhat mindless. He then seemingly attempts to quash this notion, which he says has been promoted in stories handed down since Mozart's time and amplified more recently in depictions of the composer in various plays and movies. After methodically debunking these 'rumors' he then proceeds to give one account after another, including excerpts from Mozart's letters, that would seem, if anything, to support the view that Mozart did indeed go through episodes of extremely childish nonsensical behavior throughout his adult years. In retrospect, I think I see what Siepmann was trying to say, though it didn't come off quite right. He was pointing out that although these behaviors were present in Mozart's life, they shouldn't be taken to mean that the man was mentally lacking somehow in regards other than music and that it should never be considered that his music is not 'deeply thought out.' I would think all this could go without saying.

Siepmann also mentions early in the book, looking ahead to Mozart's marriage, that his wife was not considered as having been sympathetic toward his needs. When we do finally get to that point in the book, nothing more is mentioned of it - creating a deadend of sorts.

(These are actually very minor issues - I've given them more attention than necessary, but I wanted to give you some of my personal thoughts while reading. I found the book as a whole very informative and quite entertaining.)

The booklet provided with this audio book is among the very best I've ever seen. It's a small treasure trove of information including: 1) a CD table of contents; 2) a cast of its readers; 3) an in-depth historical background of the 18th century; 4) Mozart in his time; 5) His major works and their significance (including Kochel numbers); 6) a graded listening plan for his music; 7) recommended reading; 8) short biographies from major personalities in Mozart's life; 9) A Mozartian chronology - showing the year, Mozart's age, events in arts and culture, historical events and specific events from Mozart's life; and 10) a glossary. Need I say more?

Mozart was the greatest composer and musical talent of all time, a near universally held opinion. He truly was, as his father Leopold said, "The miracle that God sent to Salzburg." Indeed, not just Salzburg - but the entire world. I highly recommend this audio book and rate it 5 stars.