Mozart
Child Mozart in
Schönbrunn Palace
Quotes about Mozart
What Do other Composers Say about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
Here is a collection of popular quotes by famous composers about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. There are a lot more quotes proliferating around but through the years, these ones are amongst favourites. And speaking of a favourite book of quotations about the wunderkind, I find Mozartiana by Joseph Solman the best.
To Mozart lovers and enthusiasts, it is always fascinating to know what other composers say about him. Sometimes, one reads or hears about the quotes but cannot name the famous composer who said it. Here are some of these familiar quotations, reflective of how they relate to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Some Quotes about Mozart
“The marvelous beauty of his quartets and quintets, and of some of his sonatas, first converted me to this celestial genius, whom whence forth I worshipped.” ~ Hector Berlioz, Memoirs
“It is hard to think of another composer who so perfectly marries form and passion.” ~ Leonard Bernstein
“If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity.” ~ Johannes Brahms, In a letter to Antonin Dvorak
“Together with the puzzle, Mozart gives you the solution.” ~ Ferruccio Busoni
“Mozart encompasses the entire domain of musical creation, but I’ve got only the keyboard in my poor head.” ~ Frederic Chopin
“Mozart tapped the source from which all music flows, expressing himself with a spontaneity and refinement and breathtaking rightness.” ~ Aaron Copland, Copland on Music, 1960
“I have never known any other composer to possess such an amazing wealth of ideas. I wish he were not so spendthrift with them. He does not give the listener time to catch his breath…” ~ Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf, Contemporary of Mozart, in his Autobiography
“Mozart’s music is particularly difficult to perform. His admirable clarity exacts absolute cleanness: the slightest mistake in it stands out like black on white. It is music in which all the notes must be heard.” ~ Gabriel Faure
“Before Mozart, all ambition turns to despair.” ~ Charles Gounod
“In Bach, Beethoven and Wagner we admire principally the depth and energy of the human mind; in Mozart, the divine instinct.” ~ Edvard Grieg
“I tell you before God and as an honest man that your son is the greatest composer known to me; he has taste and in addition the most complete knowledge of composition.” ~ Franz Joseph Haydn, to Leopold, Mozart’s father, after hearing the six quartets Mozart dedicated to him in 1785
“The place in the center belongs to Mozart, due to the universality of his genius.” ~ Franz Liszt, in a letter to Marie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, December 10, 1872
“I replied, however, that I should be only too happy to renounce all my virtues in exchange for Mozart’s sins.” ~ Felix Mendelssohn, Letters
“Beethoven I take twice a week, Haydn four times, and Mozart every day!” ~ Gioachino Rossini
“Give Mozart a fairy tale and he creates without effort an immortal masterpiece.” ~ Camille Saint-Saëns
“O Mozart, immortal Mozart, how many, how infinitely many inspiring suggestions of a finer, better life have you left in our souls!” ~ Franz Schubert, Diary, 1816
“Does it not seem as if Mozart’s works become fresher and fresher the oftener we hear them?” ~ Robert Schumann
“The most tremendous genius raised Mozart above all masters, in all centuries and in all the arts.” ~ Richard Wagner
I have written the biographies of all (I think!) these composers quoted here. For those interested, simply search the specific composer’s name in the internal ‘Search’ button. Thank you.
Sources:
Encarta Book of quotations, Macmillan (2000)
Mozartiana, Two centuries of Notes, Quotes and Anecdotes about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, by Joseph Solman, Macmillan (1990)
Note: This list of quotation was originally posted at Suite101, April 21, 2007. After almost five years, this quotations have been revived here in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birthday, January 27.
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Verdi Opera Otello
Opera Milestone: February 5 – Verdi’s Opera Otello Premieres.
Opera Otello (Othello) by Verdi, an Italian tragedy – opera plot summary, character list, and other Verdi opera information.
Giuseppe Verdi (October 9, 1813 – January 27, 1901) composed Otello (Othello), a lyric tragic drama in four acts. The libretto is written by A. Boito after William Shakespeare.
The opera was premiered at La Scala, Milan, February 5, 1887. The setting is in a seaport on the island of Cyprus, end of 15th century.
Giuseppe Verdi was 74 when Otello was produced, 16 years after the famous Aida. It is regarded as the greatest of all his tragic and dramatic operas, partly credited to the brilliant librettist Arrigo Boito who managed to produce most of action from Shakespeare’s dialogue for an Italian opera.
Notable arias include: “Piangea cantando” / “Willow Song,” (Desdemona,) “Ave Maria” (Desdemona,) “Dio, mi potevi,” (Otello,) “Inaffia l’ugola.”
Link to the full article —> Giuseppe Verdi Opera Otello
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Johann Joachim Quantz – Flutist and Composer
Johann Joachim Quantz (1697-1773)
German Flutist, Composer and Teacher
Johann Joachim Quantz was born on January 30, 1697 in Oberscheden, Germany. A professional flutist, composer to and teacher of Frederick the Great, his compositional media were in chamber music, choral and books. He was a writer on music.
In 1718, he joined the Polish chapel of Augustus III as an oboist, and working mainly in Dresden. He later turned to the transverse flute.
In 1724-1727, he went on a European tour, and settled as a member of the Dresden court Chapel after the tour. A year later, he became the flute teacher of the young Prince Frederick, whom he served from 1740, by then as Frederick the Great.
Quantz was best known for his flute compositions. His works are over 200 sonatas for flute and contnuo, more than 50 trio sonatas and over 300 concertos for the flute. He also wrote some solo flute pieces, duets, and other songs. His work, containing elements of French and Italian, reflect the transition from late Baroque to early classical style.
Quantz died in Potsdam, Germany, on July 12, 1773.
Source:
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, Edited by Stanley Sadie. London: Macmillan Press, 1994
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Mozart Opera Idomeneo First Performed
Mozart opera Idomeneo was first performed January 29, 1781, in Munich, Germany.
Idomeneo, Re di Creta, an opera seria in three acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: plot summary,character list, and other Mozart opera information.
The opera starts with Idomeneo, King of Crete sending home from Troy captives including Ilia, daughter of defeated Trojan King Priam. Ilia and Idamante, Idomeneo’s son, are in love although he hasn’t formally declared himself. Elettra, daughter of King Agamemnon also loves Idamante. The return of Idomeneo is supposed to be a sign of amnesty of prisoners but a sudden storm causes him to vow to the sea god a sacrifice of the first living creature he meets on shore. The trouble is it’s his son he first encounters. Full article here – Mozart Opera Idomeneo
Related article: Wolfgang Amadeus Biography
Other operas can be found under category Opera.
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