"The most tremendous genius raised Mozart above all masters, in all centuries, and in all the arts." Richard Wagner (1813-1883)
The highest praise from one of the few musicians who could compete with the genius of the classical master Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791). Browse our sheet music and scores, and discover all the many majestic musical marvels of Mozart with Stretta Music today!
Leopold Mozart was an exceptional teacher, this is not only evident in his Attempt at a Thorough Violin Method, which is still used today, but above all, in the musical careers of his two children, Wolfgang Amadeus and Maria Anna. Leopold saw little Wolfgang’s extraordinary talent as a gift from God, and it was his duty to nurture and guide. From an early age, Leopold arranged child prodigy tours, showcasing sight reading, improvisation, playing blindfolded on hidden keys, and many other theatrical themes, which were a huge success. However intense this must have been, Wolfgang remained close with his father, and in all his writings, he never wrote an ill word of Leopold.
Despite some believing Mozart to have been a struggling artist, during his ten years in Vienna, 1781-1791, he was handsomely remunerated for his work. His apartment had seven spacious rooms and a stable, and he was able to afford many noble luxuries, including a horse and a billiard table. The fact that he regularly lived beyond his means and often got into debt is quite another matter.
The sheer volume of music that Mozart wrote in his short life, not to mention the quality, never ceases to amaze. The 19th century was all too fond of portraying Mozart as the “darling of the gods”, to whom music came with great ease. The Mozart specialist Ulrich Konrad however dug deep into Mozart’s sketches and autographs, and discovered how hard Mozart had to work for his music, and how much effort went into his works, which sound so light and elegant. Why not take a look at Ulrich Konrad’s Wolfgang Amadé Mozart.