Mozart composed some of the brightest and joyful music imaginable. Yet we need to be aware that he had huge challenges, as well.
Mozart’s life was filled with struggle. With his father, who was supportive, but also very demanding and controlling; his boss in Salzburg, the Archbishop, who wanted to keep Mozart more or less in his control. Mozart’s mother died when the two were traveling together in Paris. And later he struggled to make a living as a freelance composer and performer in Vienna.
In his letters, Mozart expresses his anger and bitterness about his struggles. But so much of his music is so positive. Even when he was unhappy, Mozart seemed to be able to retreat within himself and create music that either escapes those struggles or just ignores them. Such was the case with Mozart’s Symphony #38.
And so many fans of Mozart’s music simply enjoyed the end product. As an example, when Mozart introduced his opera “Marriage of Figaro” in Prague, many citizens of this city walked the streets and whistled many Arias from this opera.
Let’s get back to the Symphony titled “Prague” which Mozart wrote for a performance there. It is performed for you conducted by Bernard Haitink:
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