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Mozart in Italy

Coming of Age in the Land of Opera
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
At just thirteen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was already a celebrated prodigy across northern Europe, but it was his father Leopold’s ambition to conquer Italy that led to three significant visits. This book vividly recounts those journeysβ€”from Milan’s theatres and concert salons to the historic streets of Rome, the challenging environs of Naples, and the operatic heart of Veniceβ€”revealing how Mozart absorbed Italian culture, language, and style. During these years, Mozart honed his craft by composing Italian opera, facing both acclaim and hostility, making this period a microcosm of his life and a turning point for his music. Acclaimed conductor Jane Glover provides a beautifully written and deeply informed portrait of Mozart’s transformation amid the vibrant musical and cultural landscape of eighteenth-century Italy.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This biography will capture the imagination of classical music enthusiasts, admirers of Mozart, readers interested in eighteenth-century history, and anyone drawn to stories of artistic growth and cultural discovery. Jane Glover’s accessible and vivid writing style also makes it suitable for readers new to Mozart’s life, as well as seasoned connoisseurs seeking deeper understanding.

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An expertly researched and vividly written account of Mozart’s formative trips to Italy, from the author of Mozart’s Women and Handel in London.

An expertly researched and vividly written account of Mozart's formative trips to Italy, from the author of Mozart's Women and Handel in London.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

At thirteen years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who had captured the hearts of northern Europe, but his father Leopold was now determined to conquer Italy. Together, they made three visits there, the last when Mozart was seventeen, all vividly recounted here by acclaimed conductor Jane Glover.

Father and son travelled from the theatres and concert salons of Milan to the church-filled streets of Rome, to Naples, poorer and more dangerous than the prosperous north, and to Venice, the carnivalesque birthplace of public opera. All the while, Mozart was absorbing Italian culture, language, style, and art, and honed his craft. He met the challenge of writing Italian opera for Italian singers and audiences and provoked a variety of responses, from triumph and admiration to intrigue and hostility: in a way, these Italian years can be seen as a microcosm of his whole life.

Evocative, beautifully written, and with a profound understanding of eighteenth-century classical music, Mozart in Italy reveals how what he experienced during these Italian journeys changed Mozartβ€”and his musicβ€”forever.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Utterly engrossing, this book brings the teenage Mozart’s operatic awakening to life, packed with humanising detail beyond the glamorous myths. Reviewers praise Jane Glover’s expertise and engaging storytelling, highlighting her nonchalant grace in weaving historical context and insight as the Mozarts navigate Italy’s diverse principalities. The book is described as a fascinating account of Mozart’s complex Italian years, rich with intrigue, promise, and missed opportunities, appealing equally to music lovers and historians. Critics acclaim Glover’s profound knowledge of Italy’s operatic heritage and Mozart’s world, making this a compelling and nuanced read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529059861

Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 October 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Picador

Illustration: 2 x 8pp

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 162.0mm

Height: 241.0mm

Weight: 526g

Pages: 288

About the Author

In Jane Glover's long and hugely successful career as a conductor, she has been Music Director of the Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Artistic Director of The London Mozart Players, and, since 2002, is Music Director of Chicago's Music of the Baroque. She has conducted concerts and operas in Britain, the United States of America and across the world, and is especially known for her interpretations of Mozart. She is a regular broadcaster, with highlights including a television series on Mozart. She is also the acclaimed author of Mozart's Women and Handel in London. She was made Dame Commander of the British Empire in the 2021 New Year's Honours. She lives in London.

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    You don't have to be able to hum Mozart to find this book utterly engrossing . . . I couldn't put it down - Joanna Lumley At thirteen years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who had captured the hearts of northern Europe, but his father Leopold was now determined to conquer Italy. Together, they made three visits...
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