- Paperback: 316 pages
- Publisher: University of Chicago Press (10 Jun 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0226519619
- ISBN-13: 978-0226519616
- Product Dimensions: 22.7 x 15.6 x 2.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 893,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
"Italian historian Piero Melograni delivers a charming biography. Expertly grounded by the massive correspondence between Mozart and his highly complex family, Melograni's study benefits from its author's keen understanding of the changing social environments of the late eighteenth century." - Todd B. Sollis, Opera News "The idea that Mozart's achievements had nothing to do with self-discipline, hard work, knowledge or intellect is deeply embedded in the popular image of his genius, but Melograni... will have none of it, pointing out how hard Mozart worked on his music, even as a child, and suggesting that the 'eternal child' view was put about by... family members to emphasize Wolfgang's need for and dependence on them." - Sheila Fitzpatrick, London Review of Books "[The book] is absorbing as a filial psychodrama, depicting Mozart's slow emergence from the suffocating embrace of his father, Leopold, the quintessential stage parent." - New York Times Book Review "This is one of the most engaging, vivid and well-written biographies of Mozart around. As befits the work of an admired historian, the sense of time and place is wonderfully alive and the elusive personality of his subject is captured with sympathy and genuine insight. He has an engrossing story to tell, he knows it, and he tells it better than most. As a portrait, the book is a triumphant success and deserves a wide readership." - Piano"
Product Description
Piero Melograni here offers a wholly readable account of Mozart's remarkable life and times. This masterly biography proceeds from the young Mozart's earliest years as a wunderkind - the child prodigy who traveled with his family to perform concerts throughout Europe - to his formative years in Vienna, where he fully absorbed the artistic and intellectual spirit of the Enlightenment, to his deathbed, his unfinished Requiem, and the mystery that still surrounds his burial. Melograni's deft use of Mozart's letters throughout confers authority and vitality to his recounting, and his expertise brings Mozart's eighteenth-century milieu evocatively to life. Written with a gifted historian's flair for narrative and unencumbered by specialized analyses of Mozart's music, Melograni's is the most vivid and enjoyable biography of Mozart available.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is the second Wolfgang Amadé Mozart biography I have read and so far, the best!
Melograni succeeds at smootlhy taking the reader from June 1765 at a London tavern (The swan) where he interpreted at the early age of 9, to Mozart's death bed in 1791 at only 35 years of age.
If yoy saw the Milos Forman's movie "Amadeus" then you have the wrong (very wrong) picture of the life of this genious and playful character.
Chapter after chapter, his works are simply and accurately described, his family affairs "naked", his passions explained, his women revealed, etc.
You are not a "Mozartini" (as sometimes he joyfully called himself) connossieur until you read this book... so, put your records on, download volume and enjoy the reading!
Melograni succeeds at smootlhy taking the reader from June 1765 at a London tavern (The swan) where he interpreted at the early age of 9, to Mozart's death bed in 1791 at only 35 years of age.
If yoy saw the Milos Forman's movie "Amadeus" then you have the wrong (very wrong) picture of the life of this genious and playful character.
Chapter after chapter, his works are simply and accurately described, his family affairs "naked", his passions explained, his women revealed, etc.
You are not a "Mozartini" (as sometimes he joyfully called himself) connossieur until you read this book... so, put your records on, download volume and enjoy the reading!
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I wanted to read a biography about Mozart as I enjoy his music but all I knew of him was from the film Amadeus. I found it an informative (rather than enjoyable ) read. If you, like me, have a passing interest in Mozart the man, then I am sure you will find this interesting.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
33 of 37 people found the following review helpful
A Good, Current Bio of the Man and His Music
14 Dec 2006
Format:Hardcover
The world has just completed the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; an anniversary that came overflowing with musical events to commemorate the eminent composer's life. Even so, it has been hard to discover, in one volume, an adequate biography that provides the reader insights about the man as well as his music, until now.
This biography by Piero Melograni serves the need very nicely, especially if the reader desires to read only one book about Mozart, or alternatively desires to read an introductory biography that will serve as the starting point to more in-depth Mozart studies.
Mozart's melodic output is so vast that any one volume would be insufficient to provide the reader with an analysis of the composer's musical gifts and accomplishments. Nonetheless, this biography places the compositions in the context of Mozart's life and times, and offers some good, brief analysis of a number of those compositions. Also, handy for any listener, Melograni includes a list of the cited works of Mozart by Kochel Number--allowing one the option of reading the biography slowly, and listening to the works as they are discussed.
The biography deals very skillfully with Mozart's complex relationship with his family members--most especially the influence of Mozart's father Leopold. We are familiar with the concept of a stage-mother from the world of Broadway and Hollywood--never was there a more unrivaled example of a stage-father than Leopold Mozart. Melograni treats this reality fairly and compellingly as we see Mozart progress from a child prodigy to a young man with musical genius looking for the proper outlets, to a mature composer of greatness, and watch as he goes further and further from Leopold's orbit. Mozart's sometimes cooperative and sometimes competitive relationship with his sister Nannerl is also examined thoroughly. In addition, Melograni shows us Mozart's interrelationship with his contemporaries in the world of music, both performers and composers. Quite aware of the impact of such popular works as the film "Amadeus", the author comments upon and corrects impressions they give.
The stories about Mozart are many, and some of the most familiar anecdotes are included in this book, such as the youthful encounter with the Princess Marie Antoinette. This reader, however, would have been pleased to find many more stories that flesh out Mozart's character. Even so, this is a fine life of Mozart, beautifully translated from the Italian by Lydia G. Cochrane.
If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction.
This biography by Piero Melograni serves the need very nicely, especially if the reader desires to read only one book about Mozart, or alternatively desires to read an introductory biography that will serve as the starting point to more in-depth Mozart studies.
Mozart's melodic output is so vast that any one volume would be insufficient to provide the reader with an analysis of the composer's musical gifts and accomplishments. Nonetheless, this biography places the compositions in the context of Mozart's life and times, and offers some good, brief analysis of a number of those compositions. Also, handy for any listener, Melograni includes a list of the cited works of Mozart by Kochel Number--allowing one the option of reading the biography slowly, and listening to the works as they are discussed.
The biography deals very skillfully with Mozart's complex relationship with his family members--most especially the influence of Mozart's father Leopold. We are familiar with the concept of a stage-mother from the world of Broadway and Hollywood--never was there a more unrivaled example of a stage-father than Leopold Mozart. Melograni treats this reality fairly and compellingly as we see Mozart progress from a child prodigy to a young man with musical genius looking for the proper outlets, to a mature composer of greatness, and watch as he goes further and further from Leopold's orbit. Mozart's sometimes cooperative and sometimes competitive relationship with his sister Nannerl is also examined thoroughly. In addition, Melograni shows us Mozart's interrelationship with his contemporaries in the world of music, both performers and composers. Quite aware of the impact of such popular works as the film "Amadeus", the author comments upon and corrects impressions they give.
The stories about Mozart are many, and some of the most familiar anecdotes are included in this book, such as the youthful encounter with the Princess Marie Antoinette. This reader, however, would have been pleased to find many more stories that flesh out Mozart's character. Even so, this is a fine life of Mozart, beautifully translated from the Italian by Lydia G. Cochrane.
If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
A complete, authoritative work.
21 Dec 2006
Format:Hardcover
I agree with the other reviewer in all aspects. No one book can completely encompass Mozart and his works, but this did a very good job of looking at Mozart and his life through an independent and objective prism.
It is a dense book in terms of facts and dates and settings, but it reads fast and the constant references to Kochel numbers is not too distracting. Overall, the narrative is informative and filled with stories that keep the story exactly that - a story of the life of Mozart.
After reading this book, I think that the reader would have a wide grasp of Mozart's life, and perhaps even some of the European historical events taking place around him (particularly in reference to Joseph II). The only minor drawback is the lack of analysis of his famous operas (towards the end). Yes, there are rather brief summaries and explanations, but when Soren Kirkegaard (according to Melograni) labels Don Giovanni the "best piece of art ever created", then I think the opera should garner more than 3 short pages devoted to it. Just a thought.
But overall, five stars, for sure.
It is a dense book in terms of facts and dates and settings, but it reads fast and the constant references to Kochel numbers is not too distracting. Overall, the narrative is informative and filled with stories that keep the story exactly that - a story of the life of Mozart.
After reading this book, I think that the reader would have a wide grasp of Mozart's life, and perhaps even some of the European historical events taking place around him (particularly in reference to Joseph II). The only minor drawback is the lack of analysis of his famous operas (towards the end). Yes, there are rather brief summaries and explanations, but when Soren Kirkegaard (according to Melograni) labels Don Giovanni the "best piece of art ever created", then I think the opera should garner more than 3 short pages devoted to it. Just a thought.
But overall, five stars, for sure.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Enjoyable, recommended with reservation
14 Aug 2007
Format:Hardcover
I quite enjoyed this book when looking at it strictly from an informational standpoint and in terms of satisfying my curiosity.
I must admit though that the book was somewhat dry. I feel as though this may be an example where an otherwise great book gets "lost in translation".
You will learn an awful lot about Mozart, but in my opinion, it may take you a bit longer than expected and you may drift at times, despite the fascinating details held within.
I must admit though that the book was somewhat dry. I feel as though this may be an example where an otherwise great book gets "lost in translation".
You will learn an awful lot about Mozart, but in my opinion, it may take you a bit longer than expected and you may drift at times, despite the fascinating details held within.
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