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Friday,
January 27, 2006 Special EventsAustrian Dinnerprior to performance Cost: $35 per person For more information |
Opera Theatre of the Rockies and the Mozart at 250 Organization present... The Singer's Mozartcelebrating the 250th anniversary of the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Proceeds will benefit Opera Theatre of the Rockies Eighth season. |
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The evening celebrates the genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
and includes excerpts from
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Featured appearancesMichael Merrifield, State Representative |
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Martile Rowland, Producer/Director |
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Very limited seating available for this unique event complete with Happy Birthday Amadeus Cake |
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Marcia Ragonetti, Mezzo Soprano and Desiree Dodson, Soprano - guest artists for the gala. |
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Christopher Job, Bass, joins OTR for a spectacular Mozart 250th Anniversary Celebration. |
Martile Rowland, OTR Founder/Director and Guest Artist, Marcia Ragonetti. |
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Marcia Ragonetti and Soprano Margaret Simpson celebrate Mozart's 250th Birthday by singing arias in his honor. |
Baritone Peter Tuff and Mezzo Soprano Marcia Ragonetti pay homage to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at "The Singer's Mozart". |
| Mozart | Mozart's Biography |
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WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART was born into a musical family on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria. His father, Leopold Mozart was a professional musician who assumed responsibility for the education, musical and otherwise, for his children. Mozart's sister, Nannerl, began studying when she was seven and Wolfgang, who was barely three years old at the time, was fascinated with music and would entertain himself for hours pressing the keys of the clavier. By the age of four, he could memorize some pieces and play them perfectly. At five, he could compose short pieces. His ear was so keen that he delighted in telling his elders if their instruments were a quarter tone out of tune. Leopold saw the talents of his children and plotted for ways to gain fame and fortune for the family. At the age of six, Wolfgang set out with his family on a musical tour of Europe. Wolfgang and Nannerl became known as the “Wonder Children” and were in great demand, amazing and entertaining the courts of Europe. Wolfgang was very charming as a youngster, and was even said to charm Marie Antoinette, who later became Queen of France, with “Oh how pretty you are! When I grow up, I will marry you.” |
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| As the novelty of the children declined, Leopold was forced to discontinue the tours. The years of travel over unpaved roads had taken their toll on Wolfgang's health. A case of smallpox nearly killed him. Mozart traveled out of financial need which proved to be more often than he had hoped. Mozart began composing in earnest. At the age of twelve, his first opera was produced, “Bastien und Bastienne”. Another opera followed a year later, “La Finta Semplice”. He was soon considered to be a successful composer by the public, but financial security eluded him. In 1770 he obtained employment in the court of Archbishop Hieronymous of Salzburg. The time spent in this position was an unhappy time for Mozart. He was subject to the whims of the Archbishop who treated him harshly, but for whom he was expected to give radiant performances. Mozart was forced to live with the servants of the royal household. Finally unable to tolerate this treatment, Mozart asked to be released from his position. A large quarrel resulted and, though Mozart gained his freedom, the powerful Archbishop was now his enemy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mozart was often frustrated by the lack of appreciation for his talents. When he did have money, he recklessly spent it, and never saved for times of need. He wished that he would not need to beg for favors from nobility, to give lessons to untalented students, and longed for a position which would free him from his financial woes and allow him to compose as he wished. Composing was natural to Wolfgang and was as much a necessity to him as eating and sleeping. He could work and rehearse all day and night. The moment an idea would occur to him, he would dash to the clavier. During Mozart's brief life, he produced an astonishing legacy of magnificent music with over 600 different compositions in a wide range of musical forms, of which 19 were operas. |
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| After his departure from the service of the archbishop, Mozart was able to have some music published. This allowed him the financial security he felt he needed to marry Constanze Weber. They had six children, but only two boys survived. Leopold Mozart, who felt Constanze to be beneath his son, had not consented to the union and was horrified by his son's decision. It was against Mozart's nature to disobey his father, but he was determined to marry Constanze. Leopold encouraged his son in his musical endeavors, but rarely let him make his own decisions. In the years following their marriage, Mozart seemed happy and experienced some professional success. He became friends with Joseph Haydn, whose music had inspired Mozart as a young boy. The success of his operas, “The Marriage of Figaro” (1786) and Don Giovanni (1787) gave Mozart great satisfaction. The year 1787 also marked the death of Mozart's father. Fate again filled Mozart's world with despair. He was in debt and frequently ill, yet drove himself to fulfill obligations. He began another series of tours to try to earn a living. When Mozart returned home, he was approached by a theatrical manager with a libretto based on an oriental fairy tale. Although Mozart was very ill, he began writing “The Magic Flute” which premiered in Vienna on September 30, 1791. He was unable to enjoy the success of his new opera. Mozart collapsed from exhaustion after the premier and his illness. Grew more serious. During his final days, he was commissioned to compose a Requiem. In his deteriorating state, Mozart began to believe that the stranger was a messenger from heaven who came to give notice of his approaching end and that the Requiem was for himself. The mysterious messenger was actually sent by Count Walsegg whose wife had just passed away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mozart died on December 5, 1791, before he completed the Requiem. This phenomenal genius so rich in talent, died a poor man at only thirty five years of age. En route to his final resting place, a storm arose and all of his friends retreated. One faithful dog watched his master disappear into the common unmarked pauper's grave. |
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