Book Review: "Mozart in Italy" by Jane Glover

Another library catalogue find that I reserved, this book I actually found interesting because it is a beautiful cover (let's face it). Also, I felt like reading something about Mozart which was not in line with the plot of Amadeus but focused on a different aspect of his life. I am aware (before you say anything) that the events of Amadeus are hyperbolic at best. Anyways, I think that this book is absolutely fantastic. The writing is beautiful and captivating and the imagery of Italy during the 1700s really makes you feel as though you too, are there. It is a brilliant exploration into the life of one of history's most revered artists.

In the late 1760s, Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang’s ambitious and determined father, recognised that Italy was the cultural and musical heart of Europe. He was convinced that his son’s future success as a composer lay in impressing Italian audiences, securing royal patronage, and mastering the operatic traditions that flourished in cities like Milan, Rome, and Naples. Italy was home to the greatest composers of the time, and opera was at the centre of its musical life. Leopold planned a grand tour that would allow Wolfgang to study, perform, and establish his reputation in this crucial musical landscape. The whole atmosphere surrounding this is both beautiful and shifty. First of all, Italy in the 1700s is gorgeous but Leopold really does see his son as a half-commodity. Yes he is caring, but is this really the best position for a teenager who had been doing composition for so long he might be on the verge of burnout? I'm probably just being picky.

At just thirteen years old, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart set off on his first Italian tour in 1769, accompanied by Leopold. He astounded audiences with his extraordinary abilities, demonstrating his skill as both a composer and performer. His reputation quickly spread, attracting the attention of influential figures in Italian music and aristocracy. While in Milan, he was commissioned to write an opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto, a significant opportunity that would mark his first major operatic success. It is great that people today are still interested in the amazing abilities of Mozart and that people are still writing books about him as a prodigy. I thought that this phenomenon surrounding Mozart would have been more pronounced back then because of the fact so many people went out to the opera for enjoyment. He really did exist in the right place, at the right time and with a great natural ability.

During his travels, Mozart visited Bologna, a city renowned for its musical excellence, and sought instruction from the highly respected theorist and composer Padre Giovanni Battista Martini. Martini was one of the foremost experts in counterpoint, a complex compositional technique essential for mastery in classical music. Under Martini’s guidance, Mozart refined his skills, impressing the elder composer with his natural ability and rapid learning. His time in Bologna strengthened his technical expertise, which would later be evident in his mature compositions. I loved seeing components of Mozart's learning that, if you've seen any of his later stuff, is articulated there. It shows he definitely took on board even more than his natural abilities gave him and that he developed skills within it that he could use. As a big fan of Mozart's operas, especially Don Giovanni, I have to say that its nice to read about his learning for once.

While in Rome, Mozart had the rare opportunity to hear Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere, a sacred choral piece performed exclusively in the Sistine Chapel. The music was considered so sacred that copying it was strictly forbidden. However, Mozart, with his astonishing musical memory, transcribed the piece after hearing it only once. His feat of musical recall impressed Pope Clement XIV, who awarded him the Order of the Golden Spur, effectively knighting him. This papal honour further elevated his status as a musician of remarkable ability. Imagine knowing everything you know about adult Mozart and thinking 'this man received a knighthood'. His personality doesn't show us his true music abilities (especially if most of what you are aware of is from the movie Amadeus). But this event clearly shows us he is one of the most intelligent people in all of history.

All in all, the further you get into this book the more you realise that Mozart's teen years were so essential in the life of the man he became and he learnt and experienced so much, he probably would not have been Mozart without it. Jane Glover's writing is so compelling that you'll probably devour this one in one sitting. You've been warned (no really, read it).