The Life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

by Perry Keenlyside, Nigel Anthony (Narrator), Paul Rhys (Narrator)

Hear the story behind today's most often performed classical composer's accomplishments, during his short life of just 35 years.

Genres: Biography, Music, History, Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audio Cassette

First published October 1, 1997

Reviews

[Chrissie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. What a great idea to make audiobooks that both tell the biography of a musician and play the music being discussed. A perfect choice for an audiobook.

You learn about Mozart's life and hear the beautiful music he composed - operas and symphonies, concertos - you get snippets of just about all his famous pieces. The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, and the music to the film Elvira Madigan. You learn about his familial relationships, his personality, his composing, his playing, his teaching and his travels….. and his death. I like how the author suggests rather than forces down your throat how the listener may interpret the music. Uncertain events are discussed providing different interpretations and views. There are many quotes from letters.

Not only the music played but also the quotes are delightfully executed. There are two main narrators: Nigel Anthony and Paul Rhys. There was also a woman narrator, but her identity is not made clear. All were good. One man read the quotes and another he main text. I loved how the narrator reading the quotes captured the humor of Mozart as a young man. Of course.... he was always young since he died at 35, probably not poisoned but of rheumatic fever.

[Barb Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook that played his music while explaining his career. As I don’t know the difference between classical music genres so this was extremely helpful. An interesting book about an unrecognized genius of his time.

[Muphyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a delightful little gem. I loved it! And learned so much about Mozart, his lifestyle and his contemporaries (but also delighted in all the little facts I did already know!). Also really appreciated the pronunciation of all words and phrases German. Very nicely done indeed.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my goals for the year was to learn more about Mozart, quite possibly my favorite Classical composer. This brief work caught my eye, because as an audiobook, the author was allowed to include excerpts from musical works by Mozart to enhance/elaborate the biographical material. It was lovely. While not very in-depth, it provided me with a general understanding of his life, his personality, his influences, and the impact he made while still alive. The author also explained the bigger misconceptions about Mozart's life as depicted in the famous film, Amadeus, which was much appreciated by this reader. Overall, I found this work to be well-written and engaging, but ultimately too brief. Of course, in the author's defense, one can only go so far with a man who didn't live to see the age of 40. Although well-written and delightfully full of bits of his music, this book left me craving a deeper biography and exploration of the lasting influence of this incredible musical savant. For someone wanting an authoritative, Wikipedia-level knowledge of Mozart, along with the opportunity to listen to bits of his music, this would fit the bill.

[Hassan Heydari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobooks and it was fantastic and an eye-opening experience as for someone, who has just heard his name and not so immersed in classical music.
After hearing Mozart, I made it a goal of mine to learn more about classical music. Therefore, I dove more into classical Geniuses such as Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Wagner, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms.

It was such a shame that he died at young age. He was so much talented and a prodigy that was beginning to shine.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this on audio- the interweaving of recordings of his works into the book was beautiful and instructive. I also enjoyed the various voice actors involved in telling the story and reading the letters.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed having the different voices for different people and especially hearing Mozart’s work being played in the background as it was being talked about.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mozart's life chronicled by his music. I'm stunned to disbelief that a little boy could produce such music and his later work is so voluminous, so much accomplished in so few years.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book to read before visiting Austria. I love the added music and the letters written by Mozart and his family.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another really great audiobook on another great composer. I love hearing the pieces of music he wrote and their background intertwined with the stories that coincide with the timeline in which the pieces were written. I love to read about composers with the soundtrack of their music!

[Andy Klein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly entertaining little book. I didn't learn much, but the audio version includes snippets from many of Mozart's classic works.

[Clayton Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to experience an audiobook at it's full potential, listen to this fascinating life story interspersed with the music he created as his life unfolded.