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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Composer of the Week: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Episode 1: Young Artists Day - A Child Prodigy

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Episode 1

Episode 1: Young Artists Day - A Child Prodigy

Young Artists Day - A Child Prodigy

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Young Artists Day - A Child Prodigy

Donald Macleod explores Mozart's early life and is joined by pianist Martin James Bartlett

As part of Young Artists Day on Radio 3, pianist Martin James Bartlett, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, joins Donald Macleod to explore the early life of Wolfgang Mozart.

As part of Young Artists Day on Radio 3, Martin James Bartlett, BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014, joins Donald Macleod to explore the early life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, discuss life as a young pianist, and also perform in the studio part of Mozart's Piano Sonata in F major K332.

He took the 'land of the clavier', Vienna, by storm, becoming something of a pioneer in composing piano concertos, this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. From his early beginnings in Salzburg as a child prodigy, being paraded by his father around Europe performing for kings and queens, and up until his early death in Vienna, Mozart was a prodigious composer in many genres including chamber music and opera. It was his talent as a pianist that really had audiences speechless in Vienna. He organised subscription concerts in the Auergarten, arriving on stage in a succession of fancy coats, and then proceeded to amaze his listeners with his latest piano concertos. This week Donald Macleod focuses each day on one of Mozart's piano concertos, and the period in which it was composed.

Nannerl said of her brother Wolfgang, that he had to be restricted from composing or practicing the keyboard at all hours. The child Mozart was a prodigy, and was keen to show off his talents. His father Leopold took Nannerl and Wolfgang on a number of trips around Europe, where they performed for the nobility and royalty. Mozart's main instrument was the harpsichord, but he also took to the violin. One of his first works to appear in print was his sonata for keyboard with violin accompaniment in C major K6.

Leopold described his son as a miracle which God caused to be born in Salzburg. However Leopold realised that Salzburg was too small a place to restrict the talents of his prodigy son, so he made sure Mozart's abilities were recognised far and wide. It was whilst on tour in London that Mozart composed his early Symphony No 4 in D major.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Wolfgang Mozart

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of Wolfgang Mozart, including a focus on the composer's piano concertos

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Composer of the Week

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Episode 1: Young Artists Day - A Child Prodigy

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