Mozart in Italy: Coming of Age in the Land of Opera

Joanna Lumley's endorsement is spot on: even if your acquaintance with Mozart extends no further than a vague hum, Jane Glover's Mozart in Italy proves utterly engrossing. I, for one, found it impossible to set aside.

Glover, an acclaimed conductor, vividly reconstructs the pivotal Italian journeys undertaken by the teenage prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his ambitious father Leopold. From the opulent theatres and concert halls of Milan to the church-laden streets of Rome, the perilous vibrancy of Naples, and the carnivalesque birthplace of public opera, Venice, Glover immerses the reader in the sights, sounds, and social fabric of 18th-century Italy.

More than a mere travelogue, the book illuminates Mozart's profound absorption of Italian culture, language, style, and art during these formative years. We witness his burgeoning craft as he navigates the challenges of composing Italian opera for discerning Italian singers and audiences. Glover expertly reveals how these experiences elicited a spectrum of reactions, from resounding triumphs and fervent admiration to simmering intrigue and outright hostility – a microcosm, she compellingly argues, of Mozart's life as a whole.

What elevates Mozart in Italy is Glover's evocative prose, her meticulous research, and her profound understanding of the era's classical music. She doesn't just recount events; she breathes life into the world Mozart inhabited, allowing us to appreciate the subtle yet significant ways in which his Italian sojourns indelibly shaped his artistic development. This isn't a dry academic study; it's a beautifully written and deeply insightful exploration of a crucial period in the life of a musical genius, revealing how the landscapes and encounters of Italy forever altered Mozart – and his enduring musical legacy.