The Amadeus Myth: Mozart (1756-91) and his world – culture and society in late 18th century Vienna ONLINE VIA ZOOM
The Amadeus Myth: Mozart (1756-91) and his world – culture and society in late 18th century Vienna ONLINE VIA ZOOM
Lecturer: Sandy Burnett
Classical music reached a peak of perfection in Vienna during the last three decades of the eighteenth century, an era in which every aristocratic household worth its salt had a Kapelle or band of musicians to keep everyone entertained. In particular, the refined musical discourse of the string quartet was held to be the highest form of musical art; the elegant interplay of its various string instruments likened by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to “four intelligent people conversing.”
In this lecture, Sandy Burnett examines the perfect storm of circumstances that made this extraordinary era possible, zooms in on selected excerpts of Classical elegance at its finest, and considers the remarkable figure of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a musician rightly prized – and mythologised – as one of the greatest there’s ever been.
Sandy Burnett is one of the UK’s most versatile music commentators, enjoying a career that combines broadcasting, performing and lecturing. After studying at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge and working as music director for the RSC, National Theatre and in London’s West End, Sandy Burnett spent a decade as one of the core team of presenters on BBC Radio 3. He also devises and leads cultural holidays all over the world, is the author of the Idler Guide to Classical Music, is a highly sought-after double bassist on the London jazz scene, and was appointed the Academy of Ancient Music’s Hogwood Fellow for the 2018-19 season.