Leopold Mozart
A Portrait in Shadows
Leopold Mozart, father of the famed Wolfgang, led a life filled with missed opportunities, deceptions, and an unrelenting quest for recognition.
From his university expulsion for negligence to his web of lies to secure marriage approval,
Leopold’s life unfolded in a pattern of ambition and pettiness, casting an unsettling light on a man whose moral uprightness was, at least outwardly, his badge of honour.
Mozart: The Fall of the Gods
This book compiles the results of our studies on 18th-century music and Mozart, who has been revered for over two centuries as a deity. We dismantle the baseless cult of Mozart and strip away the clichés that falsely present him as a natural genius, revealing the contradictions in conventional biographies. In this work, divided into two parts, we identify and critically analyze several contradictory points in the vast Mozart bibliography. Each of the nearly 2,000 citations is meticulously sourced, allowing readers to verify the findings. This critical biography of Mozart emerges from these premises, addressing the numerous doubts raised by researchers.
"One cannot help but admire a man who could lie so boldly, even about his own father’s death, just to secure a better future."
Mozart: The Fall of the Gods
The Father of Wolfgang Mozart: Ambitions, Deceptions, and a Life of Humiliation and Compromise.
A Ribellious Youth
Leopold Mozart was far from the upright figure he liked to project, and his early years bear witness to this fact. Born in Augsburg, the son of a bookbinder, Leopold might have followed his father’s craft. Yet, with the pretence of an ecclesiastical calling, he deceived his father and enrolled at the University of Salzburg, benefiting from the hospitality of the Benedictines. However, his tenure there was short-lived: despite a promising first year, he was soon reprimanded for neglect and was unceremoniously expelled in 1739.
The Deceptive Path to Marriage
Years later, Leopold continued his pattern of deceit. Having fallen for Anna Maria Pertl, a young woman of humble origins, he sought his mother’s approval for the marriage and even requested an advance on her dowry. In his appeal to the Augsburg city council, he presented a wholly fabricated story: he claimed his father had recently sent him to Salzburg to study, and that he was now gainfully employed as a “valet” for a high-ranking noble. He further asserted that his bride-to-be was the daughter of a wealthy citizen, a fiction as bold as it was unfounded. Solomon remarks on the audacity of Leopold’s claims, pointing out that his father was, in fact, already deceased, that Anna Maria had no affluent lineage, and that Leopold held no such prestigious employment.
A Life of Discontent and Humiliation
Leopold’s struggle for recognition in Salzburg brought him only disillusionment. Though he served in the court orchestra, he never ascended beyond the rank of Deputy Kapellmeister. In 1753, his career nearly ended in disaster due to an anonymous pamphlet he had circulated, ridiculing several prominent ecclesiastics. His punishment was public and humiliating: he was forced to beg forgiveness, and the pamphlet was symbolically torn to pieces at his feet.
The ‘Virtuous’ Father
Despite his troubled path, Leopold clung to the veneer of a righteous, disciplined man—a character description belied by his actions. His son Wolfgang’s musical prodigy brought him some satisfaction, yet Leopold’s own life was steeped in compromise and disappointment. Florian Langegger, a contemporary, commented on Leopold’s strained family relations, including his troubled dealings with his mother, whom he blamed for supporting his other siblings while doubting his loyalty.
You May Also Like
New Revelations About Mozart at the Évora Forensic Conference
At the Évora Forensic Conference, new research confirmed that both Mozart’s personal catalogue and the signatures on his violin concertos are forgeries, challenging long-held beliefs.
Modern Premieres at Bayreuth
The modern premieres of Antonio Tozzi, Luigi Gatti, and Tommaso Traetta’s works at Bayreuth brought long-overlooked Italian composers back into the spotlight. These performances, transcribed and revised by Luca Bianchini and Anna Trombetta, have restored the place of these remarkable composers in music history.
Luchesi’s Concerto Revived at Milan’s Sala Verdi
A standing ovation followed the performance of our revised edition of Luchesi’s Concerto in F for piano and strings at the Sala Verdi in Milan, conducted by Maestro Giorgio Rodolfo Marini and performed by the Insubria Chamber Orchestra.
A Modern Premiere in Germany
Giovanni Pacini’s Medea, revised by Luca Bianchini and Anna Trombetta, made its modern premiere in Germany at the Theater für Niedersachsen. This monumental work was performed in full, marking a triumphant revival of Pacini’s forgotten genius.
Mozart Unveiled on Radio Vaticana
Experience the power of critical musicology as Luca Bianchini and Anna Trombetta present their groundbreaking insights on Mozart’s legacy on the prestigious Radio Vaticana. Each episode unveils secrets and challenges the myths surrounding this celebrated composer.