Teaching Mozart at Bocconi University

A Fresh Look at Word and Music

We delivered a four-hour lecture on Mozart at Bocconi University, showcasing unpublished music by Gasparini, Gatti, and Tozzi while comparing textual and musical treatment with Mozart’s works. Unseen variants from Le Nozze di Figaro were also revealed.

Mozart: The Fall of the Gods

This book offers a fresh and critical look at the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, challenging the myths that have surrounded him for centuries. We strip away the romanticised image of the “natural genius” and delve into the contradictions within Mozart’s extensive biographies. Backed by nearly 2,000 meticulously sourced citations, this work invites readers to explore a deeper, more complex understanding of Mozart. Perfect for those who wish to question the traditional narrative, this biography is a must-read for serious music lovers and historians.

"Unseen musical and textual variants from Le Nozze di Figaro manuscripts, presented for the first time, brought a fresh perspective to Mozart’s treatment of words and music."

@MozartrazoM

We recently had the honour of giving a four-hour lecture on Mozart at the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan. The lecture focused on the intricate relationship between words and music, delving into how composers of the Classical Period treated texts in their operas. We were excited to present previously unheard music by Quirino Gasparini, Luigi Gatti, and Giuseppe Tozzi, comparing their treatment of texts with that of their contemporary, Mozart.

The lesson also explored the textual challenges found in Mozart’s works, particularly focusing on previously unpublished variants of both text and music. These variants were sourced directly from manuscripts of the first performance of Le Nozze di Figaro in Vienna, shedding new light on this iconic work. The lecture was met with great enthusiasm, as a large group of students actively engaged with the discussion and the unique materials we presented.

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