Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart might not be able to equal Adolf Hitler or Abraham Lincoln in terms of the number of books written about him, but he is certainly holding his own.
In addition to being one of history’s great composers – many experts would say the greatest – his premature death in 1791 and the intrigue around it, not to mention his big, multifaceted personality, have made him an irresistible subject.
Given the abundance of writing on Mozart and the research in recent years debunking persistent myths surrounding his life, such as his supposed feud with composer Antonio Salieri, a biographer wanting to take on this musical giant has to find a fresh, imaginative tack.
Jane Glover has done just that in “Mozart’s Women: His Family, His Friends, His Music,” examining Mozart from the point of view of the key women in his family as well as the many female performers who inspired some of his most compelling music.
Glover, who holds a doctorate in 17th-century Venetian opera and serves as music director of Chicago’s Music of the Baroque, certainly has the credentials to tackle such a project, but she has carefully balanced scholarly rigor with readability.
An emphasis on history
Neophytes who know nothing about classical music or Mozart will probably find this book tough going, but anyone with even a little knowledge of the two should find plenty to enjoy in this lucid, down-to-earth study.
At the same time, scholars, musicians and others well versed in Mozartiana, will find some welcome new insights into the composer’s world and a useful, adroitly assembled overview of his life, incorporating up-to-date research and extensive quotes from his fascinating letters.
Although a keen understanding of Mozart’s music obviously undergirds this book, it is much more historical than musicological, with Glover putting the emphasis on people instead of complex breakdowns of his compositions.
The exception is the book’s third section, “Mozart’s Women,” which offers a chronological, in-depth examination of the composer’s operas, from the early ones that are mostly forgotten to later masterpieces that are regularly staged worldwide.
Through the prism of family
But along with smart structural analyses of these works, Glover again stresses people, explaining how Mozart carefully tailored each role to the abilities and sensibilities of his performers and often reserved the best writing for his richly delineated female characters.
Most biographies end with the death of the subject, but this one adds a section titled “After Mozart,” 60 pages that offer an intriguing look at his family members after he died – how they supported each other and set about preserving his legacy.
Constanze, Mozart’s wife, has not always received a fair treatment from history, a wrong this book does much to right. In this well-rounded portrayal, she emerges as a strong, sympathetic figure, with Glover emphasizing the intensity of the love between her and her husband.
“Life with Constanze was never dull. She was essentially a fun-loving companion, totally compatible with Wolfgang’s physical needs, supportive, intelligent and encouraging of his activities,” Glover writes.
Constanze was one of four sisters in the Weber family (their cousin, Carl Maria von Weber, was a well-known composer), all of whom were musically inclined. The story of their lives, which were closely intertwined with Mozart, is one of the most fascinating aspects of the book.
Mozart first fell for Aloysia Weber, one of the most successful singers of her time. She eventually shunned the composer as a lover but remained close to him, appearing, for example, as Donna Anna in the first Viennese performances of “Don Giovanni.”
Glover also focuses attention on Nannerl, Mozart’s nearly forgotten older sister, who joined him when their father paraded the two across Europe as child prodigies. A formidable talent in her own right, she was forced to live in the shadow of her famous brother, a plight she generally accepted with grace.
As the world celebrates the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth in 2006, many new books on him are sure to be published. But this one will likely stand as one of the best.
Mozart’s Women: His Family, His Friends, His Music
By Jane Glover
HarperCollins, 406 pages, $27.95
