W.A. Mozart

About this book

Hermann Aberts classic biography first published in German more than eighty years ago and itself based on the definitive mid-nineteenth century study by Otto Jahn remains the most informed and substantial biography of Mozart in any language. The book is both the fullest account of the composers life and a deeply skilled analysis of his music. Proceeding chronologically from 1756 to 1791 the book interrogates every aspect of Mozarts life influences and experience; his personality; his religious and secular dimensions; and the social context of the time. In a book within a book Abert also provides close scrutiny of the music including the operas orchestral work symphonies and piano concertos church music and cantatas and compositions for solo instruments. While the tone of Aberts great work is expertly rendered by Stewart Spencer developments in Mozart scholarship since the last German edition are signaled by the Mozart scholar Cliff Eisen in careful annotations on every page. Supported by a host of leading Mozart scholars this immense undertaking at last permits English-language readers access to the most important single source on the life of this great composer.