Mozart: A Life by Maynard Solomon Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mozart: A Life
Book Review: An interesting read
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a comprehensive work about not only Wolfgang, but also his entire family: especially his father, Leopold. It contains an excellent classification list of Mozarts' works by category and also a numerical list by Kochel Numbers. Each chapter has a sizeable list of related notes in the back of the book and the bibliography is also extensive.
Although the book is informative and easy to read, I found it a bit repetitious at times (i.e. discussion of Leopold's prolonged influence over Mozart, and also, the ever present preoccupation with money). There were a couple chapters on the meaning of Mozart's music as to how it was affected by events of the time that seem to me to contains a lot of subjective conjecture.
On a personal note, I was hoping for some detailed accounts of Mozart's relationship with Saleri and especially, his librettist, Lorenzo Da Ponte (who did the libretto for Cosi, Figaro and Don Giovanni). However, although both men are mentioned in this work, there is sparse information on their involvement with Mozart.
All in all and enjoyable work.
Book Review: Still the best Mozart biography I have found
Summary: 3 Stars
An enjoyable read but not without some rather large flaws. Much easier to digest than Guttman's biography of Mozart in this regard. Certainly a readable and sometimes exciting chronology of Mozart's life. One gets a feeling of what Mozarts life was like but something in Solomon's psychological and cultural portraint seems to be missing. When I was finished I was left with as many questions about the life and times of Mozart as I had when I begun.A very dissapointing discussion of Mozarts works, in fact there is no systemic evaluation on his output. Nothing on the piano concertos, chamber music, symphonies, or operas. Instead we are left with a few chapters superimposed into the text (Solomon admits they where used earlier as lecture material) that try to relate some adagio and concerti to outdated and apsychological theories of aesthetics. One should refer to Swafford's biograpy of Brahms as a model for an integrated discussion of a composers life and works.
Most annoying of all is Solomons incessant need to Psychoanalyze. More time is spent trying to pigeonhole Mozart's relation with his father into a Freudian model than is discussing the musical culture of Viena, or for that matter Mozarts sources of creativity. Dare I say, most of Solomons charachter analysis amounts to little more than psychobabble. This takes special crecedence when one considers how dubous and now abandoned Freudian theory is today in general.
Book Review: An in depth, complete biography of one of the great maestros
Summary: 4 Stars
I can firmly state that I believe that there is no more complete biography of Mozart available. There were some parts of the book that would appeal to those who are well versed in music theory, but were difficult for me to navigate. Although I found it difficult, I feel it is better to be complete in infomation than leaving items out for the sake of readability. One comes away from this biography with a better understanding of this troubled life and the insight to better enjoy his works.Book Review: Very Thorough and Satisfying
Summary: 4 Stars
I have in the past read a few lightweight biographies of Mozart, and - as you can probably imagine - these were rather unsatisfactory as a means of understanding one of the human race's foremost prodigies. Like eating a rice cake when one needs a steak dinner.So I turned to Mr Solomon, and he delivered. This book is for those who like attention to detail, surely an essential attribute of any good history book.
Maynard succeeded notably in drawing the boundaries of Mozart's fascinating relationship with his father; he also researches Mozart's money problems by filling in the gaps - not always convincingly - but it makes for interesting reading.
All round a good book. Recommended.
Book Review: Groundbreaking biography by our foremost musicologist.
Summary: 5 Stars
Maynard Solomon's writings have always been the source of controversy. His application of Freudian and Marxist theories to his research makes his work unlike that of any other musicologist, and in terms of sheer scholarly erudition, there are few modern historians who can rival Solomon. His biography of Beethoven was immediately acclaimed as a groundbreaking work upon its publication 25 years ago, and after decades of research, his long awaited life of Mozart appeared in 1995 and was, not suprisingly, the source of much discussion and rethinking about the great composer. Many people have difficulties buying into Solomon's psychoanalytical, sociopolitical approach to biography. His deep analysis of the psychological motivations of Beethoven was striking in his earlier work, but it reached new heights in his Mozart biography. Each and every word, thought or action of the composer (and his family members) is explained and analysed in in painstaking detail.
As an admirer of Solomon's work, I was surprised to find myself sometimes annoyed with his overwrought Freudian psychobabble, but don't let that discourage you from reading "Mozart: A Life." This is easily the most illuminating, comprehensive and rewarding book ever written on its subject, and Solomon's accomplishments as a researcher cannot be overstated. This has been rightly recognized as one of the great musical biographies yet written, and will probably remain the definitive life of Mozart for a long time to come.
Let us hope that Solomon (who turns 71 this year) has enough time left to write at least one more enlightening, shocking and profound musical biography. Wherever Solomon turns his attention, the result is always compelling.