Mozart's Women: His Family, His Friends, His Music by Jane Glover Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mozart's Women: His Family, His Friends, His Music
Book Review: Sloppy
Summary: 1 Stars
I was very disappointed with this book. I had eagerly anticipated reading it, as I had read such glowing reviews. However, once I started reading it, I found it quite annoying. There were so many typographical and grammatical mistakes that it made it unpleasant to read. At first, I thought this book may have been badly translated. However, after I read the jacket information, I realized it was sloppy editing. Shame on them!!! Mozart and his women deserved much better treatment!Book Review: Fantastic new light on Mozart
Summary: 5 Stars
Jane Glover has written a remarkable book, which in its way demystifies much about Mozart's music. So many of his pieces, particularly his vocal works, were written for men and women in his closest circle: his family, friends and, often, their spouses. Arias written for the Weber sisters, including his wife Costanze were, in Glover's words, "tailor-made" for these gifted ladies. Other dear friends include Nancy Storace, the first Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, whose brother Stephen was a fellow composer and close friend, Caterina Cavallieri, Salieri's mistress (the first Kostanze and the first Donna Elvira), and the list goes on. Also illuminated in incredible detail, is Mozart's sister Nannerl, who was the "other" talented prodigy, in some ways perhaps, even a more subtle pianist than her genius brother. By the end of the book, you feel you know the people behind much of the gorgeous music that was penned for them. None of this detracts from the fact of Mozart's genius, but it makes him all the more human. It also makes his loss all the more real, and tragic, though untimely death in the late 18th-Century was, unfortunately, a fact of life.
This book is a must-have for any classical musician, and certainly any music lover. It is NOT an academic tome, but a fascinating tour through a short but incredibly well-lived life.
Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
A very good read as it gives really good information about his life.He was a real wanderer with a difficult father. It will be a good book to keep on the shelf for future references. Thanks Jane.Book Review: Mozart's Women by Jane Glover
Summary: 4 Stars
Noted conductor Jane Glover proves herself to be a graceful writer in this absorbing look at Mozart's personal life and his interaction with his musical colleagues.It definitely helps to be familiar with the women portrayed in his operas in order to get the most out of the book. As a longtime acquaintance of Fiordiligi, Donna Anna, Susanna, et al., I was fascinated by WM's dealings with his singers and by his tailoring of roles to suit their varied abilities. It would appear that the singers of Mozart's day were incredibly gifted and technically immaculate and that the musical life of his day was overflowing with riches. A good read. Book Review: Read this biography first
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are interested in learning about Mozart's life, read this biography first. I have read many, and this is the most interesting, the most delightful, the most easily accessible for both men and women. My only criticism is the title as it is misleading. The book is basically a general biography with an emphasis on Mozart's relationships with family, wife and close friends, but it also explores his music and his childhood. It also explores the years in the life of his wife and children after his death and explores the women characters of his operas. I cant recommend this book enough. Try reading this before you decide to plough through one of the larger, more dense biographies that you probably won't ever finish.