Mozart: The Man Revealed by John Suchet

Mozart: The Man Revealed Reviews

• 
  Diana

  Mozart: The Man Revealed [2016] – ★★★1/2
  
  This curious, beautifully-illustrated book tells of Mozart’s life from childhood to his death at the age of 35. Mozart knew of his musical genius and was comfortable among world royalties and celebrities since he was a child when his father started to show him and his sister off across Europe as part of a tour. The book focuses on Mozart’s difficult relationship with his controlling father, on his romantic relationships, on his professional successes and (even!) failures, and on his behind-the-scenes activities when he worked on such masterworks as The Marriage of Figaro [1786] and Don Giovanni [1787].
  
  The book starts by detailing Mozart’s birth and childhood in Salzburg. His father was a strict and controlling (even tyrannical) person who started to exploit Mozart and his sister’s musical abilities relentlessly early on, touring his children throughout Europe and boasting of his pair of prodigies. This section of the book is a fascinating read as we learn that Mozart was more than just a very gifted child – he was a true genius, composing his first symphony at the age of only eight years old. We then read about Mozart’s growing interest in girls as he was reaching his puberty and his first attempt to separate himself from his father. The great thing about Suchet’s book is that it sometimes focuses on little-known details from Mozart’s life, including his brief friendship with another young and talented musician Thomas Linley The Younger and his initial failures to reach court positions in Germany. The book then tells of his eventual marriage to Constanze Weber, his unparalleled professional success in Vienna, of the death of his mother, before detailing his own still-controversial death. The remarkable thing is that Mozart briefly met young Ludwig van Beethoven when the latter came to Mozart to show off his talent in Vienna with the possibility of becoming Mozart’s pupil. Mozart was very impressed with Beethoven’s talent of musical improvisation. It is a pity that this was the first and last time the duo met (Beethoven was called to Bonn shortly afterwards) – who knows what would have been the outcome of this partnership.
  
  The weakness of Suchet’s attempt to talk about Mozart and his life is that it is rather anecdotal in nature, sometimes simplifying matters that were ongoing in Mozart’s life at each of its stages. The author has good intentions of demystifying the man that was Mozart, but, in trying to make the narrative fun and enjoyable, he also makes many assumptions, for example, assumptions regarding what this or that turn of phrase in this or that letter might have meant. The outcome is that the account does not present the true versions of these people or their lives, but mere interpretations based on deduction and thin evidence. Moreover, it is very surprising to read that the author, who considers himself a music expert, thinks that The Magic Flute opera was based on “a completely original story” by Emanuel Schikaneder [2016: 241]. It was not an original story by Schikaneder. He took much from Christoph Martin Wieland’s Dschinnistan [1785-1789] collection, which are selected fairy-tales.
  
  Mozart: The Man Revealed is an insightful book which is a pleasure to read, demonstrating to us that Mozart who was a brilliant eccentric – starting when he was a child without having proper childhood, and finishing, when he became one of the most talented musicians who has ever lived. The downside of the book is that it speculates way too much on the little evidence that it has in its reserve (letters to and from Mozart’s father), providing us with the account which is, at best – anecdotal and, at its worst – quite misleading.
• 
  Sandy Salisbury

  This is an intimate view of Mozart, as John Suchet goes through Mozart's personal correspondence, and that of his family and close friends.
  But it's not monotonous! Suchet engages with the composer at a very personal level, and teases out his life, loves, motivations and disappointments.
  Did you know that Wolfgang was one of 7 children, only 2 of whom survived? Or that he and his wife Constanze had 6 children, again only 2 of whom survived?
  And yet Suchet portrays Mozart as a happy-go-lucky character, full of fun and mischief. Suchet doesn't balk at revealing some of Mozart's more racy, even vulgar, letters, in a bid to paint a complete portrait of the man.
  But above all is Suchet's profound regard for Mozart's music: he describes how composing was 'like breathing,' it flowed so easily for Mozart. At one point, Mozart was visiting Linz, just after the death of his first child, and found himself invited to give a concert, but had brought along no music. So he whipped together a symphony in four days! It is one of his most famous and most sublime, No. 36 K. 425.
  On another occasion, he scribbled off a composition for a choir director friend of his. As Suchet puts it: 'Lucky friend, lucky choir, lucky us.'
  A great read, and a wonderful insight into the life of one of the greatest composers of all time.
• 
  Victoria

  I always love John Suchet’s books. They’re accessible, well-written and emphatic. I really enjoy the mix of biography/ archival sources and his own speculation. The use of Mozart’s correspondence to tell his life story was illuminating!
• 
  Jaffareadstoo

  This is one of those splendid coffee table books that will sit very comfortably just waiting for someone to open it and read its fascinating contents.
  
  I love listening to Classic FM and even though I know which pieces of music I like to listen to, I find that I know very little about the lives of the great composers who wrote the music I love. In these days of quick fix information it's very easy just to search the internet for snippets of information as you need it, but nothing beats the look and feel of a really good biography. Mozart: The Man Revealed by John Suchet is a wonderful glossy biography to immerse yourself in, and as you read on, the here and now disappears, and you are quietly transported back to a wonderful time of musical soirées in the opulent salons of eighteenth century Europe.
  
  The life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, from his birth in in Salzburg in January 1756, through to his untimely demise in Prague, aged just thirty five in 1791, is covered in fine detail. Each of the twenty-three chapters which make up the bulk of the work have delightfully descriptive headings, I think my favourites have to be those titles which head chapter 8 “Ass-Bumping in Venice", and the delightfully quirky heading for chapter 10, "Gnagflow Trazom", which I'll let you work out for yourself! John Suchet writes with such warmth and wit about this great composer but isn't afraid to show the man behind the genius, warts and all, which comes across when describing Mozart's rather salacious communication with his nineteen year old cousin, Maria Anna Mozart. I loved the way the biography flowed beautifully and was gilded with an assortment of delightful illustrations and documents which highlight Mozart’s complex and fascinating life.
  
  There is no doubt that Mozart's musical genius continues to enhance our modern world. Whilst reading this lovely book I listened to his Salzburg Symphonies which are simply delightful and which compliment this lovely book to perfection.
  
• 
  Michelle Ryles

  I would not be surprised to find out that either John Suchet is 250 years old or he has a time machine, as I felt as if he knew Mozart personally whilst reading his completely spellbinding book entitled Mozart: The Man Revealed.
  
  As a regular listener to Classic FM, I look forward to Mozart Mondays as nothing is better at setting you up for the week ahead than the jollity of Mozart's compositions. I always find myself humming or whistling along without even realising it, completely unaware of the stories that lie behind the child prodigy and his famous works.
  
  I have previously read and enjoyed John Suchet's fantastic book on Johann Strauss, but this book goes one step further as we really get to know the young composer through his own words by examining letters that he and his father wrote home whilst on tour. The young Mozart is every bit the precocious child we imagine but he also had the most amazing sense of humour, often without a filter which would place him on the autistic spectrum today.
  
  As well as Mozart's sense of humour, John Suchet's fabulous sense of humour comes through in his writing. I won't spoil the whole book but there is a particular painting of Mozart and his sister, Nannerl, who has the most gigantic hair, that makes me chuckle just thinking about it. Mozart's humour is definitely what we could call 'toilet humour' as he is very rude and just doesn't care less. Listening to his work after reading this book seems to add a new dimension, as I feel as if I can now effortlessly tap into the feelings that are woven into each exceptional piece of music.
  
  An absolute must-read for any classical music fan, where you can really get to know the man behind the music in Mozart: The Man Revealed. It is so authentic and fascinating that it could easily be called Mozart: In His Own Words. Think you know Mozart? Think again!
  
  I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
• 
  John

  Phenomenal! Just what I was looking for! I had a belief, in trying to acquire more of a taste for Classical Music, that if perhaps I might be able to understand the people better, then perhaps I could understand their pieces and the genre better. I am still uncertain that this is specifically true, but by activity alone sometimes one can bump into unlooked for, but essential information. This is the case with this book. It takes the form of a journey, from childhood through adulthood, with small tangents to interweave minor characters, places, and events into the story, to give us a snapshot of what the life of Mozart seemed to be like. I felt while reading this that the author was very sympathetic to all parties involved, notably even those historically seen to be villains, and when the author decided to engage in speculation, he is careful to note this, qualify the belief, and suggest at how the reader could backtrack to look over the same material.
• 
  James S.

  A decently written introduction to Mozart, but definitely one for those completely new to the topic. It's a quick read, with a focus on Mozart's personal life and almost no analysis of his music. Most music biographies get bogged down in music theory; this book goes in the opposite direction and barely mentions the music, so make sure to read it along with a companion to his music. Finally, the book's subtitle is "The Man Revealed," but I don't think the book lives up to that. It's probably impossible to penetrate into the inner thoughts of a man of Mozart's caliber; at any rate, this book certainly doesn't do that, and doesn't even really try. At best, it's a workable introduction to the basics of his life.
• 
  Alex E

  This book takes us through the life of one of the best classical composers/musicians.... well, ever.
  
  In only 35 years, Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart completely changed music all together. Not only was he technically a musical virtuoso, but creatively - he was a master. This book takes us through his entire life, even a bit before as John Suchet gives us a little bit of background on his parents to begin with. Once Mozart is born, it only takes 4 years for his dad to realize that the kid is not only talented, he is beyond normal. He is an extraordinary musician. Suchet takes us through the young Mozart's days of traveling Europe, all the way through his teenage years where he begins to take hold of his own life, and his eventually sad end.
  
  I really like how Suchet was able to make the book an easygoing and fun read. It didn't feel tedious or boring at all. Instead, its like he is talking to us about Mozart, and giving us all the facts in an almost conversational way. This makes the legend of Mozart not only more accessible, but relatable as well. I will admit however, there were times where Suchet gives his personal comments or suppositions about what is going on in the book, and I didn't really like those moments. I would prefer just the facts and not so much the commentary, if I'm being honest.
  
  However, the book itself is really a delight to read and I learned a lot about one of my favorite composers. Mozart led a very interesting and sad life (at times), and it's interesting to see the dynamic between absolute musical genius, and flawed human. If you are a fan of Mozart and want a really good overview of his life, I highly recommend this book.
• 
  Ivy Digest

  Mozart’s genius is revealed in great detail in this outstanding biography by British journalist and author John Suchet. The glossy pages are filled with plenty of photographs, paintings, and Mozart’s portraits, compositions, and letters.
  
  This reads like a fascinating picture book that depicts Mozart’s prodigious career as he travelled Europe and performed for various royalty. It's easy to forget that this child superstar toured as a preschooler to establish his fame. Mr Suchet is an engaging storyteller as he weaves historical facts and records with Mozart’s family letters.
  
  We learn about Wolfgang’s first love, troubled marriage, money problems, tireless workload, meeting young Beethoven, alleged affairs, and his body of work. He died at 35, had a third-class funeral, then placed in an unmarked grave. Neither of his two sons inherited his musical genius nor married. Mozart’s bloodline died, but his musical legacy lives on 228 years after his death.
  
  History and biography should be written like this, with such fun and fondness, to enliven the past and help us appreciate the feats that gave us our future.
  
  @IvyDigest
  
  https://www.instagram.com/p/BthPhCqhW...
• 
  Achtung Englander

  This is an excellent biographic introduction to Mozart. The style of writing by John Suchet is almost conversational with plenty of opinions giving which is great because Suchet clearly defines what is his opinion and what is established as fact.
  
  The book is adorned with interesting photos and pictures that really flesh out the book and make it easier to visualize 18th Century Vienna. One could criticize it for being a coffee book but that would be misguided as the book is detailed enough to get a really good idea of the life of Mozart.
  
  It took me slightly longer than usual to read the book given its relatively short length as I often would stop reading and listen to the music which Suchet refers to in the biography. There is an accompanying CD with the book but that is really not necessary when all the music is available on YouTube.
  
  I liked this book so much that I went and bought Suchet book on Beethoven, which follows the same style of writing with accompanying pictures. Experts in Mozart may find this a basic biography but for novices on Mozart or for people who would like to get to know Mozart better, this is perfect.
  
  Put it this way the book, for me, reached the same heights as the film Amadeus in terms of entertainment and history.
• 
  Jeremiah Tesch

  This is a concise, intimate introduction to Mozart. Suchet boils the narrative down to the basic elements that he sees as essential to understanding Mozart as a person such as his father's involvement in building Wolfgang's musical fame and career, Wolfgang's branching out on his own from his father's umbrella, and Wolfgang's personal and love life. It's odd to see such a lack of maturity in one known to be among the greatest composers in history, but it's not surprising as his father raised him essentially in isolation, shielding him from the mundane responsibilities of finances, the mechanics of traveling, and it seems even from learning to socialize and get along with others. In his writing, Suchet demonstrates a commendable understanding of the musical aspect, linguistic and cultural nuances, and human nature.
• 
  Daniel B-G

  This can only be described as a fascinating insight into the life of Mozart. It punctures the poetry that surrounds his life. No longer is he a starving misunderstood artist condemned to a pauper's grave, the image that replaces him is no less striking but much more credible, prosaic even. The cautionary tale about the misunderstood genius instead becomes a story about the dangers of contracting vs. salaried work. Mozart did very, very well, right up until the end. He made a series of bad decisions on financial commitments and then his income dried up after the onset of war, people had less cash to splash around. Had he been salaried, he would have weathered the storm more than likely.
• 
  John Johnston

  What a life
  
  A must read for biography lovers About one of the worlds greatest geniuses. John Suchet corrects a lot of the myths about Mozart but in a positive way There’s intelligent comment on his music but it’s never dry. The real person behind his genius is cleverly described as are the women in his life. This riveting and colourful and odorous tale makes hearing his music an added joy.
• 
  Book Time with Elvis

  Fantastic, fascinating and illuminating. I love Mozart's music and have done since introduced to it as a child through the film Amadeus which although a wonderful film it is largely a work of fiction, but here in this beautifully written biography is the real story which is just as interesting. Read it!
• 
  Natasha Williams

  Great Book
• 
  Jessica Just

  Perfection! One of my favorite reads of all time. Such an interesting look at Mozart and his family that felt like reading about modern people, rather than history.
• 
  Brian Richards

  Comprehensive, readable biography on Mozart.
• 
  Oonagh Lee

  An interesting read.