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Germany In Mozart’s Footsteps

The year-long celebration of Mozart's anniversary in Germany is getting under way with three huge festivals in Dresden, Leipzig and Munich. For the first time, the Dresden Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Festival will take place in the historic Semper Opera with the premiere of Le Nozze de Figaro. In Munich, six Mozart operas will be performed at the Mozart Festival Weeks. In the meantime, Leipzig is preparing for a repeat of Mozart's 1789 Gewandhaus Concert.

From the tender age of six, the prodigious young Mozart toured Europe and frequently spent time in Germany. For example, Augsburg is where Wolfgang Amadeus's father, Johann Georg Leopold Mozart, was born and Wolfgang visited the city 17 times. In Munich, Mozart composed some of his operatic works, including the opera La finta Giardiniera and the opera Idomeneo. Passau is where Mozart first heard the basset horn, which became his favorite instrument. Mannheim is where the child genius became acquainted with and influenced by the court orchestra style and met his future wife. He played in Frankfurt to the 14-year old Goethe, in Schwetzingen Palace, and later in Dresden. He left his mark on Leipzig where he conducted the Gewandhaus Orchestra in some of his own compositions and performed improvisations on the organ in the St. Thomas Church. These places and many other German towns and cities with special Mozart connections are celebrating the great composer's life and music.

Events and Activities

A Festival for Mozart
Frankfurt Jan 26 - 27
The historical Old Opera will present five concerts on a Mozart theme. Mozart's Don Giovanni was the first opera ever played in the Old Opera.

55th German Mozart Festival
Augsburg  Jan 27 - Jul 31
In addition to the diverse concert program, the Augsburg Puppet Theater will present Mozart's three-and-a-half-hour opera Don Giovanni in a funny two hour version.

Berlin Mozart Days
Berlin Jan 27 - Feb 5
The Berlin Residence Orchestra will play works by Mozart in the venue of Charlottenburg Palace, the sumptuous baroque summer residence of the Prussian royalty.

Exhibition Mozart's Manuscripts
Offenbach  Jan 29 - May 31
The City of Offenbach will commemorate Mozart with concerts, readings and an exhibition -- "The widow Mozart Left Me All of Her Husbands Manuscripts."

Trail "Of an old Love"
Mannheim May 1 - Oct 3
Mannheim played a decisive role in Mozart's life as it is where he met his future wife Constanze Weber. The "Trail of an old Love" takes place every first Saturday.

International Leopold Mozart Violin Competition
Augsburg /May 17 - May 28
A highlight of the German Mozart Festival is the competition of most talented violinists from universities around the world. The 12,500 Euro ‘Mozart Prize' will be awarded for the first time.

Mozart Summer Concert
Herrenchiemsee  May 25 - Sep 3
The Herrenchiemsee Castle Concerts are presenting a special program with the loveliest night music and entire string quintets of Mozart. Herrenchiemsee Island is one of the major historic-cultural sites in southern Bavaria.

Mozart Festival Wuerzburg
Wuerzburg Jun 2 - Jul 1
The baroque Residence Palace, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, is the venue for the Mozart Festival. The program highlight will be a performance of Loveliest Night Music in the illuminated Hofgarten palace gardens.

Potsdam Music Festival Sansoussi: The Way to Mozart
Potsdam  Jun 2 – 18
Visitors will enjoy the opportunity to listen to Mozart exceptional artists in the beautiful rooms and parks of the world-famous palaces and gardens Sanssouci.

54th European Festival Weeks
Passau  Jun 16 – Jul 23
More than 60 concerts will be held during the summer period in castles and churches in the area. Highlight of the Festival: Fireworks display on Jun 27 accompanied by the Jupiter Symphony.

Mozart Festival in Schwetzingen
Schwetzingen  Sep 9 – Oct 10
The 31st Mozart Festival of the Mozart Association is taking place in the Castle of Schwetzingen with concerts and exhibitions. The bakery shops and cafes will present the longest magic flute in the world in the form of a 165-foot-long-cake.

For more information, go to www.germany-tourism.de and for a map of his travels go to www.germany-tourism.de/musikland/mozartkarte.htm

Photos courtesy of GNTB

Edited by Lakisha Hughes

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