Celebrating Mozart’s genius

Why, exactly, are we celebrating Mozart this year? Because the anniversarial numbers have trapped us (he was born in January 1756)? Because there is something new to be said about him? Because we cannot live without his music and want to pay tribute to that fact? Whatever the answer, we are in for a media extravaganza which only an ostrich is going to be able to ignore, so it might be strengthening to work out in what spirit we approach the party.

The benefits are very straightforward: there will be a lot of glorious music to listen to, some of which we may not have heard before, especially in the case of the stage works that will be receiving new productions. It is possible that hitherto unexplored angles on the young man and his world will inform and enlarge our enjoyment of his writing; no doubt serious-minded people will take this opportunity to publish new thoughts on and interpretations of what we know of his life.