Getting the Most out of Mozart: The Vocal Works: Unlocking the Masters Series, No. 4 (Unlocking the Masters)

By David Hurwitz

Mozart was the first composer whose operas have never left the international repertoire, and for many he remains one of the finest vocal composers who ever lived. In a sense, all of his music is vocal music, depending as it does on arresting, singable melodies, but in his great operas, single arias and sacred works, Mozart put his melodic gift to work, revealing the subtleties and expressive potential of a wide range of texts in languages ranging from Italian to Latin to German. In every case, he created masterpieces, from operas such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute to the sacred choral motet Ave Verum Corpus and, of course, the unfinished Requiem, his final project.

This second Getting the Most Out of Mozart volume in our Unlocking the Masters series focuses on Mozart's great operas and other vocal works, but also discusses numerous lesser-known compositions, from operas he wrote as a child to "insertion arias" for favorite singers or operas by other composers. In each case, David Hurwitz describes how the musical setting and choice of instruments supports the text. He takes readers through the seven major operas aria by aria, showing how Mozart uses vocal style and orchestration to create believable and moving characters that remain the standard for characterization in music to which all composers and dramatists aspire.

The accompanying CD from Telarc Records includes 14 works.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574671065
• ISBN13: 9781574671063
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Amadeus
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great book for the vocal minded!

I am using this book as a reference for a lecture/performance of Mozart's vocal pieces, and it was just what I needed! Lots of great info on his operas,masses and sacred pieces and how his vocal works relate to the Classical Era. It even comes with a CD! A great price for a great book on Mozart!!!

Hurwitz writes with clarity and elegance

All of David Hurwitz's books in this series will enhance the pleasure of neophyte and professional. it is a gift to be able to write simply about music. We love these books and recommend them on vocalimages and voxmentorThe Ear and the Voice. By all means, buy them, read them, give them as gifts. Roberta Prada New York City

Excellent Guide

I am pretty familiar with Mozart's music, and I found this book extremely informative. It mentions things, such as Mozart's preference for certain instrumental colors to create feelings (i.e. clarinets = longing), that most of us know are there, but never really pay attention to. I recommend this book to any Mozart fan, or to anyone who wishes to learn more about Mozart's music.

An Insight into Great Music

This is the second volume of a two volume series explaining the genius in Motzart's work. This folume concentrates on the Vocal Works. To listen to great music and to enjoy it is one thing. Yet the professional student of classical music sees/hears/understands so much more than the rest of us. In this book David Hurwitz, the founder and executive editor of [...], a daily classical music magazine, takes readers through Mozart's seven major operas, one part at a time explaining what he sees in each area. This provides an insite that most of us, particularily those of us living in remote areas, can never see. I never imagines that you could see so much in this music. The book comes with a full length CD that includes twenty of Mozarts pieces.