Episode #192- Who Killed Mozart? (Part I)

12/13/23 • 68 min

3 Listeners

There are few artists who are praised with the same level of hyperbole as Wolfgang Mozart. The German poet Franz Alexander von Kleist once said “Mozart's music is so beautiful as to entice angels down to earth.” The famous Russian composer Tchaikovsky declared that Mozart was no less than a "musical Christ." With praise that grandiose it can be hard to believe that Mozart was a flesh and blood human being. The stories of Mozart's dazzling genius begin when he was only a small child. He was writing his first compositions at age of five and had written his first symphony by the age of eight. There is no denying Mozart's great talent, but how much stock should we put in the tales of childhood brilliance. Tune-in and find out how royal proposals, an interminable penny whistle solo, and Sebastian's middle name all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode #191- Who Was The Real Zorro? (Part II)

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The character of Zorro clearly had a number of inspirations, some literary and some historical. But the proto-Zorro with the deepest mythology is undoubtedly the Mexican bandit Joaquin Murrieta. The outlaw was allegedly a master of disguise who made a sport of taunting his would-be bounty hunters. He was said to have escaped death countless times, while robbing gold and horses from the Americans he had grown to despise. But, for many Joaquin's remarkable life seemed out of step with his unceremonious death at the hands of the California Rangers. Was Joaquin actually killed in 1853? If not, then whose head did they put in a jar? Tune-in and out how Pathkiller II, a red-headed stranger, and three-fingered work all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Episode #193- Who Killed Mozart? (Part II)

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Wolfgang Mozart made the transition from child prodigy to adult artist fairly seamlessly, but that does not mean there weren't road bumps. Many musicians were skeptical of the boy from Salzburg. Was he more than just a musical freak of nature? Did he really have something to say musically? Many modern Mozart fans tend to either remember Mozart's art as the universally beloved apotheosis of 18th century classical music, or as criminally misunderstood works of genius that only future generations would fully appreciate. Is either assessment really accurate? Tune-in and find out how a Vatican heist, Italian conspiracies, and a swift kick in the ass all play a role in the story. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.