Mozart’s Serenade? A New Discovery? Really?
A Controversial Finding in Leipzig Raises Questions About Mozart’s Authenticity
In Leipzig, what was thought to be a new autograph of Mozart turned out to be a questionable copy. Why are such rushed attributions so common for Mozart, and why is it so hard to correct them when proven false?
Mozart: The Construction of a Genius
This book offers a fresh and critical look at the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, challenging the myths that have surrounded him for centuries. We strip away the romanticised image of the “natural genius” and delve into the contradictions within Mozart’s extensive biographies. Backed by nearly 2,000 meticulously sourced citations, this work invites readers to explore a deeper, more complex understanding of Mozart. Perfect for those who wish to question the traditional narrative, this biography is a must-read for serious music lovers and historians.
"The trouble with fiction is that it makes too much sense, whereas reality never makes sense."
Aldous Huxley
Did Leipzig really uncover a new autograph of Mozart? Not quite. What they found was a copy, and even its dating is questionable. The discussions I’ve come across seem more like speculation, but repeating them doesn’t make them true.
At first glance, the title page might make you think it’s by Mozart, but the piece was actually written by an anonymous copyist about twenty years later—assuming that theory is even accurate. Looking at the title page, the supposed author is a certain “Wofgang” (without the L!).
How can we trust an attribution when the name itself is misspelled? For all we know, the music could have been written by his sister, his aunt, or perhaps even a close friend of Leopold. Essentially, anyone.
Without an autograph, a date, a place, or even the correct name, it was almost predictable that this would be quickly absorbed into the Köchel catalogue of Mozart’s works as another “authentic” piece. It’s fascinating to see how eagerly such attributions are made, especially for a figure as iconic as Mozart.
There’s never this kind of urgency when a work, once attributed to Mozart, turns out to have been written by someone else. In those cases, the opposite happens. Once a piece enters the catalogue, it rarely gets removed, even when the evidence clearly shows it’s a forgery.
You May Also Like
From London to Vienna
The Mozart family’s journey from London to Vienna was marked by illness, failed opportunities, and the relentless ambition of Leopold Mozart, revealing the pressures and challenges behind the facade of success.
The Ambiguous Legacy of Leopold Mozart
This post explores the multifaceted and often controversial life of Leopold Mozart, providing insight into the complexities and contradictions that defined his career and legacy.
Mozart’s Illusory Triumphs
The story of the young Mozart’s so-called triumphs at the courts of Europe is a tale riddled with embellishments, half-truths, and fabrications—many courtesy of Leopold Mozart himself and those who later sought to mythologize his son. One such example is the visit to Munich on 12 January 1762.
The Vienna Disaster
The failure of La Finta Semplice in Vienna was a turning point for the Mozart family, revealing the cracks in the facade of Wolfgang’s prodigious reputation and prompting a desperate escape to Italy in search of redemption.
From Innsbruck to Bolzano
From Innsbruck to Bolzano, the Mozart family’s journey was a blend of strategic networking and missed opportunities, revealing the challenges of securing fame in 18th-century Europe.
The Myth of Mozart’s Sight-Reading Genius
Mozart’s so-called sight-reading miracles were less about supernatural talent and more about clever improvisation, as two key 18th-century witnesses make clear.