Mozart was fascinated, amused, aroused, hurt, and betrayed by women. He loved and respected them, composed for them, performed with them. This unique biography looks at his interaction with each, starting with his family (his mother, Maria Anna and beloved and talented sister, Nannerl), and his marriage (which brought his 'other family', the Weber sisters). His relationships with his artists are examined, in particular those of his operas, through whose characters Mozart gave voice to the emotions of women who were, like his entire female acquaintance, restrained by the conventions and structures of eighteenth-century society. This is their story as well as his -- and shows once again that a great part of the composer's genius was in his understanding and musical expression of human nature. Evocative and beautifully written, Mozart's Women illuminates the music, the man, and above all the women who inspired him.

'Jane Glover has pulled off a coup des livres with her fresh take on Mozart's life and work' Sunday Telegraph

'Readable, informative and moving...Her passion for the music shines through this touching, vividly told story' Sunday Times

'Jane Glover's elegant and fascinating book illuminates an aspect of Mozart, and of his work, that has often been touched on but never with such detail and insight. Her vivid portraits enable us appreciate how deeply the remarkable women in his life served as both emotional and artistic muses, and how their spirit informs his masterworks . Glover has lived Mozart's music intimately, and her knowledge of it and love for it make her a privileged guide to its endless riches, and to how originally and brilliantly Mozart uses it to create some of the most memorable female characters in all of opera.' Renee Fleming 'Jane Glover has produced a winner, showing us Mozart from a fresh and fascinating viewpoint: the women in his life. Constanze, for instance, emerges a different creature from the way she is usually portrayed, tempting the reader to revise judgement on her. Written in a delightful, accessible style, this is a book that anyone with an interest in Mozart should have. For the singer it is an indispensable treasure trove of information -- altogether, hugely enjoyable' Dame Janet Baker 'Nowadays it seems that Mozart's genius had always existed, fully formed, from the first. But genius does not flourish in isolation. It is Jane Glover's great gift to show how the women surrounding Mozart -- his sister Nannerl, his wife Constanze, and her three talented sisters -- all influenced him, making their own contributions to the creation of the most fascinating, dazzling, and complex women on the opera stage' Judith Flanders, author of Circle of Sisters and The Victorian House 'Beautifully written and scholarly without seeming so' Dame Felicity Lott

About the Author
In Jane Glover's long and hugely successful career as a conductor, she has been Music Director of the Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Artistic Director of The London Mozart Players, and has conducted all the major symphony and chamber orchestras in Britain. She appears regularly at the BBC Proms and is a regular broadcaster, with highlights including a television series on Mozart. She lives in London.

Reviews

'unusual and original...readable, informative and moving...Glover uses her own experience as a conductor of Mozart's operas to give lucid and pertinent insights into the music...Glover's final chapter 'After Mozart' is the most rewarding and poignant in the book...Constanze emerges as a devoted wife, mother and lifelong promoter of Mozart. Glover neatly and satisfyingly ties up the loose ends in the story of the genius whose most astonishing musical miracles were achieved in his all-too-brief adulthood. Her passion for the music shines through this touching, vividly told story' Hugh Canning, Sunday Times

'Jane Glover has pulled off a coup des livres with her fresh take on Mozart's life and work. Glover's approach to her subject, through the women who played such a major role in Mozart's life, seems so obvious that it is a wonder nobody thought of it before...a compelling read that wears its scholarship lightly...Many conductors are good at talking about music, yet Glover belongs to that select band of conductor-scholars who have practical experience of the music they are writing about. As such, she offers insights into Mozart's work that ought to be required reading for practitioners and will equally enlighten the most casual listener' John Allison, Sunday Telegraph

Awards
Long-listed for BBC Four Samuel Johnson Prize 2006 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9780330418584
Author Jane Glover
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Pan Books
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 330g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 130mm * 27mm