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This book follows three pivotal years in the composer's life, from 13 December 1769 to 13 March 1773, when young Mozart took his first steps in writing opera seria under the watchful guidance of his father, Leopold. The historical journey, reconstructed from original documents, letters, articles, diaries and publications of the time, is enhanced by direct musical insights gleaned from Mozart's own manuscripts. Numerous musical examples—many presented here for the first time—invite readers to discover the trade secrets and compositional processes of both Wolfgang and Leopold Mozart. By referencing the celebrated masters, authors and distinguished figures who lived 250 years ago, Mozart in Italy offers a vivid snapshot of our country's musical life in that era. An exclusive online supplement, accessible only to readers of the book, features audio and video examples, previously unpublished documents, facsimiles of musical manuscripts, and hundreds of pages of Mozart's correspondence in the original language and in translation. It also affords the priceless opportunity to hear, in a world-premiere recording, the entirety of Quirino Gasparini's Mitridate re di Ponto, which served as the model for Mozart's own composition of the same name.
