Was Mozart poisoned by his jealous rival, Salieri? The BBC (www.bbc.co.ukmusic/profiles/mozart.shtml) says no. If you are ignorant about Mozart, or anything else classical, gen up with the BBC’s vast collection of biographies, which come with links to further reading and recommended recordings.
Practised culture vultures might consider www.opus1classical.com, a swanky guide to upcoming operas and concerts around the world, searchable by date, venue and city. If you’re off to Kuala Lumpur next month, for instance, and you’re worried you won’t catch any Mozart while you’re there, nil desperandum: Marc Rochester will be belting out the Fantasia in F Minor on the organ in the Petronas Towers.
You can hear the Fantasia, not as impressively, by signing up at www.classicalarchives.com — a large selection is available if you pay, rather less if you don’t.
If you do sign up, make sure it’s not because you think you can pipe brain-growing music into your baby. As Skepdic points out, the Mozart Effect is a classic piece of fuss about misunderstood science (www.skepdic.com/mozart.html).
Advertisement
On the other hand, it might make them better at distinguishing Mozart from his oft-derided contemporary Salieri when doing the irritating quiz at www.reverent.org/mozart_or_salieri.html.