Constanze, the wife of Wolfgang Amadé Mozart, was not the foolish and self-interested individual of popular opinion, much of which is based on the views of Mozart's father, who believed that his son had chosen an inappropriate partner. This strong-minded woman was, however, to be of critical support to her beloved husband. From a family of accomplished musicians, she was possessed of a fine voice and sang in public performances of a number of Mozart's works, both before and after his death. She bore him six children, of whom two survived childhood. Her business acumen was such that after his death she was largely responsible for keeping his music before the public, organising concerts, securing the accurate publication of many of his works, including the Requiem, and acquiring patronage from the aristocracy. Her second marriage to the Dane, Georg Nikolaus Nissen, continued a life story which is a rich example of self-sufficiency and competence in an era when a woman in business was a rarity. Importantly, this book restores the reputation of a woman much maligned by history. Revised edition

Autorentext

Agnes Selby is an Australian writer living with her family in Sydney.

Inhalt

Acknowledgments Part I: Constanze, Wife of Mozart Weber/ Mozart Family Tree Ancestry and Youth On the Move-Munich and Vienna Courtship and Marriage Life with Mozart The Salzburg Journey Prosperity and Freedom Leopold Mozart's Visit The Marriage of Figaro Don Giovanni and the Descent to Hell The Death of Emperor Joseph II and an End of an Era A Requiem for Mozart Mozart's Death Part II : Constanze, Widow of Mozart and Madam Nissen Constanze-A Woman Alone Keeping Mozart's Music Alive Nissen Constanze's Second Marriage Goodbye to Vienna Forever An Interlude in Copenhagen Nissen's Mozart Biography Constanze's Second Widowhood A Pleasant Interlude Problems with Doctor Feuerstein Fulfilment of a Dream Epilogue Appendix-Mozart's Sons: The Legacy of a Genius Bibliography Index