"“Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Treasures from the Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg guides visitors through the life and career of the virtuoso via pieces of well-preserved ephemera, from his childhood violin made of spruce and maple, to original sketches of the set design of the opera The Magic Flute (1791).”"
"“The Morgan's identity as a regal respite from the rest of midtown Manhattan befits the exhibition's gilded aesthetics and the lovely loop of sonatas filtering through the two galleries, playfully labeled ‘Act I’ and ‘Act II.’”"
"“The show raises the question of whether a musical score can be a work of art in its own right. If the penmanship is beautiful, and the wax seal intricate? Or is it more about what these pieces mean for the medium, as with the 1787 serenade ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik’?”"
"“Some of the most interesting pieces aren't necessarily tied to Mozart, such as the portraits of prince-archbishops who supported the composer, rendered by unidentified artists who expertly cap”"
The exhibition at the Morgan Library presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s life and career through well-preserved ephemera from the Mozarteum Foundation of Salzburg. Visitors see childhood instruments made of spruce and maple, original sketches for The Magic Flute, and other materials that connect performance with visual design. The galleries use a playful structure with sonatas flowing through spaces labeled “Act I” and “Act II.” The show raises whether a musical score can stand as a work of art, considering penmanship, wax seals, and the meaning of the medium. It also includes portraits of prince-archbishops who supported Mozart, emphasizing European systems of artistry and patronage beyond Mozart’s own creations.
Read at Hyperallergic
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