WHAT IF MOZART HAD LIVED 40+ MORE YEARS?

March 1, 2019

After lying in a coma for two weeks, Mozart’s fever broke. He regained consciousness and miraculously made a full recovery.

He was so inspired, excited and exhilarated by his remarkable recovery that he immediately set to work on his 42nd symphony, which we know as the Miracle Symphony - One of the most beloved of his works because of its exuberance and rushing rhythms. His next work was his resurrection symphony the themes of which deal not only with his physical recovery from death but also with his emergence from under the shadow of his father. He was reborn as his own man, no longer needing to defy or rebel against the father, but able to live his life with the natural born energy and genius with which he was endowed.

These works were performed first in Prague then in Vienna then even Salzburg and throughout all of Europe. They were so successful that they brought about a resurgence of interest in his music that saw performances of his orchestral music and his operas all over Europe. This brought financial success, and at last, he no longer had to worry about money.

He went on to write seven more symphonies which went from the splendors of the 39 40 and 41st and culminated in the majestic affirmation of his final work the 48th known as The Sublime Symphony. These works showed an expansion of his emotional expression - deepening the experience for the listener and leading directly to the emotionalism that evolved into the symphonies of Beethoven - who credited the later Mozart with the opening of the great river of feeling that inspired his works. Indeed it sometimes is difficult to distinguish the later Mozart from the early Beethoven.

His ebullience mellowed from an intrusive provoking characteristic into a quickness of wit and humor that entertained rather than annoyed. He was sought after not only as a conductor and composer but also as a guest in the homes of music lovers everywhere. He wrote toward the end that he felt that he had recaptured the success of his early years of touring Europe during which he was so celebrated.

Finally at the age of 78 at his second home in Vienna - on vacation from his residence in Prague, he enjoyed an evening with Clemenza and their children during which they had a festive dinner and then played one of his string quartets for assembled guests. The Archbishop of Vienna, One of the guests, toasted Mozart not only as the greatest musical genius of all time, a judgment that has been shared by many for centuries but also as a man beloved by his children and all of Europe for the magnificent gifts that he gave to the world. After the concert of his works amid family and friends, He retired to bed. Later that night he died peacefully in his sleep.

Written by Dr. Barry Panter