The final episode of Mozart: Rise of a Genius explores the composer’s life following his father’s death. Mozart’s music takes on increased intensity and emotional depth as he processes the losses he has endured.
His opera Don Giovanni, which succeeds The Marriage of Figaro, is characterised by its powerful drama and sophistication. However, the Viennese audience, including the emperor, finds the music too intense.
The episode also explores the impact of the Austro-Turkish War in 1788 on the Viennese music scene, leaving Mozart in a difficult situation. With an unsympathetic aristocracy tightening their spending, freelancers like Mozart are left struggling.
The previously secure future he had envisioned now seems uncertain as he faces the challenge of supporting his family.
Mozart: Rise of a Genius, Monday 30 September 2024, at 9:000 pm on BBC Two.
