The Immortal Swagger of 255

Happy Birthday, Mozart! Two-hundred and fifty-five years later, I'm celebrating the life of a man today whom I absolutely adore, with all of his flaws and flourishes. Although I'll never meet him, it feels like we're old friends after all of the time I've spent studying his biography and artifacts, reading his letters and visiting his haunts. I've advocated his life and music through film, organizational involvement, events, writing and scholarship and will continue to tell the world of his divine gift. Of course, to me, the culmination of my effort is dwarfed by what Mozart has given me. 

Today has been an exceptionally busy day full of rushing and errands. Before I left the house, I made sure I was well equipped with Mozart tunage. What did I take? An Alfred Brendel performance of piano concerti and rondos with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Listening, I felt empowered and contemplative. Many ideas came to me about my next steps. Amongst them, greater expectations for The Chronicles in terms of directly benefiting the history. For example, I would like to generate revenue to donate to the Friends of Bertramka towards their efforts in restoring this sacred Mozart landmark, perhaps by creating and marketing my own line of merchandise. 

I also feel a great need to do something commemorative for Mozart's wife, Constanze, who ensured that her husband's music survived so that we could so lovingly indulge in it. She spent nearly 50 years after Mozart's death in advocacy, yet she has received more criticism than recognition from the unwarranted bias of early historians. In 2011, it's time to eradicate the ignorance that has hidden her remarkable story.

As with anything, I'm always striving to hit a greater mark, to evolve from experience and seek the innovative beyond convention. It's so important to have periodic "performance reviews" especially on important dates such as today. They are reminders. It's all about doing my part to keep Mozart in the game. I can aspire to Mozart's work ethic, but rarely does one achieve it. In the famous words of Wendy Wasserstein, "Because of Mozart, it's all over after the age of seven."

Gluecklicher Geburtstag, Wolfgang! 

Mit Liebe,
Sherry