Videography of Mozart's Last Days: The Requiem Playlist

A romanticized depiction of Mozart composing the Requiem by anonymous (19th Century). Image: BBC.

Today's date resonates throughout music history as a host to one of its greatest tragedies. It was on this day in 1791 that Wolfgang Mozart died. He was only 35 years old. The 221 years which have passed hardly matter. To those who adore his music the world over, his loss is felt strongly and tenderly. On dates like these, my creative benevolence goes into overdrive. I want to give more Mozart to the world. I'm hard-wired to think in terms of people, the human interest factor, when it comes to preservation. The origins of music are social. Humanity is all the more brighter and beautiful for Mozart's storied presence and music. The man was imperfect, but his music was divine. Commonplace is this understanding of great art and artists, but lest we forget that his story is also ours.

A photo taken by my sister from our most recent visit to Mozart's memorial in Vienna on a spring day.

This morning, I lit a candle and joined at least 70 others around the world who agreed to illuminate for Mozart (local time) through the vigil platform that I created on Facebook. I asked participants to light their candles at 12:20 am and extinguish their flames at 12:55 am. The 35 minute duration represented Mozart's 35 years of life and 12:55 am represented the time that his light left our world on December 5, 1791. Many participants shared expressive and heartfelt words as well as photos of their glowing candles. It was a reverent, yet warm experience which marked the beginning of new friendships. I plan to continue the vigil annually in hopes of making a contribution to establish this new Mozart tradition.

Monica Carvalho (Sweden) drew a stunningly beautiful original artwork for the vigil.

Lorraine Dyba (Illinois) compiled favorites from her Mozart collection for the vigil.

The candlelight vigil reminded me of the news that Vienna, and the world, awakened to the next day. An excerpt from H.C. Robbins Landon's book, 1791: Mozart's Last Year, gives us a personal account of how Ludwig Gall, one of Mozart's students, discovered the news. He "came into town from the Landstrassse to go to the music-dealer Lausch, and when I arrived he said, 'Imagine what a misfortune has happened to us: Mozart died this last night!' Quite appalled I rushed at once to the apartment, still doubting the Job's News, but alas I was soon convinced of its truth. Madame Mozart herself opened the door of the apartment and led me to a little room on the left, where I saw the dead Master on the bier, lying in a coffin, in a black suit with a cowl down over his forehead, hiding his blonde hair, with his hands folded over his breast..."

Invigorated by the sense of community surrounding the vigil, it came to mind that this anniversary also offered a great opportunity to direct my energy towards building a resource for audiences. The idea seemed to already be waiting on me: a playlist, of course! The end result is a collection of videos that inform, entertain and inspire. Despite subject knowledge, this compilation is to be enjoyed and consulted by anyone who has an appreciation for this history. Mozart for all!

Sherry
Video #1. Dr. Cliff Eisen, a leading Mozart scholar, visits Mozart's memorial in Vienna and discusses our relationship with his death. Watch

Video #2. Hello Austria takes us inside St. Stephen's Cathedral where the archivist presents Mozart's wedding and funeral documents as well as the chapel where he married his wife Constanze. I've never seen this kind of access in any other film or documentary. Watch

Video #3. The docu-drama, Requiem, delivers the basic history surrounding the composition of the Requiem and Mozart's final days in just under eight minutes. Watch

Video #4. A glimpse (Sanctus) of Mozart's Requiem performed at St. Stephen's Cathedral for the Mozart Year 2006 which marked his 250th birthday. It began at midnight on Dec 5, 2006 and ended at 12:55am, the time of Mozart's death. Watch

Video #5. The famous scene from Amadeus where the ailing Mozart dictates his Requiem to arch-rival Salieri is factually inaccurate (the stuff of Hollywood!) but the soundtrack elevated the Requiem to great popularity and it hit the Billboard charts, becoming one of the best-selling classical albums of all time, featuring Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Watch

Video #6. This is one of the most significant performances of the Requiem in recent history. On the bicentenary of Mozart's death on December 5, 1991, Vienna hosted a special performance of the Requiem as a liturgical mass for Mozart as the decedent. It was performed at St. Stephen's Cathedral, where Mozart's wedding and funeral services were held. Hearing prayers in German for Mozart in this sacred place which was so central to his life, is absolutely arresting. The soloists, choir and musicians are conducted by Sir Georg Solti, all being of the highest order. The end is not met with the applause we're accustomed to hearing in concert performances, but a recessional of melancholy beauty. Watch