Mozart Quotes

“ONE CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT WAS THAT ART escaped from religion and into the larger world.”
― Jan Swafford, Mozart: The Reign of Love

“We tend to listen to Mozart with ears trained by Beethoven, and that’s not the best way to listen to Mozart.”
― Jan Swafford, Mozart: The Reign of Love

“We know for a fact that many of the secret societies . . . are not, as they claim, dedicated solely to rational enlightenment and practical humanity. Rather, their intention is nothing less than to undermine the power and prestige of the monarchs, encourage liberation movements, and sway the people’s opinion by means of a secret ruling elite.”
― Jan Swafford, Mozart: The Reign of Love

“ANOTHER PRODUCT OF THE SPRING WAS THE QUINTET IN E-FLAT FOR Piano and Winds, K. 452.”
― Jan Swafford, Mozart: The Reign of Love

“If I were in a place where people had ears to hear, hearts to feel, and had some small understanding of Musique, if they had a modicum of taste, I should heartily laugh about all these things; but as it is, I am living among brutes and beasts as far as Musique is concerned; but how can it be otherwise; after all, that’s precisely what they are in their behavior, sentiments, and Passions.”12 And further: “What annoys me most of all in this business is that our French gentlemen have only improved their goût to the extent that they can now listen to good stuff as well. But to expect them to realize that their own music is bad or at least to notice the difference—Heaven preserve us! And their singing!”
― Jan Swafford, Mozart: The Reign of Love