Mainly Mozart explores composer’s childhood works

Martina Schimitschek, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 29th May 2016

Say the word prodigy and, for many, one person immediately comes to mind: Mozart.

“Mozart is still the gold standard for prodigies. He’s our rule of thumb. People will say, he’s the Mozart of soccer, the Mozart of art or the Mozart of jazz,” said Michael Francis, music director for the Mainly Mozart Festival, which starts June 2 and runs through June 18.

This year’s festival will be the first of six that will examine the life of Mozart through his music. The ambitious six-year journey is planned chronologically, starting this year with the theme “Prodigy” and works of a young Mozart.

“By the end of it we should have a much better understanding about why Mozart was deemed so gifted, as well as a greater appreciation of the prodigal gifts of others,” Francis said.

Even though Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — who was born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756 — died at age of 35, he composed around 600 works, enough material for six years and more.

“I wanted to have a chance to look a Mozart’s life in a deeper way. If we have a structure of a time period it allows for more creativity and an option to look at pieces that are not often performed,” Francis said.