Mannheim - the true German city of Mozart
The Mozart Society Kurpfalz e.V. aims to position Mannheim as "the true German city of Mozart," promoting Mozart's music in Mannheim and the surrounding area. The historical roots of the Mozart Society Kurpfalz e.V.'s predecessor initiatives reach back to the 19th century.
"As I love Mannheim, Mannheim loves me too"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited Mannheim four times: "As I love Mannheim, so Mannheim loves me" (November 12, 1778). Mozart had a more intense relationship with no other German city, both artistically and personally. Mozart's humanistic outlook and his special significance for music history are brought to life in the numerous activities of the Mozart Society of the Palatinate.
Commemorative plaques, books, awards, etc.
Five commemorative plaques at Mozart sites in Mannheim, the last one in July 2010 at M1,10; a relief of the 21-year-old Mozart in Mannheim, artistically designed by Flavio Orellano (Florence); three different "Mannheim Mozart Books" (1977, 1996, 2009); further book and music publications (including "Mannheim Magic Flute 1794" for two flutes/violins); awards for young musicians; support for school internships on the topic of Mozart; concerts, lectures, and the popular Saturday excursions serve the purpose of supporting Mozart's humanistic ideals (link to excursions) .
Donations for Mozart
In 2017, the Mozart Society Kurpfalz e.V. supported the Mozart School in renovating its historic fence and creating the planned school garden. At the benefit concert, Chairman Thomas Jandl symbolically presented a check to Headmaster Volker Keller.
Mozart portrait by Steve Kaufmann
Back in 2008, the Mozart Society of the Kurpfalz presented the famous Mozart portrait by Steve Kaufmann to the Reiss-Engelhorn Museums in Mannheim as a loan during a formal ceremony. Pictured are Dr. Roland Würtz (Mozart Society of the Kurpfalz), Gitta Dill (liaison), and Liselotte Homering (Reiss-Engelhorn Museums).
MOZART'S MANNHEIM DAYS - A Journey Through Time
Article by Peter Ragge in Mannheimer Morgen
MANNHEIM: THE MOZART-SCHILLER CITY
An article by Dr. Roland Würtz, Mozart Society Kurpfalz eV, on the occasion of Mozart's 260th birthday.
Mannheim, Mozart, and Schiller – a harmonious triad that could greatly enhance the city's image as a cultural center, rather than "just" a city of technology and industry. This triad is much more present in the public consciousness than in the official cityscape. The strong commitment to preserving classical music at the State University of Music is, however, encouraging. Mozart and the Mannheim School are repeatedly cited as the most important historical arguments in this regard.
Johann Wenzel Stamitz, with the support of the two Electors Carl Philipp and Carl Theodor, introduced both a high level of orchestral culture to Mannheim, which was already celebrated as the Mannheim School in Mozart's time (Charles Burney, Schubart, Wieland, and others), and avant-garde compositional techniques. Mozart benefited so greatly from both in Mannheim that his great Viennese works would not have been possible without the city. Ignaz Holzbauer's first German-language opera ("Günther von Schwarzburg") directly influenced "The Magic Flute," to name just one of many examples.
Mozart visited Mannheim four times and would have preferred to stay there permanently had a position been created in Mannheim shortly before the court moved to Munich. He found his happiest days (his first love) and his future wife Constanze in Mannheim. His 24 Mannheim compositions do not yet show the characteristics of the Mannheim musical style. As in Paris, Milan, and London, he gathered all available inspiration, later blending it in Vienna, as if in a melting pot, to create his own unique style.
If Augsburg, the birthplace of his father, is calling itself the "German Mozart City" for that reason alone, and the small town of Zell im Wiesental (Southern Black Forest), the birthplace of his wife Constanze, is using Mozart and festivals of the same name for city advertising, then Mannheim would have every reason to champion Mozart.
The Mozart Society Kurpfalz has been trying to do this for many years with seven commemorative plaques at so-called Mozart sites, because he is one of the great figures in Mannheim.
Dr. Roland Würtz, Mannheim, January 27, 2016
© Mozart Society Kurpfalz eV