London, 17 January 2006 – Throughout the year 2006 we celebrate the 250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth, and Germany invites music lovers from all over the world to take a journey in the footsteps of the great composer.
Mozart’s life was strongly linked with Germany. The roots of this close connection lie in Augsburg, where Wolfgang Amadeus’ father, Johann Georg Leopold Mozart, was born in 1719. Wolfgang visited the city five times between 1763 and 1970, and today guests can visit 17 sites recalling the Mozart family. From 27 January – 31 July 2006 Augsburg will celebrate the 55th German Mozart Festival with excellent performances of the master’s work.
The city of Munich was one of the destinations of Mozart’s first cultural journey abroad. Aged six, he visited Munich with his parents and his sister Nannerl in 1762. He later returned to Munich several times, and here he composed his operas ‘La finta giardiniera’ and ‘Idomeneo’. Munich honours the great composer in 2006 with the Mozart Festival Weeks (27 January – 14 February 2006) and the Long Night of Music on 27 May 2006.
Passau, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin also attracted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his visits sometimes lasted for several months.
A very memorable trip brought Mozart to Mannheim in 1777/1778, where he met his later wife Constanze Weber. Today Mozart fans can follow the ‘Trail of an Old Love’ through Mannheim every 1st Saturday of the month from 01 May until 03 October 2006.
Those wishing to keep fit while discovering Mozart and his music can enjoy the Mozart cycle path through southern Bavaria. 260 miles of signposted cycle route lead you through picturesque scenery, taking in places such as Bad Reichenhall (Mozart Week 12 – 19 May 06, Mozart Summer Concerts 07 09 July 06) and Berchtesgaden (the ‘Berchtesgaden Children’s Symphony’ was one of the then 14 year old Mozart’s favourite pieces.).