Mozart in Italy

Program: Miserere d’Allegri, Miserere, De Profundis, Exultate Jubilate and Regina Caeli by Mozart

Between 1769 and 1773, Mozart made three trips to Italy. Unlike the previous major European tour, which was intended to reveal the young prodigy to the world, the purpose of the Italian trips was to complete his training as a composer. His extensive correspondence reveals the main stages of his journey to the homeland of Dante and Petrarch: Verona, Mantua, Milan, Bologna, Naples, Venice and above all Rome. He was captivated by the Eternal City. It was Father Martini's teaching that enabled him to put a brilliant end to his training. Under his encouragement, he composed his first operas seria and corrected a few juvenile clumsinesses in his Miserere for male voices. It was during these trips to Italy that he composed two of his most beautiful motets: Exultate Jubilate and Regina Cæli, luminous and jubilant works in which Mozart's genius was already manifesting itself in all its maturity.