Setting out

Donald Macleod follows Mozart and his family on an ambitious European adventure.

When Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was just seven years old, he and his family set out on an epic journey. Their goal: to travel through Europe and become famous; bringing their awesomely talented children to concert halls, homes and royal palaces across Germany, Belgium, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Switzerland. At the start of their trip, young Wolfgang could already perform and improvise better than most adults. By the time they returned home, three and a half years later, he’d grown into a fully fledged composer of sonatas, symphonies and arias. This week, Donald Macleod accompanies the Mozart family on their musical marathon and invites us to follow their many scrapes and adventures.

Today, the Mozarts wave goodbye to their neighbours in Salzburg and head north. Their savings will only sustain them a few months and they’ll have to learn how to earn as they go if they want to reach Paris.

Allegro in F major, K 1c
Lang Lang, piano

Exsultate, jubilate, K 165, 1. Exsultate, jubilate
Emma Kirkby, soprano
Academy of Ancient Music, conducted by Christopher Hogwood

Quartet for Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello in F Major, K 370
Robin Williams, oboe
Members of Scottish Chamber Orchestra
Alexander Janiczek, director & violin

Misericordias Domini in D Minor, K 222
The Dunedin Consort, directed by John Butt

Violin Concerto No 4 in D major, K 218
Simon Standage, violin
Academy of Ancient Music, directed by Christopher Hogwood