Mozart’s extraordinary journey from child prodigy to adult master is explored through his prolific output and lasting impact on Western music. The course highlights the brilliance of his chamber works, key pieces, and stylistic traits, alongside an introduction to the early history of Western classical music in China. It also examines Mozart’s operas in their 18th-century context, revealing how his dramatic and musical innovations reshaped the genre, and considers Kierkegaard’s influential reflections on Don Giovanni and their significance for modern aesthetics. This class is a prelude to the Mozart Festival at Bard College in August 2026.
The following is a list of the distinguished Bard Faculty who will generously share their time and expertise with us and their topics.
Week 1. Wednesday, March 18. Peter Laki: Mozart the Child Prodigy, Mozart the Adult Prodigy
In the consciousness of many music-lovers today, Mozart’s works stand as supreme symbols of harmony, beauty, and perfection. One of the most astonishing child prodigies in the history of music, he wrote over 600 works before his premature death at 35, works without which Western music would simply be inconceivable.
Week 2. Wednesday, March 25. Frank Corliss: Chamber Music
Explore the fun and brilliance of Mozart’s chamber music! In this class, we will look at key pieces, learn what makes his style unique, and hopefully enjoy live performances by fellow students along with a few great recordings. A relaxed, engaging way to experience Mozart up close.
Week 3. Wednesday, April 1. Jindong Cai: The History of the Beginning of Western Classical Music in China
Western classical music entered China in the early 17th century through the activities of Christian missionaries and later developed to a more prominent role from the late 19th century within the context of treaty-port music culture. During the Cultural Revolution, Western classical music—including the works of Mozart and Beethoven—was prohibited; however, it reemerged and expanded rapidly after 1976. In the 21st century, a new generation of Chinese composers and performers has infused the field with renewed energy, positioning China as a major global center for classical music performance, education, and production.
Week 4. Wednesday, April 8. Christopher Gibbs: Opera and its Legacy
This class explores Mozart’s operas, situating them within the musical, cultural, and theatrical world of the late 18th century. Through close listening and examination of historical and modern productions, students will discover how Mozart revolutionized the operatic stage with his expressive musical language, psychological insight, and dramatic sophistication.
Week 5. Wednesday, April 15. Thomas Bartscherer: Kierkegaard and Mozart
The essay “The Immediate Erotic Stages, or The Musical-Erotic,” published pseudonymously by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, is both an over-the-top paean to Mozart and a masterpiece of modern aesthetics. We will consider the author’s provocative (and playful) assertion that “Mozart's Don Giovanni ought to rank highest among all the classic works.”