This site was created to showcase the piano, chamber, and orchestral works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as played by one of the 20th century's great unknown pianists, John Rinehart. Note : John is joined by Jennifer Rinehart in performances posted here of both the 2 Piano Sonata and the 3 Piano Concerto, Dorothy Ohl playing third piano on the Concerto. Jean Moore plays the cello and Ronald Pepper plays violin on the Trio in G Major.
W olfgang Amadeus Mozart is commonly regarded as the most influential musician of not only western culture but the world around. Amazingly enough he achieved this status in a lifespan of just 35 years. Mozart was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria and was one of two living children to Leopold Mozart, a violinist for the court orchestra of the region's Archbishop. He began his keyboard studies at age 4 and rather quickly gained the reputation of a child prodigy. His father was very supportive but also driven to nurture Mozart's extraordinary talent. Thus all of his adolescence was spent touring Europe, composing and generally playing for any aristocrat willing to pay money. At age 14 he was commissioned to write an opera (although he wrote his first one 4 years earlier), a form of music he has since become famous for but at the time gained him little acclaim. During this period of travel Mozart took on the position of concertmaster in Salzburg, all the while longing for a life of better opportunity abroad. After a failed attempt at residency in Paris he eventually left Salzburg for good and made Vienna his new home. Rigorous composition continued while teaching and giving concerts made Mozart his living. At first he seemed to thrive off the city which afforded him the success as a composer he had longed for with a more sophisticated lifestyle to accompany it. But as time passed increasing monetary problems and the loss of favor with many (due to his infamously obnoxious behavior) took its toll in depression. Mozart died purportedly of kidney failure in 1791, penniless in an unmarked grave. At the time he was writing the Requiem Mass, arguably the most beautiful piece of work in his catalogue. He is also widely known for such recognizable compositions as his Piano Concertos in D minor and C Major, the operas Don Giovanni and The Marriage of Figaro, and many symphonies such as the Paris Symphony and Jupiter Symphony.
J OHN RINEHART has a MAIN page and SECOND page on the friends list below for anyone interested in knowing more about his life and hearing his compositions as well as other performances. Also visit his BACH MySpace , HAYDN MySpace , BEETHOVEN MySpace , CHOPIN MySpace and BRAHMS MySpace pages showcasing 4 performances each and a DEBUSSY MySpace account featuring one performance (En Blanc et Noir).
This site was written/constructed, maintained and monitored by John Rinehart Jr. All recordings displayed here are the sole property of John Rinehart, copyright 2006.