Summary: Some of my most vivid childhood memories involve classical music and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is at the heart of many of them. You see, when I was a kid I wasn't allowed to listen to the radio, go to the movies or watch much television. My parents didn't see much value in "pop culture," so I was raised in a household where reading books and listening to classical music were considered the best ways to unwind. My father had (still does to this day) an extensive collection of classic music albums. When he came home from work, he'd take off his suit jacket and tie and then turn on the stereo to play some Bach, Mozart, Haydn or Vivaldi to relax. Some people fix themselves a stiff drink or zone out in front of the TV after work. My dad listened to classical music. In any case, I was imprinted at a very early age to not only enjoy classical music but to love it. My parents spent a lot of money for me to take piano and violin lessons. I even went to summer music camp and eventually got good enough, as a teen, to be made the church pianist at two different churches! While other kids would say they wanted to be a doctor, a fireman or a professional athlete when they grew up, I'd tell people I wanted to be a concert pianist. It wasn't until I was well in my teens that reality sunk in and it was clear I wasn't going to have what it took to be a concert pianist. But my love for the music of Mozart has never dimmed. Today's podcast is an audio biography of one of the greatest music composers who ever lived. An enhanced transcript of this ADVANCED story is available in Cody's online store. The 10-page transcript contains the full story plus definitions of 48 Spanish words and a question and answer worksheet. You can find the enhanced transcript in Cody's online store. Enjoy! Portrait of Mozart by Barbara Krofft
