Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Blindfolded Performance

Eight-year-old Mozart faces his greatest challenge when Empress Maria Theresa orders him to play piano while blindfolded. This episode reveals how the young prodigy conquered his nerves to create musical magic in the royal court.

Duration: 24 minutes | Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

What You'll Learn

  • Learn what a child prodigy is — someone with extraordinary abilities at a very young age, and discover that even prodigies must practice and work hard
  • Understand what a sonata is — a piece in multiple movements, like chapters in a book that tell different parts of the same story
  • Discover what a concerto is — a conversation between one solo instrument and an entire orchestra, taking turns and playing together
  • Learn about Mozart's family — his father Leopold who was his teacher, and his sister Nannerl who performed alongside him
  • Understand that Mozart's playful, mischievous personality came through in every note he wrote — his music sparkles because HE sparkled

Music Featured

Composer Title Source
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550 archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 archive.org/musopen
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart String Quartet No. 15 in D minor, K. 421 archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545 (Sonata Facile) archive.org/musopen
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216 archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 (Elvira Madigan) archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflöte, K. 620 – Der Vogelfänger bin ich ja (alt) archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Die Zauberflöte, K. 620 – Overture archive.org/TheMagicFluteOverture
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618 archive.org
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488 archive.org