Mozart Year 2006

London, 17 January 2006 – Throughout the year 2006 we celebrate the
250th anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s birth, and Germany
invites music lovers from all over the world to take a journey in the
footsteps of the great composer.

Mozart’s life was strongly linked with Germany. The roots of this close
connection lie in Augsburg, where Wolfgang Amadeus’ father, Johann Georg
Leopold Mozart, was born in 1719.
Wolfgang visited the city five times between 1763 and 1790, and today
guests can visit 17 sites recalling the Mozart family. From 27 January –
31 July 2006 Augsburg will celebrate the 55th German Mozart Festival
with excellent performances of the master’s work.

The city of Munich was one of the destinations of Mozart’s first
cultural journey abroad. Aged six, he visited Munich with his parents
and his sister Nannerl in 1762. He later returned to Munich several
times, and here he composed his operas ‘La finta giardiniera’ and
‘Idomeneo’.
Munich honours the great composer in 2006 with the Mozart Festival
Weeks (27 January – 14 February 2006) and the Long Night of Music on 27
May 2006.

Passau, Frankfurt, Cologne, Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin also attracted
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his visits sometimes lasted for several
months.
A very memorable trip brought Mozart to Mannheim in 1777/1778, where he
met his later wife Constanze Weber. Today Mozart fans can follow the
‘Trail of an Old Love’ through Mannheim every 1st Saturday of the month
from 01 May until 03 October 2006.

Those wishing to keep fit while discovering Mozart and his music can
enjoy the Mozart cycle path through southern Bavaria. 260 miles of
signposted cycle route lead you through picturesque scenery, taking in
places such as Bad Reichenhall (Mozart Week 12 – 19 May 06, Mozart
Summer Concerts 07 09 July 06) and Berchtesgaden (the ‘Berchtesgaden
Children’s Symphony’ was one of the then 14 year old Mozart’s favourite
pieces.).

German National Tourist Office
www.germany-tourism.co.uk

Further information on Mozart in Germany is available at
www.germany-tourism.de

Further information on Augsburg is available at www.regio-augsburg.de,
www.mozartstadt.de

Further information on Munich is available at www.munich-tourist.de,
www.musikmetropolemuenchen.de

Further information on Mannheim is available at www.tourist-mannheim.de
(German only)

Further information on the Mozart cycle path is available at www.mozartradweg.com