Cocktail Party Fact: The American version was much rewritten after the play was first done in England. Among other changes strengthening the character of Salieri was the pivotal scene in which Salieri convinces Mozart to betray the rituals of his fellow Freemasons in The Magic Flute.
Here’s The Plot: Salieri, the most successful composer in Vienna, [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: After its initial private performance, Franz Schubert’s Fifth Symphony was lost. More than half-a-century passed before Arthur Sullivan (he of Gilbert and Sullivan fame), rediscovered the manuscript and arranged for a public performance in London.
Commitment Factor: About 28 minutes.
Vital Statistics: Classical Period. A symphony in four movements.
What to Listen For: Schubert [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: The nickname wasn’t adopted until about 30 years after Mozart’s death, and it has nothing at all to do with the music, as far as anyone can tell.
Commitment Factor: About 35 minutes
Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1788). A very grand, four-movement symphony including trumpets and timpani but (unusual for Mozart at this time) [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: Mozart’s most famous symphony. Try singing the opening phrases of the finale to the words: “Oh Mozart’s in the closet, LET HIM OUT! LET HIM OUT! LET HIM OUT!” Where this originated is anyone’s guess, but it works.
Commitment Factor: About 25 minutes
Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1788). An austere, four-movement symphony, the only [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: Mozart’s last three symphonies were all composed in a six-week period between the end of June and August 10, 1788.
Commitment Factor: About 30 minutes
Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1788). A four-movement symphony for large classical orchestra (with trumpets and timpani).
What to Listen For: Mozart was the composer who “discovered” the clarinet as [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: This symphony was probably not composed for performance in Prague, but it turned out to be very popular there–as was all of Mozart’s music. Prague was probably the most musically sophisticated city in Europe at this time (and in many ways it still is). P.S. There is no symphony No. 37 (it [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: The symphony was indeed composed and first performed in Linz–having nothing handy for an impromptu concert, Mozart had to write something fast (between about October 30 and the day of the performance, November 4)–in about five days!
Commitment Factor: About 30 minutes
Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1783). A standard, four-movement symphony for “large” classical [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: Composed to honor one Siegmund Haffner on his being awarded a title by Emperor Joseph II, Mozart wrote the music so quickly that he forgot it entirely–when he retrieved the score six months later he was surprised that is was so good.
Commitment Factor: About 20 minutes
Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1782). A standard, [...]

Cocktail Party Fact: Mozart wrote this masterpiece, which is sometimes known by the name of “Gran Partita,” as a kind of party music, to be played in the background while people socialized.
Commitment Factor: About 50 minutes.
Vital Statistics: Classical Period. A work in seven movements, scored for twelve wind instruments: 2 clarinets, 2 basset horns, 2 [...]

Commitment Factor: 45 - 50 minutes
Vital Statistics: Classical Period (1791). Composed for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, the work consists of the text of the Latin Requiem in which each major section is arranged for a different combination of forces.
What to Listen For: As with all works employing a text, it’s important that you follow the [...]