Tonights stamp is in my view quite memorable, in terms of who it is portraying, what he achieved in his short life (35 years) and in the design of the stamp itself.

 

I remember seeing the film Amadeus many years ago. It had a lasting impression and to this day I can still see the young Mozart acting the fool and playfully chasing the women of the court. I thought the actor who played the part of Mozart was superb.  Who was he?.. I forget. anyone know? No prize for this.. prize questions are at the end.

 

Something about Mozart: He was born on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg. His father, Leopold, was a well-known musician and the first teacher of his gifted children: his son Wolfgang and his 4 years elder sister Nannerl. Mozart first performed at the age of 5 and it is believed he started writing his own compositions around that age.

From 1762 the Mozart family traveled around Europe giving very successful concerts at courts.

Mozart worked many years at the court of the prince archbishop as a concertmaster but the employer’s requirements hindered the development of his talent. In 1782 he married and settled in Vienna. Six years later he received the title of the emperor’s composer.

Mozart lived a short life (he died on 5 December 1791), but created easily, so he left a vast musical output. He composed operas including Figaro’s Wedding, The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni, concerts, symphonies, masses, string quartets, piano sonatas, serenadas for example the famous Eine kleine Nachtmusik, songs and canons. His last, unfinished composition was the wonderful Requiem. Despite his genius he was not always duly appreciated and had financial problems. After death he was buried in a mass grave, perhaps due to the plague.

The FDC envelope accompanying the stamp has been decorated with an ornament characteristic for the composer’s époque, combined with a note inscription.

This month in Sydney the Sydney Opera are performing The Magic Flute.  I am hoping to get two tickets. I’d offer one of them to one of you as a prize  so you could accompany me but you all live so far away       ….  And anyway there is someone I want to take

Also I cannot offer this cover as I don’t have it but I can offer a 200 world mix to whoever get  the answers to these five questions:

1)      who designed the stamp

2)      on what type of paper was the stamp printed

3)      in what voice does Tamino sing

4)      what is the Opera called in German

5)      Tamino is given what instrument to help him free Pamina

Some useful and interesting links although I doubt you will find all the answers in this.

http://www.culturevulture.net/Opera/MagicFlute.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_Flute

If you enjoyed this please let me know ….. if you did not enjoy this please also let me know and perhaps a reason why, so I can do better next time…….   

Best wishes… Michael