Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart's portrait on The Muppet Show

Wolle as Mozart on Sesamstrasse

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was a prolific Austrian composer of classical music. The son of music teacher Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Mozart was a child prodigy, composing his first piece at the age of five. He soon began several European tours, and befriended composers like Johann Christian Bach (son of Johann Sebastian). His works ranged from operas such as The Marriage of Figaro to symphonies to choral works.

Works

• "La Ci Darem La Mano," from Mozart's opera Don Giovanni, is performed by Link Hogthrob and Miss Piggy in The Muppet Show episode 213.

• "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" was performed by Gonzo in The Muppet Show episode 217. The song has also been used in the albums Big Bird Meets the Orchestra and Elmo and the Orchestra

• Symphony No. 40- Elmo and the Orchestra

• Piano Concerto No. 21- Elmo and the Orchestra
• "Sonata in A"- In Sesame Street episode 4091, Karina the Ballerina, Zoe, and Elmo dance to the Rondo Alla Turca movement.

References

• In The Muppet Show episode 214, Sam the Eagle is appalled by Elton John's outlandish costumes, and insists that Mozart never wore such things. Kermit the Frog counters that Mozart wore high-heels and silk stockings; a wager is made, and Sam is only convinced when Scooter enters carrying a portrait of the composer.

• In The Muppet Show episode 316, singing civil servant Clive Cahuenga sings the Municipal Vermin Abatement Code to the music of Mozart.

• The third season Muppet Babies episode "Fozzie's Family Tree" included the song "Amadogus," about Baby Rowlf's classical ancestor.

• In "Skeeter and the Wolf", Baby Rowlf is writing a symphony. Nanny says that Mozart wrote his first symphony when he was about nine.

• The pop song "Rock Me Amadeus," referencing Mozart, was performed in the stage show Jim Henson's Muppet Babies Live!, with a chorus of Mozart figures.

• Baby Gonzo plays Mozart in the 1991 Muppet Babies coloring book A Trip Through Time.

• In Sesamstrasse episode 2324, which aired on May 5, 2006, Wolle imagines what it would be like to be Mozart, and compose "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" for his friends to perform.

• On Sesame Street, the sketch "The Mostly Monster Festival Choral Society presents "The Alphabet, Theme and Variations," by Mozart" is shown. (EKA: Episode 3525) (VIDEO)

• In a 1977 episode of Sesame Street, Judy Collins and Mr. Snuffleupagus sing of twenty-six consonants and vowels while dancing a minuet in the "Marriage of Snuffalo."

• The Sesame Street song "Il Alphabetto" is performed in the style of Mozart opera.