Mozart (1955)

The “Court Composer” Mozart has had enough of the ignorance and vanity of the Viennese court and tries to lead an independent life as a freelance artist. To that end, he joins forces with theater director Emanuel Schikaneder to compose an opera for his Freihaus Theater: The Magic Flute. The opera is intended as a tribute to the ideals of Freemasonry. While Mozart’s wife Constanze is away at a spa, Mozart works on the opera with Schikaneder. The young singer playing Pamina, Annie Gottlieb, has admired Mozart for some time. During rehearsals, Mozart also falls in love with her. But shortly before the opera’s premiere, an impresario arrives who wants to sign Annie for an international tour. Annie’s father wants her to seize the opportunity. Mozart, too, understands what a chance the tour represents for the young singer and sends her away against her will. But Annie hesitates. Shortly before her departure, after speaking with Mozart’s doctor, Annie realizes how badly Mozart’s health has already deteriorated and that she will never see him again if she joins the year-long tour. Annie stays, thereby also defying her father, who disowns her. Mozart, already marked by illness, and Annie experience a brief time of happiness, which comes to an end with Mozart’s sudden death.