Mozart and Prague

Although most of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's mature musical career took place in Vienna, he also made several journeys to Prague, a regional capital about 300km to the northwest, for purposes of musical performance. Prague saw first a revival production of Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro, later the premieres of Don Giovanni, the Symphony No. 38 ("Prague") and La clemenza di Tito. These works received a warm reception in Prague, leading some authors to suggest a special affection and affinity between Mozart and the music lovers of this city. For instance, Lorenzo Da Ponte, who wrote the libretto for Don Giovanni, wrote:

It is not easy to convey an adequate conception of the enthusiasm of the Bohemians for [Mozart's] music. The pieces which were admired least of all in other countries were regarded by those people as things divine; and, more wonderful still, the great beauties which other nations discovered in the music of that rare genius only after many, many performances, were perfectly appreciated by the Bohemians on the very first evening.

A quotation from Mozart (whose authenticity is difficult to confirm) suggests that he himself felt a special affinity: "Meine Prager verstehen mich" – "My Praguers understand me".