Mozart, Marriage of Figaro (K. 492), overture ©

Overture to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, with bar-graph score.
FAQ

To download this video or make a contribution to support this project:

Q: Where can I download this video?
A: You can get it here:

Q: Who is performing?
A: I don't know. This recording was licensed from Royalty Free Classical Music, which is run by Keith J. Salmon.

Q: Why are the notes sometimes cut off at the top?
A: My mistake. I've fixed this and posted a new version here:
(BTW, the fixed version is the one available for download at Cerizmo.)

Q: How did you synchronize the audio with the animation?
A: You can read a general description of the process here:

Q: Is there a way I could make this kind of animation myself?
A: The Music Animation Machine MIDI file player will generate this kind of display; you can get the (Windows) software here:
There are lots of places on the web where you can get MIDI files; I usually go to the Classical Archives site first:

Q: Could you please do a MAM video of _________?
A: Please read this:
.

[smalin]

(1) I'm not doing this for the money.
(2) If there were money in it, somebody else would be doing it.

[mcschwar]

I have enjoyed your work for several years. My little nephew was transfixed by it when I introduced him to it. It's therapeutic for my mother, who had a stroke. You have done a good thing.

[janijani]

"We cannot despair about mankind knowing that Mozart was a man". Albert Einstein.

[smalin]

You might want to check out my video of the last movement of Mozart's "Jupiter" symphony.

[dtwhitney]

I love these. I must have listened to this piece 100 times and I also performed it in my city symphony. But the visuals shift my attention to different parts and now I hear parts I never ever noticed before.

[Johannes]

I love this overture. Its energetic, grand, and beautiful. The perfect way to strart an opera.

[MoriMaris]

This is total genius. Mozart left us inspiring music for us to cherish throughout our lifetime.

[archerwolf]

I've played this myself in a clarinet choir and have enjoyed it ever since. I have always enjoyed your great visuals to go along with great music and all I can say is keep up the excellent work!

[MrOnthehiwayhell]

I think this guy just invented the classical music version of guitar hero!

[JeoffCalamari]

I thought I saw this at your "to-don't list" so I never expected you will make a video of Marriage of Figaro. I was surprised I just saw this. What I'm really trying to say is that thank you very much for this video and I really like your video ever since, especially your Mozart (my most favorite composer) videos.

[qwert]

This music is round and round in my head!! I'm so addicted this music LOL

[eirenna]

@smalin, Well, I just have to wait then.;-) Still, lots of beautiful things to see on your site.
Thanks for them all.

[birdie]

smalin, I have always been a fan of classical music, and looking at the animation has enabled me to appreciate these gems in a very unique and profound way, I have always admired composers such as Mozart, Debussy (to name a few) so very nice work!

[beachcomber]

This is so cool!! The animation gives an idea of a visual blue print for the music. I just cannot imagine how Mozart was able to sit down at his desk with paper and quill and create this music.

[MozartsBloodline]

Mozart is my favorite! I love the way he makes the instruments almost dance, like from 1:23 the oboe leads in and the violin takes us on a brisk wonderful stroll on a beautiful day, looking at the wind blow through the trees and the birds flying from tree to tree. Wonderful visuals from his music.

[ricardoespinoza]

This is Solti with the London Philharmonic Orchestra! It's a great recording and it's somewhere here on YouTube.

[taylorahern]

I swear, this piece, this magical and otherworldly piece, was at least several generations ahead of its time, far ahead, and OFF THE FUCKING CHARTS it was that far beyond the curve for its time, circa 1785.
And when I say way ahead I'm talking possibly 200 years beyond what was already around during that time period 230 years ago, that's how extraordinary and outside of the box this amazing, exhilarating and sublime piece is, one whose timeless appeal and transcendent qualities will resonate forever. And beyond.

And Mozart's musical gifts were divine, divine and spectacular, as clearly evidenced by the quirky enthusiasm of this particular piece, along with all the various pieces that work together quite seamlessly, and quite harmoniously, beautifully coordinated and marvelously tied in together as all the different elements and musical aspects were.
This musical triumph, to say the least, and further proof that Mozart's musical compositional abilities and skills were easily preternatural, maybe even supernatural, such was the exquisite complexity and multi-layered intricacy along with the amazingly well coordinated musical dynamics of the vast majority of his works, AS all the various and disparate parts invariably played and melded together with this smooth grace, beauty and soothing melodic brilliance, ethereal and inspirational as it all was.

Yes, Mozart was a musical God, this fearlessly and brilliantly experimental prodigy whose talents, unearthly and dazzling as they were, blossomed gloriously, and with this sweet, spellbinding magnificence, as this gracefully rollicking, flawlessly acrobatic, seamlessly undulating and beautifully fervent piece sharply demonstrates, astonishingly fresh and original as it sounds over two centuries after its initial premiere in Vienna. AMAZING, AND AMAZINGLY MESMERIZING!!

[trebleshooting]

This is incredibly fascinating, Mr. Malinowski. As a classical music student who is subjected to score readings on a regular basis (CLEFS ARGH), this really helps me put into perspective not only the registrations that Mozart employs but the way that he layers the same basic theme throughout; one can more easily see the same pattern of colored blocks appearing throughout in each register, and it is a more accessible way of looking at the music. Quite thrilling!

[smalin]

@Teenplayer84 The fuzzy ones are the wind instruments (and timpani).

[connorhepburn]

I love this song!! I'm playing this for my high school orchestra, so cool.