Norman Schwartz (no relation) replies to me:

>>...  But, like you, I don't quite understand the show-bizzy fascination
>>for Mozart, unless it's due to the fact that a popular movie was made
>>about a character with almost his name.
>
>Really?  I'm certain you know it was anticipated that it could make
>money and it did.  The movie, the shows, the DVDs, Peter Shaffer, F.
>Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce (and all the Salieris in the plays).

But why did that translate into this popular Mozartolatry, among the
general populace -- Mozart for Babies, the Mozart Effect, car commercials
which use the Lacrimosa, this idea that Mozart is The Greatest Composer
Ever, and so on?  After all, the general population knows far less Mozart
than it does U2.

Steve Schwartz

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