Classical Music Face Off
By Jon Town, Afternoon Announcer
When you are listening to your favorite piece on K-BACH and you are lost in the moment, have you ever wondered what the composer was thinking when he wrote it? Better still, have you ever given thought to what the composer actually looked like?
We know for sure what 19th century and more contemporary composers looked like because there are photographs. Richard Wagner, for example, looks much like The Flying Dutchman in his photos. He’d have been a credible stand in for Captain Ahab, too. But for Vivaldi, Haydn, Bach the artist interpretations can vary quite a bit leaving it to you to imagine how they actually might have looked if you passed them on the street.
The International Mozarteum Institute in Salzburg, took 14 known authentic portraits including one portrait Mozart’s wife, Constanze considered to be the most true to life to give us all an idea of his true likeness.
More recently the German Federal Criminal Police office compiled a likeness from four contemporary portraits to create a more photographic likeness. Search "what Mozart looked like" on your computer search engine to see the results. Something to have fun with as the summer winds down.
Thanks to all of you for reading this and for listening to Classical K-BACH. Join me every afternoon from 2-7pm and be sure to tune in to the Homeward Bound Hour at Five to unwind on your way home from work. Make a request to at the Homeward Bound online.
All The Best,
Jon Town
