I originally posted this as a comment to
rasbobbo's diary on the upcoming 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, but decided to expand it here.
I own nearly 500 classical CDs and can count my Mozart CDs on the fingers of my two hands. He doesn't make the Top 10 of my classical composer playlist. And who is that Top 10? ...
Going by sevens, my Top Seven are Bach, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler, Stravinsky and Shostakovich. My Second Seven would be Handel, Schubert, Bruckner, Rachmaninoff, Schnittke, Penderecki, and Elliott Carter, I believe. Oh, by the way, some of you Mozart idolators might need to listen to some 20th century classical music. Start with the last three I listed. Add some Ernst Krenek. Throw in some late, serialist Stravinsky.
Child prodigy/voluminous output by itself does not make a genius. Saint-Saens was also a child prodigy; why does nobody discuss him like Mozart?
If you pressed me, there are two -- and only two -- must-have works of his; the Symphony No. 40 and the Requiem.
Otherwise, much of his early work was dilletantish salon music.
That said, here in Dallas, the Fine Arts Chamber Players is having a special at the Dallas Museum of Art Saturday. I'll be there.
It's free, and I never say no to free classical music.
UPDATE: Don't you folks recognize satire and hyperbole to make a point? The Mozart/Slim Whitman and the Mozart/Riesling lines on the poll should have indicated that.
Now, if you want some really modern music, try Harry Partsch or Elliott Sharp.
UPDATE 2: A better-observed musical anniversary for this year might well be the Shostakovich birth centennial. Circle Sept. 25 on your calendars.